Hiding in this barn is a classic with a sad history. This 1968 Dodge Charger has occupied this spot since 1981, a project build that stalled before it started for various reasons. It shows promise as a restoration candidate, and with a 383ci V8 under the hood, it will provide someone with plenty of power under their right foot. Our own Russ Dixon spotted this gem, proving that he has a great eye for desirable classics that deserve a second chance at life.
The seller is this Charger’s second owner, purchasing the car from an Indianapolis dealership as a teenager in 1974. He drove the car regularly, clocking around 80,000 miles behind the wheel before parking it in this barn in 1981. The plan was for the Charger to undergo restoration, but fate and life in general meant this never happened. He admits that with his health declining, it is time for this Dodge to find a new home with an enthusiast who can do it justice. It rolled off the line wearing a winning combination of Dark Green Metallic paint with a Black vinyl top, and it appears it has never undergone repairs or a repaint. The paint exhibits deterioration and there is visible rust in the lower rear quarter panels. This is pretty typical, and an enthusiast intent on a high-end restoration will probably replace the offending parts. There is no information regarding the state of the floors, trunk pan, or rails. However, these items are also readily available if there are problems. The vinyl looks surprisingly good below the heavy dust layer, and many enthusiasts will welcome the grille with the concealed headlamps. There appear to be no missing significant trim items, and the glass looks okay. One item the winning bidder must bring with them when collecting this classic is a set of wheels and tires because the originals are long gone.
It would be fair to describe this Charger as a sleeper because its relatively conservative exterior appearance offers no hint of the performance potential hiding under the skin. This classic features its numbers-matching 383ci V8, teamed with a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. This engine is the 4-barrel version and would have generated 330hp and 425 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. That was enough to launch this Charger through the ¼-mile in 15 seconds, which was a pretty respectable figure in 1968. The seller confirms this car doesn’t run, and I suspect that it probably hasn’t for over four decades. It is unclear whether the engine turns freely, but factoring the cost of a mechanical rebuild into the restoration budget would be wise.
It is disappointing that the seller supplies no clear interior shots because that makes assessing its condition and needs impossible. The Fender Tag reveals the trim is Black, and we know that the Charger features bucket seats and a console. Beyond that, we are flying blind. It is worth considering that not only did this classic enjoy a relatively short active life, but it has been sheltered from UV exposure during its decades-long hibernation. Therefore, there might be many interior pieces that would be serviceable following a deep clean.
Life has a nasty habit of throwing us curveballs that will inevitably derail our plans. That has been the case with this 1968 Dodge Charger, although it appears that plenty of people believe it deserves to return to its rightful place on our roads. It has received an impressive forty bids since the seller listed it here on eBay in Philpot, Kentucky. The action has pushed the price beyond the reserve to $25,800 with plenty of time left for interested parties to stake their claim. That leaves me with two questions, and your answers to both will be fascinating. What would you be prepared to bid for this Charger, and what would be your plans for it if it found its way into your workshop?
A 81 Western Kentucky University sticker is still on right front bumper.
Go Big Red ! aka Hilltoppers ..
My undergraduate alma mater 👨🎓
I possibly walked by this car at one time or parked my 69 Z28 car next to it late at night in the “BFE”overflow parking after quarter beers at the Alibi dive bar 😏
Good luck on sake..
Its restorable but one needs to inspect it first.
If I had room in my one state over garage…
I don’t want to trade it to my parents old barn 50 mikes away ..
Rough, but complete. It will be interesting to see what it sells for.
Steve R
Sold with a high bid of $32,600.
Steve R
This could be the poster boy for “Barn Finds” 10 years ago ( or is it 15) it seemed like we had fewer listing, perhaps 3-4 a day, but more like this. Now I scroll and scrolll. But that is ok. Barnfinds has been part of my life for so long I wouldn’t know what to do without it.
This one needs a personal inspection before purchase, yet it amazes me how many 30+K cars are sold without someone seeing it in person! It might be a good value, or not…
Was this listing on BF before?
Not that I could find recently. The closest was this one from Feb. https://barnfinds.com/parked-in-1980-all-original-1968-dodge-charger/
This will sell north of 30 grand. The insanity over 68 to 70 Chargers still with us. Parked on wood all these years better than concrete.
This is sacrilegious! Sad! Sad! Sad!
Why is it sacrilegious? It still survives. It was at the bottom of the depreciation curve and was basically a disposable used car, when it was parked. If he’d sold it rather than park it in the garage what are the odds it wouldn’t have been turned into a Toyota decades ago?
Sometimes, as the author said, life gets in the way, the seller obviously cared enough for the car that he parked it inside in order to fix it up at a later date, which never came. The seller isn’t trying to “gouge” potential buyers, he started the auction at $1,000, without reserve.
Steve R
Cool car but like many other examples, the starter cost is tough to get past. Especially if someone is into old cars, not just popular old cars. A great many can be had, ready to drive, for that kind of money or less.
For five digits I would expect to be able to drive this onto a trailer. It was and AC car, I wonder if the parts come with it. One will want to put disk brakes on it so it can be stopped as well as it can get going.