First off — thanks to Barn Finds reader Patrick S. for sending in this cool find! This 1968 Dodge Charger is being sold at no reserve here on eBay and while bidding seems to be up pretty high to me at $15,000 maybe I’m very wrong! The car is located in Belton, Missouri. Read through the post and see if you agree with me or not!
Although the car looks fairly solid, there’s a lot of surface rust. That dent in the front door might be a little difficult to get just right considering the factory scalloped indentations. The seller tells us that they purchased the car back in 1980. We’re also told that the glass and grill are in good shape but that the car will at least need front floors and a trunk pan.
I’m very, very fond of the Charger front end, although this one has been out in water for a while — you can tell from where the water has worn down the chrome after running down the hood channels. Over 96,000 Chargers were produced in 1968, and I found a reference source that stated that over 75% were fitted with a vinyl top. Based on the trim strips, this car originally had one.
The wrinkle shown here on the left rear corner is puzzling, because it doesn’t look like the add-on piece towards the rear of it is bent at all. Any ideas from readers how that happened (apart from it being a replacement part after the original incident)?
The interior–well–let’s just say you’ll need to plan on a complete replacement. Luckily, everything is available, and the ad says that all the trim is present.
What is this? A slant six? Seriously? As it turns out, the seller states this is the original engine, and as it turns out around the middle of 1968 the venerable 225 cubic inch inline six-cylinder was offered as a no-cost economy-minded option over the base 318 cubic inch V-8. Has anyone else ever seen a ’68 Charger with a slant six? I wonder how rare that really is? I found one reference to only 906 being produced with one — could this be the only one left? I found a ’68 Charger VIN decoder here and the fifth digit “B” is correct for a slant 6! Let us know in the comments if you know of another one, or if you would replace the engine with a V-8 anyway!
This was an Option & is Considered Quite RARE Among Mopar Collectors. me Personally I gotta have a 383 or 440 Car.
I read it not long ago but don’t remember where; the /-6 was introduced mid-year 68 after dealers requesting it. Being Dodge’s ‘personal car’ offer they appearantly targeted the mid-life, otherwise sensible Dart buyer to upgrade to the more individualistic Charger. Oddly enough the /-6 was never offered in the second-in-row Coronet 500 !
I of 906 and I am now the owner of 1 of 3 (That I am aware of) that are also 68 Charger, /6, 225, 3 speed and 3 on the tree. 😀
Hi Jerry,
I just bought a 68 Charger, /6, 225, 3 speed and 3 on the tree. Do you want to buy another one?
Jason
Never saw a second generation Charge SS, but a guy I knew had a 1974. Did everything it was asked, though a 318 would have been a better choice.
I have a Tucker Sno Cat with a Mopar slant 6 in it no surprise there but in a car like this that would be a surprise. I see lots of rust a fair bit of damage and LOTS of time and money to lose getting it back on the street in respectable condition. Not for me but it looks like it’s going to bring darn good money, good luck to the high bidder!
I saw a ’68 Charger with a 225 Slant 6 at the Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, PA a couple of years ago. It was in fair shape and drawing some attention. Everyone was saying “I didn’t know you could get a Slant 6 in a Charger”
Yeah, 15k is high. To me this is a 1500 car. But go economy!!
The 225 /6 became standard mid year `68 in Charger, displacing the 318 V8 that was originally standard.
The /6 remained standard in `69 & `70 as well.
I`ve seen a 1970 Barracuda with a 6 in it.
A leaning tower of power!
A Buzzin’ Half-Dozen .. .
A six with some tricks, that accelerates like a brick.
Now, now, the slant 6 was no 2 cycle Detroit,,,
http://www.cliffordperformance.com
I like oddballs like this, this would be great for a museaum, can’t be many of these left with a 6.
Rare, but any value it has is derived from being a 1968 Charger, not the engine.
Steve R
Agree completely, Steve R. The value this rusty car has is completely due to the fact that it’s a 68 Charger. The rarity of the original slant 6 is a non issue.
There’s one of these at Graveyard Carz on Motortrend TV
I can’t believe that the six would get any better fuel economy than the 318. (I have had both) Yes the slant six was a great fuel economy engine. ( got 28 mpg with a 170, hyper miling it from Wisconsin to Sea Side Heights N.J.) And have gotten as high as 25 mpg with a 318. But it would seem to me that unless the vehicle never goes over 30 mph and the person driving it only knows foot to the floor. The overall fuel economy between the six and the 318 would be negligible with the edge going to the 318 just because of the additional torque need to haul the bulk of the Charger.
Agreed, a six in a Dart would be better because less car to haul around, but in a mid sized car like this, or even in a Fury (saw a six one time!) and it makes no sense, because just to get it to move around town or merging in traffic, you need to floor it. A 318, not so much. I would love to be a lotto winner and buy up stuff like this to bring to shows. This car deserves to be preserved lest we do not forget all that were made like it. My question is, back when new, gas was 30 cents a gallon, why not own the 318? What kind of person buys something like this new? If it was some “practical” person, why not a base sedan, why a more expensive and flashier Charger? Makes no sense to me, and that is coming from a big time slant six lover.
Adjusted for inflation gasoline was considered as expensive in 68 as it is now.
All I can say it that engine bay looks like it’s pretty lonely with that little motor in there!! You think it could fit 2 slant sixes!! Haha!!
Tempting…with turbos for each…
I always thought it would have been a great idea to splice two 170s together and make a V12. A 340 CI smooth running high winding 12 cylinder, that would run better and be more reliable then a Ferrari or a Jaguar. Wouldn’t that of been a hoot!
Detroit Diesel did that in the 40s already with their twin-bank(U-engine )6046 for AFV duty.
Chrysler had higher aspirations though with their A-57 multibank
Would you settle for a twin turbo Viper V10?
In my experience a six cylinder only gives less power not more mpg.
Had a 69 slant six three on the tree. Different, but in a large car like that. Bad economy from an underpowered motor.
Had a 66 Lemans OHC 6 with quad and 3 speed on the floor. Ran 17s and 25 mpg. 273 Dart was in my class at the drags. Some times I won, and the other times, not so good.
Sandy Claws, The only problem with a high winding slant six, is not enough main bearings to support a flexing crank at high RPMs. At one time, the 170 and the 225 had almost the same horsepower ratings. (different torque) But the 170 peak horsepower rating was 1,000 RPM higher. (1″ smaller stroke equals less crank flex) I love them both. But all engines have their limitations. And that is the limitation on a slant six. If you want to wind a straight six, Then an AMC, a Chevrolet 230,250 or 292 or a Ford 300 would be the way to go.
I would go with the Ford 300 6 cylinder because of the port fuel injection available. (The best thing to ever happen to the 300 6 cylinder.)
How about an engine swap but keep it a 6 and in the family (sorta)? How about dropping a Cummins in there with the pump turned up? Keep the “derelict” look but lower it with some wide cop steelies. Now that’s what I’m talkin about! Imagine that chasing Bullitt around SF. I hate to say it, but I think Frank might have chickened out. ;^)
There’s a guy on YouTube junkerup that just bought a pristine one with a slant 6…he plans to yank the motor so you better tell him how rare that is.
I didn’t even realize that these were made until recently when a video with one was posted to YouTube. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf9sdimbPFE&t=244s
You know, all we see today are fire breathing Chargers, mostly because the people knew they would be valuable someday, but the truth is, and I grew up with these cars, of the 96,000 Chargers that were made, a great number of Chargers were just like this, basic tinny cars, it’s what made them such great performers. Ok, the slant 6 is a bit odd, but basic Chargers outnumbered fire breathers 20 to 1, I bet. It’s just nobody hung on to them. You can bet your fanny, that 6 is history, it’s worth too much today as a fire breather, but make no mistake, there was a time, if you can believe, when a 6 in a basic Charger, was good enough.
That holds true for nearly all buyers of 1960s/1970s Charger/Challenger/Cudsa. These fools are parting with $18K+ for a rusted out 71 Cuda convertible shell without interior, or driveline.
No argument that a /6 here makes little sense over the base V8 as any fuel economy gained is negated by having to haul that much car around.
This little gem here deserves to be brought back to life in it’s original incarnation
Maybe so, but you could say the same for anything that says Yenko or Shelby- or even Judge or Boss. But, after restoration- you have a Charger. Regardless of brand loyalty- Chargers are one of the best looking cars ever to come from Detroit. Plus, movies and tv have made them famous- and many 2nd gen Chargers came equipped with either a 383 or 440. Chargers and muscle era Mopars in general are more exclusive, so they command higher prices. Theres probably 3 or 4 69 Camaros driving by my house at any given time. They’re available everywhere (not even considering they repop whole bodies now), so the prices are lower. Isnt that a supply/demand kind of thing?
There was one of these ’68s in Ct. about 20-25 years ago. It was the same color blue with a black vinyl top and interior and still had the original hubcaps on it . It was in really nice shape . The first time I saw it a woman was getting into the car , and I couldn’t believe it when I heard the slant 6 fire up – I didn’t know they even came with 6 cyls ! I only saw it a few more times and it disappeared. We lived so close to a naval base I figured the owner got transferred.
I’m liking this, be nice to see this one kept stock. Mopar guys, was there any Charger/slant 6/A833 cars built? Wouldn’t surprise me….I haven’t seen this many Chargers come out of the woodwork for years, how many of us hope to be the next guy to find one priced reasonably?
Not a 68, but in 1975 a dealer in Columbus Ohio had a 66 with a 225 in the showroom. I was having my Plymouth Fury serviced and was looking at it and a salesperson told me that it was on loan from Corporate Headquarters and was not for sale.
If you ever met my Dad you’d know why people would opt for the /6 over the 318.
I once walked around a new car lot, in the rain, looking for sonata that didn’t come with the $65 aux/usb cable option. He finally relented when I reached in my wallet and handed him $40…..
I remember buying cars like this for 600 dollars in the mid 1980s. This sounds like crazy money to me.
There was one for sale around Detroit about a year ago slant six 3 speed Manuel column shift. Black over black.it sold before I could call him.
My 70 Challenger was factory slant 6, 3 on the tree manual trans, as well as my 73 Duster slant 6, 3 on the tree manual trans, I bought both cars from the original owner (an older fellow that wanted the 3 on the tree probably ordered them that way) I bought both cars from him once he could no longer legally drive.
I think three on the floor was standard, on the tree cost a little more. My Dad always said shifting on the wheel made more sense , esp if you had three people on that bench seat.
Say what you want about the slant six, but it will run almost forever. I like oddball cars such as this, but there are one too many zeros in the seller’s price.
Gawd, I hope whoever buys this restores it back to original because it is just as much a time capsule as its loaded trimmed out muscle car derivative. If I owned it, it would keep the bench seat, keep the 6, paint the roof in contrasting color instead of vinyl, but for sure source some nice M500 wheels and raised white letter tires. True factory SLEEPER!!!
Alexander when they use the term SLEEPER it generally mean it LOOKS like a slow quiet SLEEPER, if you kept the slant 6 it would sure be a sleeper but it would be one that NEVER WOKE UP!
My uncle went to a Plymouth dealer and ordered a 1973 Fury with a 225 slant 6. I was to young to care if he liked it or not, at the time.
The old studebaker 170 flat head six would wrap too er 7,000 rpm.
The majority of the Australian Chargers from the 70s were 6 cylinders but cars body significantly smaller. Probably on 20% 340/318/360 V8 combined. Some of the 265 engines had 3 two barrel carbs good for about 300 bhp, they really roared.
Dukes of hazzard?
Restore it with the /6. Build the /6 with hyper pak options and a rumpity cam with dual exhaust!
Ultimately, it’s up to the buyer whatever he/she will do with the car. I think most hope that they’ll keep it original. Think about 20, 30 years from now, and wonder how many will be left? I’d imagine, not many!
Great lookin’ body style and could you imagine the mileage you’d get. And at every stoplight you could rev up the engine, drop it in gear and make the neatest “chirp” Couldn’t use it “Duke style” though jumping a bridge that was washed out as only enough power to get you to mid stream..Excitement like you’ve never had before……………….
Yep had a 1 owner 68 Charger with the slant down the street from me – think that’s why they kept saying no to selling it……it disappeared in 90’s….
Im a fan of more oddball cars than a charger which in itself are quite plentiful but i would never remove the slant 6, lack of performance notwithstanding. The uniqueness is reason enough to leave it there. For buyers wanting a V8, there are plenty of those available.
Chrysler Corp. was known for making “Low price specials” available for dealers to order. This allowed a dealer to advertise you could get a Charger as low as $X,XXX.00 Dealers referred to these cheap cars as “loss leaders”.
I remember seeing a 1967 Chrysler 300 hardtop at Al’s Motor’s in Arlington Va. The car had no options, and even had a delete clock and radio order. The car was advertised for [IIRC] $2,395.00.
It was the salesman’s job to steer a visiting customer away from that cheap car, and into one with a few more options, at a higher price. [Sir, don’t you want one with automatic transmission?]
Bill, great story. That is exactly what the owner of a 68 Charger Slant 6 bought it for because of the ad and it was the cheapest one for his mom.
Bill, I swear we must have tripped over each other running the same automotive pursuits in the 1960-1980s in the northern Virginia/DC area. We’ve all seen those newspaper advertisements with bargain priced NEW cars to lure customers in. Even Ray Burdette (?) got into the act (in Arlington Virginia) by showing the flat windshield Beetles when the Super Beetle came out at thousands more. Herby’s Ford did it with the Mavericks and Torinos. Stolhman Olds did it with the Omega. Temple Buick did it with the Opels and Buick Specials.
Alexander,
Anyone who was a gear head back then remembers the cheap prices in newspaper ads, Now with the Federal Trade Commission requirements, they have to list the specific stock number of the car in the ad.
We may have met before, back in the late 60s & the 70s I was deep into collecting Packards, Imperials & Studebakers, used to go to the Apple Blossom Show in Winchester, as well as the Rockville car show every October. About 1980 I opened up an antique car shop in northern Silver Spring, MD.
Yes! Rockville was a regularly-attended show for me. Winchester once or twice. Bought my first already-built model car at the swap meet there. Still have it. I was maybe 7 years old. My dad and I also pursued full sized Packards in the region but never bought one. We did look at a 1950s Clipper in someone’s garage that was priced right. Alas, my parents converted our garage into a bedroom so we could never properly store, or restore, any vintage cars.
Alexander,
My email is my name without a space, @ AOL.com. We can talk more there.
Bill
In the mid-70s my father and I pulled a slant six out of 68 to 70 charger. We’re installing my grandmother 68 signet. Even then I couldn’t believe the charger had a slant six
This is not the same as the feature car but I had a 1977 Fury sedan, slant 6, 3 on the tree. Looked like a plain version of the Dukes of Hazzard squad car. Guy I sold it to in Canada painted it identical to the tv show car. Really under powered, poor gas mileage, not a practical car at all! But I loved it & miss it to this day!
I paid a little more than that for an (amateur) restored slant six 3 in the tree 1969 Charger (although it was 7 years ago). As said, it is a mix of looks and weirdness, but I’m fond on it. The slant is still there, non rebuilt.
These cars came with slants and 3 on the three borrowed from the Valiants and Darts, and the transmission is a weak A903… (not sinchronized 1st gear… neither A833s nor floor shifting). MaMopar was cheap when requested. The option wheels are consistent with the broadcast sheet. I think the story of being an eye catcher in a dealership, to bring customers for the low price to be directed to the more expensive options make a lot of sense.
Some pictures:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacofoto/8836075532/in/photostream/
I have one, special order, all delete, 6 cyl, 3 on tree. It’s in horrible condition, but I wonder how rare it is and is it desirable to purists. I don’t want to spend 75k restoring it if it will only bring 70k at auction.
You (almost surely) will make more (some) money selling the body to somebody else that want to restore it and put a big engine on it. Some people might be thrilled to see a 69 Charger with an original slant, but not so much for paying money for it (even if original). Or, you can fix it and enjoy it yourself. Good luck!
If it were mine, I would fix it up to stock & keep it. But CP is absolutely correct, it is worth more resto-modded. Whether you do it or pass it off, it doesn’t have much value as a stock restoration.
Guys like me who appreciate it as the freak it is are rare.