Parked In ’80: 1968 Dodge Charger
When this 1968 Dodge Charger recently emerged from over four decades of storage, it was stated to still be in 100% original condition throughout, but I’d estimate that number at closer to 96 percent ’cause those Cragars definitely aren’t the factory rollers! The Mopar is stated to have been put into a garage in 1980 and not driven since, and while it is a project there’s good potential here along with this being a no-reserve auction. Presently in St. Joseph, the B-Body has been a Missouri resident its entire life and can be spotted here on eBay, where 37 bids have taken the price up to $23,300 so far.
We have to fast-forward to the present here, as not much past background or history is provided beyond the fact that the one was in such a long hibernation. Fortunately, the seller provides a thorough selection of photos for potential buyers to look through, so it’s fairly straightforward to comprehend what you’re getting here. One important detail is addressed, and that’s regarding the driver’s side headlight cover. The seller surmises this piece was replaced at some point with a component from a Charger R/T, but he’s quick to point out that this car is a base model.
The green paint is stated as original, and it’s been recently detailed outside but unfortunately, the rust didn’t buff out so the future owner will have some corrosion issues to address, with the lower sections of the quarters said to be the worst areas. The Dodge was also factory-equipped with a black vinyl top, but it was removed due to deterioration and some good news is a solid roof was found underneath.
Power is provided by the original small black, a 318 that fires up using the old bottle-feeding method of pouring gas directly into the carburetor. The automatic is said to properly shift into each gear, and with a 2.76 rear-end this one’s more of a highway cruiser than a menace when the traffic light turns green. The odometer is showing 31k miles, but no word on whether that’s accurate or if the engine has ever gotten a rebuild.
The interior received a deep cleaning which included removal of the seats, which netted a reward of finding two build sheets, one tarnished along with the other mentioned as pristine. Things inside will need some refreshing, but the platform appears more solid than I was expecting so that’s a plus. This is one of those situations where I’d be tempted to put something more potent under the hood, but I almost wish that wasn’t still the numbers-matching 318 in the bay so I could feel better about moving forward with it. What would you do here?
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Comments
After looking at the pictures I have to say…. Where I grew up. This is exactly what a 68 Charger would have looked like by 1980. Due to road salt. I went to school with a guy who had a 69 Road runner 440 6 pack and a Demon as well. The Road Runner was immaculate, and had the Chrysler emblem on the lower front fenders. I told him I really liked that and asked where he’d gotten them. He said they’re stock, all of them had them when new, but once the front fender bottoms rot out they’re gone. This was in the mid 1980s. I’d restore it and leave it with the 318 and highway gears, it will make a sharp looking cruiser.
I forgot to say, I’m surprised the front fenders are so intact compare to the rear quarter panels.
He was right. Beginning with the 1964 model year, all Chrysler Corporation cars had a gold colored Chrysler Pentistar on the low right front fender just behind the wheel opening. I was 9 years old in 1964, and I thought that was really cool. At the time, my family only drove Chrysler products. We lived in Detroit until 1958, that’s when we moved to Southern California. While in Detroit, my mom’s side of the family all worked at Chrysler’s Highland Park headquarters. Her cousin worked in the clay design center which I thought that was very cool. My dad’s side all worked at The Ford Motor Company. That’s just the way it was in Detroit in the 50s. Putting the small Pentistar on the right front fenders of all Chrysler Corporation vehicles was such a Chrysler thing to do.These days I collect 1:18 die cast model cars. I also collect the American car logos and medallions to place among the models. I found a few of those little bronze colored Pentistars. The day they arrived, as soon as I saw them, they brought back some great memories of those days in the 60s when the US Big Three dominated the global automotive market. These days, I’m usually the only one driving an American car, and that really saddens me. American cars are great, I sure wish that wasn’t the way it is.
How did the system allow 2 Billy members?
I’m the other Billy. Not the one in this commentary.
Sorry guys.
I’d leave it as is, replace the Resr fenders ( Lots of Sheet metal available for these Chargers ) finish Restoring it, refresh the Interior , and have it as a Driver, have a nice Hemi in the Garage to Swap out when you want to tear up the streets ( Or play ” Sleeper “)
Looks like many I fed into the press by the early 80s. That then and this is now. So to be fair. The car is all there. It’s not a sonar blip like most being drug across here. If it’s your dream go for it and it’s a cool color when done up. Leave the original driveline in it as there are plenty of 5 mpg noise fests out there.
I agree w Chris & Driveinstile; Leave orig. drive train as is for now & do bad body work 1 s t ! car runs & drives so no need to fix what s not broke now ?! after body work & when / if $$ available rebuild that 318 up to 340 specs? & will be more potent cruiser & maybe bit of sleeper w slight change in rear gears ? (down to 320’s? ) ;318 & 340 are real good reliable small blocks as far as I know & heard
I guess the big question no one has asked is if it’s a true R/T it would have had the awesome 440 as standard equipment. What’s a 318 doing in the engine bay?
I would imagine it’s for the same reason that every Trans Am is somehow a T/A 6.6, emblems are cheaper than engines.
It’s the base model charger .
Go back & reread the write-up. Replacement headlight cover.
How did the system allow 2 Billy members?
I’m the other Billy. Not the one in this commentary.
Sorry guys.
I don’t understand that amount of money for a 318 base car needing that much work. Even if a person was more than handy, it would take 20k or more to bring it back to good.
The price is insane. There’s tons of similar clean and ready to go cars out there. This will be a money pit for some sucker though.
Sad to see the condition it is in. Also the price it’s garnering.
Had one just like this same color but a 69, no vinyl top and a lot more rust back in the 90s , was going to Pro Street it since it was the most logical choice at the time but a friend of mine offered me a price and I took it and let it go, was one of 5 Chargers I had altogether and hopefully soon to get another one
It’s already been established that this is a base car, not an R/T. Although any 318 Mopar would seem painfully common, the buyer might want to consider restoring this to its original 318/Torqueflite glory. It looks like a decently equipped car and with the huge number of 2nd-gen Charger restomods I’m seeing, a matching-numbers 318 car might be refreshing to see. The appraised value of the finished car might equal the investment of the restoration but there are people who want to see a car resembling what they REALLY drove at one time.
I don’t know why so many people feel the need to drop in the largest V8 they can find to make a lot of noise and get 10-12 MPG. I owned a Plymouth Satellite Sebring with a 318, and it did everything that I needed it to do.
My father had the same exact car in the late 1970s, green paint, black vinyl top, 318 and all. I’d leave the 318 in and just have fun with it.