I’m always on the fence regarding muscle cars. They get covered ad nauseam and there’s not much more that can be said about them that hasn’t already been covered, time and time again. This 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T, however, completely riveted my attention. It looks non-restored and original while presenting itself as slightly worn and un-modified – how unusual! And this version of Mopar’s B-body (’68-’70) is my favorite so this subject was hard to pass up. Mikey P. found the listing for this Medium Gold Metallic Mopar muscle car, it’s located in San Jose, California and is available, here on craigslist for $83,000.
Over at Plymouth, 1968 marked the intro of the uber-popular Road Runner and Dodge would rise to that challenge with their Super Bee. But prior to that, it was Plymouth’s GTX vs. Dodge’s Coronet R/T and today’s find is one of 10,900 R/Ts assembled in ’68. One of this Dodge’s soundest features is its body. Known to rust at the drop of a hat, this car is solid! It was, in fact, restored in the early ’80s but that was 40 years ago so careful use and proper storage have paid dividends. The seller mentions, “Older paint is showing its age, thus needing a cosmetic restoration“. And though the listing images don’t reveal anything serious, there are some cosmetics that could use attention. The clean condition extends to the black vinyl roof covering and the rehomed bumpers. Here’s a video that will tell you a bit more about this desirable Dodge.
The big news resides in the engine compartment where the original 425 gross HP 426 CI “Hemi” V8 engine is still holding court. The seller states that it was rebuilt a few years back and has only encountered 22K miles it its lifetime. “Works excellent” and “Does not burn oil and has great compression” are the listing’s operating descriptions for this big “Elephant” engine. The TorqueFlite automatic transmission is claimed to “shift great” and it connects up to 3.91 rear gears. Various research sources coalesce around a 230 total count for Hemi-powered ’68 Coronet R/Ts.
The bucket seat interior has undergone a redo and shows beautifully in an understated way. I did find the lack of a center console surprising as that often accompanies buckets. The only slight modification from stock is the addition of under-dash auxiliary gauges.
The “Hemi” engine designation, today, just doesn’t carry the connotation, or weight, that it did so many years ago. Since the early 2000s they’ve become commonplace and it seems that practically everyone, including yours truly, has had some experience with the current iteration. In the sixties, those four letters really meant something special, and having that powerplant wrapped in a plain brown wrapper, such as this Dodge Coronet R/T, just makes the whole package that much more delicious. As for pricing, $83 large doesn’t surprise me, how about you?
I saw this listed about a month ago, local to me. I halfway wanted to reply and say, I’ve a fifty spot for you, let me rip it around the neighborhood one time. Not a Mopar guy, and if I were, I’d rather run a 440 six pack, but it’d be pretty cool to drive an original hemi car. Although I prefer GM, I am a car guy at heart so I’d kinda like to just drool over this Coronet for a half hour. I so dislike tire kickers though and would hate to waste the seller’s time. I am sure this Coronet will make some Mopar nut very happy.
Yep….it’s been for sale and on the market from this seller for awhile. Guess low mileage once restored cars are hard to sale on CL. Maybe should run it thru one of the action places.
Yes, this one should’ve been listed in Hemmings, where the audience is more deep-pocketed and knowledgeable about original Hemi Mopars. This one merely needs a refresh worth $15k and it’ll be back to being a six-figure car. Awesome.
*sell
I saw a comment from Dan based on what the seller said, “It needs a $15,000 restoration.” Having restored a 65 Belvedere that looked to be in better shape than the pictures I saw of this one, I can tell you that if you take it apart and put it back together yourself, the body work and paint will be over $15,000. That’s counting a few thousand hours of your labor as free. “B Body” Mopars rust in places that you can’t see (like the boxed in cowl area that was never saw primer, much less paint) until you take them apart.
That being said, the price isn’t too bad for a low mile Hemi car that’s (probably) as solid as anything you’re likely to find these days. The picture of the rusted fender tag and rust on the inner fender around it doesn’t look good to me. My car was a lot better than that. The fact that it was in Pennsylvania for a while tells me that this one will need a complete restoration by a Mopar expert. That’s not cheap, even if you do a lot of the work yourself. Been there, done that.
I have two 1969 Z/28 Camaros (that I admit I bought in 1982 and 1996) that I restored to “Driver quality” that didn’t cost me in total as much as the 65 Plymouth did. Don’t go after this one thinking you can fix it for cheap. But damn, it would be really worth it. I only drove one Hemi car once around 1973, it was spectacular. I was in college at the time, I knew I should have bought it but didn’t have the money.
Worth every dime to the person who can afford it.
Had one in 71 waiting on a Chevelle SS to arrive from the great “Chevrolet factory” in the sky. Sold it to my next door neighbor for $2200. Paid $3800 for the SS. Left for the USAF two months later. Man, if we only knew.
So many nicer ones around for 20-30K less money. No, they aren’t “Hemi’s” but in order to get your money’s worth out of this one it will take a full rotisserie job. And we all know that isn’t cheap.
In 1968 I was 17 years old an out cruising in my1962 Impala 283 powerglide hardtop. One of the older guys cruising the strip invited to ride with him in his then new plain jane dark green Super Bee, HEMI 4sp. Bench seat drum brakes 3.23 gears I think. He took up out on the highway and blaste d it through the gears. It pulled like a freight train and those dual quads sounded like they would suck the hood into the air cleaner, what a rush for a 17 year old kid! He packed that extra long truck like 4 spd shifter into high at 6 grand and wound that Dodge up 150 mph, I remember that ride just like it was yesterday. What a thrill! Long ive these teriffic Mopars, there was never really any match for the raw and visceral experience they affected on their owners and admirers.
My buddy took me onto rt 17 in Rochelle Park NJ and screamed thru the gears in a 69 Nova 396-375hp. Bet that woulda givin the Hemi grief.
I came for the ’65 Galaxie, hoping for a 427. Couldn’t find it listed.
If only I didn’t have other projects. Love this one.
She’s a beauty only wish it had a 4 speed and that’s why it’s still for sale today for if it was a 4 speed it would be gone long ago! I had a stripped 69 R/T in the 80s mostly only the shell 🐚 left waiting to get crushed outside a scrap metal company on Sand Island access road on Oahu Hawaii! It still had the Dana 60 sitting on the backing plates all around all white with a stripped out black interior no engine and trans! Miss those days when a lot of these cars were stripped for just the engine and trans and the owners didn’t give a rats 🐀 *#% about the bodies! Wish Elon musk hurry’s up and make a Time Machine so we can go back in time and drive it right off the factory assembly line and haul them all back to our secret warehouses in a secluded location lol 😝 beam me up Scotty! lol 😝
The lack of a center console & column mounted shifter ain’t helping either.
Hey brother man, it will probably never sell for the number he has in mind.
You guys ever wonder why in the video the other VIN tags were not shown ? Yeah, me too.
IMHO, it’s a $40k car. Too much internal rust.
I’d like to know more about the ’71 Charger SE behind it.
22,000 miles and a rebuild? Could be it’s had a rougher life than would appear. I won’t discuss the price, finally got my blood cooled down from the last one
I owned one of these, even the same not so attractive color but, pulling up to a light with all the markers removed it looked like I was in my mom’s car. When they met me at the next intersection I just looked and laughed. Sleeping Ugly made me lots of $$$ on the streets by just looking slow. Wish I had it now!
I actually messaged the guy saying “Don’t do it! You WILL regret it”. He messaged me back “too many cars and need a place to park my buddy’s ’96 Honda Civic” WHAT!?!?!?! CIVVIC??? ughhhh
They just sold a 68 RT with a hemi at mecum that was immaculate and it went for around 90