Sometimes a project car will come along where the new owner will have the chance to build the car of their dreams, and this 1968 Dodger Charger is just such a car. The refurbishment work has been commenced, and all that is left is for the next owner to realize that dream. The rust issues that had afflicted the vehicle have been largely addressed, but there are still some tasks left to be tackled. If that sounds like a promising prospect to you, then you will find the Charger located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has been quite spirited on the Charger, with a total of 63 bids pushing things along to $13,425. This is a No Reserve auction, and the interest for this classic isn’t just confined to those who are bidding. There are also 216 people who are currently watching the listing.
The Charger originally rolled off the production line finished in the very attractive Bright Blue Metallic with a Black vinyl top. As you can see, the refurbishment of the vehicle hasn’t been confined to merely rubbing down the existing paint and slapping on some primer. The entire car has been returned to bare metal, and it now wears a coat of etch primer. It did have some rust issues, and the majority of these have now been addressed. The floors themselves are nice and solid, but the trunk pan did have some rust. This has been cut out in its entirety, and a new pan will need to be welded in. The same is true of the lower rear quarter panels, while the rest of the car now appears to be rust-free. There are a few dings and dents that will still need attention, with the worst of these being on the leading edge of the passenger-side quarter panel. It appears that the majority of the external trim and chrome is present and in good condition, although the owner does note that there are a couple of minor pieces that are missing. The car came equipped with tinted glass, and this also seems to be in quite good condition.
As you can see from this photo, the floors of the Charger look really solid, with only a coating of surface corrosion on the underside to be attended to. The vehicle’s stunning original specifications continue when you look inside the car. The interior was originally White on Black and included bucket seats, a console, air conditioning, and an AM radio with the rear speaker. The owner states that he has the majority of the interior trim, but doesn’t indicate what sort of condition it is in. Still, with interior trim kits remaining relatively affordable, getting the interior returned to a pristine state shouldn’t be a major undertaking. In fact, there are plenty of people who can vouch for the fact that this aspect of a restoration can be immensely satisfying.
The engine bay of the Charger originally housed a 318ci V8, but that is long gone. In its place, we find a 440ci V8, along with a TorqueFlite transmission and power steering. The 440 was dropped into the car before the current owner purchased it, and hasn’t seen active duty for around 15-years. However, a custom one-gallon fuel tank has been installed in the trunk, and the engine now starts and runs. The car also will move under its own power, and while the owner can’t vouch for the condition of the transmission, he does say that the oil is clean, and doesn’t smell burnt. There will still be some work required to get the car to a roadworthy state. The Holley carburetor will require a rebuild, a new fuel tank will need to be sourced and installed, while the brakes and suspension will need to be thoroughly inspected, and any remedial work will need to be undertaken.
There is no doubt that the Charger has a lot of potential and if the next owner chooses to complete the repaint in the original color and trim combination, it will be a stunning looking car. There will be some purists who will decry the engine change, but the strong interest that has been shown in the car to this point would tend to indicate that there are also plenty of people who can see the promise in this one. I’d be interested to know whether we have any readers who find this Charger tempting enough to throw their hat into the ring, and submit a bid…or two.
Not as bad as some, for sure, but looks like the guy cleaned it up and cut the rust off it?? Lots of work here, up to 13 large already, as I said before, still needs work but is better than some of the carcasses we have seen here lately.You have a pretty good idea what you are in for here, anyway. Good luck
Stay safe and yeee haaa (duke boys)
Cheers
GPC
It doesn’t have the original engine, and it wasn’t some super rare spec to begin with; I say hop up the 440, throw in an interior with a Mexican blanket upholstery job, find some vintage ’70’s slotmags, and take it to some run-what-you-brung nights in beater drag car spec.
What was the lowest spec Dodge Charger in 1968? 225 Slant Six, three on tree, drum brakes, no power brakes, no power steering..
More? Please help!
Would be great fun to see one parked side by side with a Full Spec Hemi Charger!
I was getting a front end alignment at a Dodge dealer in Columbus Ohio in 1975 and they had a 66 Charger equipped as you described in the showroom. It wasn’t for sale, it was display only.
The one I bought for 10k in November was similar but much more complete.
The dilemma of what to do with a 318 car was interesting.I have a 440, stroked to 500, in another car so that was a thought,but lots of work, and my 70 FM3 pink Cuda would be left with an empty hole.Looked around for a deal on a big block,nothing floated my boat.Pulling the trigger today on a Hellcat driveline with 6 speed manual.While we’re at it ,new front end from Gerst Tubular.My plans for a simple restoration to driver car,have apparently changed,as the car returns to life as a triple black R/T with red eyelits in the interior,to match the big R/T stripe out back !
Why are 68 to 70 Chargers bringing more money than most Corvettes in this condition? Answer. Best looking muscle car ever. While far from drivable, at least this one isn’t photographed in the woods with trees growing through the roof. Still a money pit for a 318 car. Learn to spell people. I see “counsel” as “console” in numerous ads.
Yes, and I hear people pronouncing it that way, too. It is a CON-sole, not a COUN-cil. Why does it matter? Because if you sound stupid, it is hard to take you seriously. Like when someone wants to insult you and they write, “Your a moron”. If you don’t know why that is not correct, google it.
My goodness, there is nothing more annoying than a practicing grammarian, especially when the grammarian makes grammatical errors.
Chill out, guys.
Although the charger is one of the best 68-72 looking cars made , i would take the A code 4 speed 68 gto with hideaways, over charger camaro firebirds, most corvettes (umm splits and 427s excuded) the goat over the 70 ss, Had 2 ss, great rigs , the maroon white/white interior 4 speed was a beautiful car. But power the goat with chevy ( Sorry) Pontiac buids excitement but chevy builds the power, Just my humble opinion, i lnow Butler builds great ponchos too
The “custom 1 gallon fuel tank” caught me off guard at first,,, the 440 would gulp that in no time, ha.
Potential street-strip-cruiser here, hopefully it will remain a high performance car, that’s the real attraction under those sharp lines.
Why would anyone think a 1968-1970 Charger looks better than a 1969 Stingray is beyond my comprehension and I’m a Mustang guy. The epitome of the muscle cars was 1969 and while the Charger looks good, I wouldn’t place it over a 1969 383 Road Runner, 1969 Challenger, 1969 Mach 1, and a 1969 Corvette. Car is bulky, heavy, slow with a 318 compared to a 351 Mach 1, and in my opinion, not as popular as the above mentioned. This project looks pretty solid and the color is an awesome color but I’ll pass on the vinyl roof. JMHO
I have a 440 setting in my garage broed 30 over for sale