Sales of the Dodge Charger exploded in 1968 after Chrysler’s B-bodied intermediates all got a redesign. Out of some 96,000 Chargers built that year, about 17,500 were the R/T edition – and just 475 of those would be equipped with a 426 Hemi V8. The seller’s research points to this car being one of those elite few, though the mammoth motor has since been replaced by a later 400. Located in Green Mountain, North Carolina, this Mopar is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $50,100.
While many Chargers left the factory as rather tame sporty cars, the R/T (Road/Track) was about performance and handling. Standard equipment on the 1968 Charger R/T included heavy-duty suspension and brakes, F70-14 Red Streak tires, a TorqueFlite automatic transmission, dual exhaust, and a 440 cubic inch Magnum V8 with an output of 375 hp. Interest in the Charger was no doubt helped in 1968 by the movie Bullitt with Steve McQueen and its now-famous chase scene featuring a Charger R/T as the “villain.”
The seller of this 1968 Charger R/T has owned it for several years, but recently acquired a ’69 Charger that’s of greater interest, so this one must go. His research of the car’s VIN says that it left the factory with the venerable 426 Hemi, but that engine was replaced, perhaps before he bought the car. The 400 was a product of the 1970s and essentially was an over-bored 383 with a lower compression ratio for better emissions. As a result, the 400 has lived in the shadows of its founding 383. The seller doesn’t disclose the running condition of the car.
What we’re told – and the photos tend to support – is this car is rust-free with nice red/orange paint with a white top and stripes. Most of the photos are of sections of the car and there are quite a few other vintage cars around it. It would present better if removed from those surroundings and photographed solo. If there are any issues with either the body or the interior, we don’t see any except the one seam split in the passenger side seat bottom.
If this car had retained its Hemi engine, its resale value would be through the roof. And one with the standard 440 wouldn’t be far behind. But a ’68 R/T with a smaller, ’70s motor is essentially a one-off, so it’s worth exactly what someone is willing to pay. In this case, at least $50,000.
It seems logical that the 426 was indeed replaced before this gent bought the car. Otherwise it happened when he wasn’t looking.
With a car like this you need to actually show the portion of the VIN with the engine code as well as the trim tag, not a printed breakdown of options. It’s easy and leaves the impression you aren’t trying to hide anything.
He’s been selling a lot of cars on eBay lately, including the black 64 Plymouth featured in this site on June 9th. Someone that appears to be a quasi dealer, should know how to create a good ad and what information needs to be included. When such information is left out, it’s hard to give them the benefit of the doubt that it’s an accidental oversight.
Steve R
The 400 in a boat anchor. Unless you can find a date code HEMI this is no longer worth that kind on money. The Black 64 Fury would be a better car. The Riviera would smoke the doors of this. Lot’s of sweet cars in the pictures, Better than this one.
The 400cid block have been highly sought after for years. They are used by people with Darts, pre-70 barracudas, Road Runners,Super Bees and such that want to build a 450-500cid engine but don’t want to use an RB block. Those stroker kits are inexpensive and readily available, they help maintain a sleeper look that a 440 block wouldn’t.
Steve R
Why not put a a392 Crate engine HEMI in this?
No R/T badging, wrong exhaust tips, factory air car (couldn’t get air with a Hemi), no holes in doors where the Hemi badges would have been (of course those could have been filled. This car is really not what it’s advertised to be.
Nailed it. Scam. Shame on the seller.
I agree, nothing convinces me that this is a Hemi car or an R/T model, I owned a 69 R/T 440 Charger for years, it appears to be an S/E probably a 383 car. No pics of under the car, should be a Dana rear axle. Sure has potential though.
I’m never impressed by an ad having someone (usually female) sitting on/and or having their feet on painted surfaces that could be damaged. It’s not something that’s going to push me toward buying said vehicle, and there are other outlets for “cheesecake” photos (IMO).
At least have the proper looking female scratching the paint, not some 2021 tattooed hipster. Get a girl with long hair, a mini skirt, and a come hither smile!
Right on, Curt!
When I was growing up, the only women you’d see with tattoos were in the circus, and they usually also had beards. Personally, a chick with tattoos just reminds me of my WWII uncles who had Navy tattoos on their forearms. Not sexy.
As a medical side note: during a proceedure last year, I was chatting with the surgeon as she was removing a cyst on my back, and the topic turned to tattoos. She told me that she routinely removes lymph nodes filled with tattoo ink. That’s not a good visual. SO, then imagine that the tattoo place is trying to cut costs, so the ink comes from….wait for it…..China! Now, imagine some unregulated Chinese tattoo ink lingering in your lymph nodes. Fiction? Hyperbole? Well, no. A good friend died 10 years ago at age 40 as a result of bad tattoo ink.
As a Dodge man, I prefer Mean mary Jean!
Mean Mary Jean was Plymouth’s girl, but yes ,100 % YES !
Nice looking charger.I noticed the picture with the yellow sticker,KJR. That was a radio station in seattle area popular in the 70,s. I wonder where the charger lived at some point. That was a cool sticker to have on you car than. Almost as cool as the 76 ball on the ant. { i still have a couple of the 76 balls and a set of 76 tire air filler caps} That sticker really brought back THE DAY! KISW was a must have also,
Why do people selling a car do a dumb thing with such a nice car and have someone sit on it? Please a what you might think is an attraction to a car is not going to make some guy bid higher than he would without that going on.
This car was for sale a few years ago and I inquired about it then.
This car does not appear to be an original hemi car. It looks like a 383 car that received the VIN tag and fender tag from a donor hemi car. (maybe wrecked or rusted?)
Note the air conditioning firewall. That was not an option on a real hemi car. The fender tag from the hemi car also says it had a console, and did not have a vinyl top. That does not match this car.
There should be torque boxes under there. I bet there aren’t any.
The number B8X128722 should be stamped into the radiator support and trunk lip. It is not. The stamped number is different, showing the fender tag is not for the car it is attached to.
Buyer beware. Run away.
I knew something wasnt adding up in this ad, the fake VIN number in the listing made me start to question things and as you’ve pointed out, this thing just ain’t real. Nice car, just NOT what he says/ thinks it is.
The black Plymouth Fury parked next to it, now that was a nice Mopar listed here a few weeks ago. Between the two cars the Fury has this Chargers number. In more ways than one.
I was excited about this car until I saw the factory a/c dash. A/C was never an option on any hemi MOPAR. I guess there are scammers everywhere and the uneducated get fleeced.
The chick (?) with the tattoo mural kind of tipped me off. Sorry to be so judgmental here, yet this is what I felt…Location, appearance of yard, description of the car, chick with weird ass tattoos everywhere…RUN AWAY!
Something screams meth heads here to me.
That was before reading the comments of those who really know what they are seeing, and the fine points of MOPAR history. Really appreciate the input of those who have more knowledge than I do!
Screw the scammers. YMMV
Waaaay too much bogus crap listed with this car. Joke of a listing. Serious scam.
You have to remember that Tattoo ink is POISON. A lot of people have to take special pills to combat the ill effects of the ink. Here in Michigan, we used to have a major furniture chain named Art Van, Their policy was if you had tattoos you did not get hired for Furniture sales dealing with the public.
What they all said! ^^^
There should be legal recourse to stop these scammers. If not, illegal would be justified.
She’s from Idaho