The passage of time can be kinder to some classics than others, while some can “dodge” the proverbial bullet. That last scenario could be the case with this 1968 Charger R/T. If the owner’s assessment is correct, it is a vehicle that has led a life of adventure, but it remains a solid classic that is ripe for restoration. Its engine bay houses the original 440ci V8, which would have provided the performance to match its good looks. A new home is beckoning for the R/T, so the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. The Charger is located in Springfield, Oregon, and while the bidding has hit $20,000, that figure remains short of the reserve. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting another promising project car for us.

Finished in Medium Gold with a Black vinyl top, this Charger would have commanded attention in its prime. Those days would seem to be well behind it, but as you will see, returning it to that state is possible. Externally, there is plenty of panel damage, and the buyer will undoubtedly replace the driver’s side rear quarter panel. The passenger side looks reasonable, but the owner believes that the buyer will probably replace it anyway, along with the trunk pan and drop-offs. There is rust in evidence, so there’s no point cutting corners in that case. However, the best news reveals itself when examining the Charger’s underside. The factory undercoat remains intact, and it covers floors and frame rails that are rock solid. This is something of a miracle because the owner indicates evidence of sediment in the K Frame and floors that suggests that this Charger may have been caught in a flood. If that is the extent of the rust problems, getting the body back to a sound state should not be difficult or expensive.

The Charger is a numbers-matching vehicle that the original owner ordered with a 440ci V8, a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, power steering, and power brakes. That V8 would have produced an impressive 375hp, which was enough to fire the R/T through the ¼ mile in 14.3 seconds. While the car may be numbers-matching, life may not be a bed of roses for the Charger’s next owner. The seller says that the engine is locked and that his attempts with a breaker bar failed to produce results. That means that the next owner will face the cost of a rebuild, but the question of why the motor is locked could pose some significant problems. If the vehicle has been submerged at some point, that could have allowed water to find its way inside the V8. If that’s the case, there could be some significant issues that may render the motor a throw-away. That is another question that would be worth investigating further.

It appears that the interior hardware for this Charger is intact, although I can’t spot the console. The upholstered surfaces are beyond salvation, but the seat frames and dash seem okay. Apart from a column-mounted tach, I can’t spot any aftermarket additions. The most obvious course of action would be for the buyer to source a trim kit and new seat foam. This won’t be a cheap undertaking because, on average, Mopar interiors tend to cost more than for equivalent Ford or GM models. However, $3,000 would see the interior looking factory-fresh, and with the potential value of this classic, it could be an approach well worth the expense.

This 1968 Charger R/T is a pretty sad sight if taken purely at face value. Its exterior shows plenty of damage, and whipping the panels into shape will not be a task for the faint-hearted. However, its lack of underside rust and its numbers-matching status would seem to suggest it could be a viable restoration prospect. It has already attracted an impressive sixteen bids, and with plenty of time left on the listing, there’s scope for that figure to increase significantly. Restored to a high standard, there’s no reason why it couldn’t command a market value beyond $45,000. If the owner achieves perfection, that figure could climb to $60,000. It is also worth remembering that values on Second Generation Chargers have been increasing steadily in recent years, meaning that if someone returns this one to its former glory and retains it for a few years, they could find themselves sitting on a gold-plated investment. That is a scenario that has to be worth considering.