Rare Slant-Six! 1969 Dodge Charger
After a slow start in 1966-67, the new Coronet-based Dodge Charger took off in terms of sales in 1968. By 1969, production exceeded 92,000 copies. The rarest of the ’69 Chargers were those that came with the 426 Hemi (302 of them). But what do you suppose was the next rarest? Chargers fitted with the 225 cubic-inch Slant-Six that only saw 462 variants roll off the assembly line. The VIN on the seller’s car verifies it’s one of those, but it’s in pretty rough shape. Located in Coffeeville, Alabama, the reserve is unmet so far at $2,650 here on eBay with the Buy It Now price set at $30,000.
The Charger was a mid-year 1966 addition to the Dodge line-up and more than 35,000 were scooped up. It used the B-body platform that all of Chrysler’s intermediates rode on. Interest dropped in 1967 to less than half the prior year’s figures but made a splashing turnaround with the redesign of 1968. 85,000 units would be followed by 10% more the following year, so the Charger was finally a bona fide success. Given the sporty nature of the car and Dodge’s focus on promoting the performance end of the spectrum, it’s odd that they would even bother with a 6-cylinder engine. But they did and not many were bought, making a Slant-Six Charger a near unicorn today.
Restoring this 1969 Charger will not come cheap and you’d think it would be a more desirable project with a 383 or a 440 R/T. But what appears to be its original six-banger is still there, although the “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission was modified with a Hurst floor shifter instead. The seller says some work has already been done to bring this car back from the brink, though no mention is made if it runs yet. New stuff includes the exhaust and brakes plus a new windshield. The car will come with a new gas tank for the buyer to lay in.
This was once a B5 Blue Charger, but old orange/red primer is present on the sheet metal in perhaps an earlier effort to emulate a General Lee. Along those lines, the seller is throwing in a low-mileage 440 V8 with some of the hardware needed to install it. The tires are said to be good, and a 727 automatic transmission is also part of the picture. As is quite a lot of rust. Perhaps the best reason to restore this car as it was originally built is the novelty of the Slant-Six. With fewer than 500 made, how many could still be around, and wouldn’t you shock folks at Cars & Coffee when you popped the hood?
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Comments
Don’t think the seller realizes the fact that just because there were very few made doesn’t make it worth anything as something desirable. They were unusual for a reason-very few people wanted a big heavy car with a economy purposed engine. Add in that it has more rust than an abandoned shrimp boat and we find someone’s been watching too much BJ and Mecum Actions between hits on the pipe.
$30,000!?!?? That’s not skunk weed they’re smoking, it’s some really crazy mushrooms,
Yes, I think they did it so they could start off with a “low base sticker price for the car. My friend Ray G. had the “one of one” 1968 charger that had the slant six 3spd. Only made one that year!
That’s awesome never in my life have I ever heard about a slant 6 in a charger such a small motor for a big car
The Charger is just a more aggressive style than the Coronet but they are the same car and thousands of Slant 6 Coronets were made. I’m pretty sure the 6 was a delete option in the Charger
I’d say meth based on the surroundings.
I’m just shocked this car doesn’t have ’01’ spray bombed onto the doors.
Gotta agree with you on 30k price. I love that it still exists with the six cylinder though. I hope someone restores it just for the oddity factor.
Agreed. Were it well-preserved, I’d try to buy it just to take it to a car show. Someone raised to believe everything they see on an auction show would probably think I swapped the motor because every Charger of this vintage had a 440 or 426.
$30k BIN would have been nuts last year when car prices were peaking, and the trend now is down, not up. Tyler Hoover’s (Hoovie’s Garage) ’68 Charger R/T with a 440 magnum, factory A/C and it’s original interior sold for $70K at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas last week. This car would take more than $30k in work to bring up to the condition of that car.
Maybe this sells for $10k, but in a rational world this is a $5k car.
How rare is a ‘68 Charger 383ci, 2bbl carb, 4 speed basic? No power anything.
I ordered a 68 Charger w/ 383 2 bbl, 727 trans, PS&PB. Sticker was just over $4,000!
Definitely a case of it’s worth 30k if there’s 25k cash in the glovebox…
I agree that it’s unusual and should be kept as a reminder of what actually was available at the time.
This needs a Superbird nose and wing transplant…
You mean Daytona, this is a Charger after all. The 225 was great in a Valiant or Duster, but not a mid sized car. I once drove a 225 70 Fury. It was awful, the engine much too stressed, plus I was told the MPG was quite poor because one needed to floor it all the time just to get pretty much anywhere. No, the best engine for a Charger was a 318, period.
For you, maybe. You seem to be the kind of guy that sits in the passing lane going 5 miles under the speed limit for “economy” and hold up the rest of the cars behind you.
We get it, you dont like any Mopar with anything larger than a 318 , and a 198 six would be your dream engine – Why dont you gripe on all the big block Mustangs and Camaros posts ?
I can see it now – ” Those immature drivers that feel the need for a 390 v8 , when a 200 six was perfect for a Mustang” – Right ?
But keep the leaning tower of power in place.
Of course-that would be the whole point. That and personalized license plates reading “SLORIDE”…
Did not know there were ever any slant six Chargers made,and I thought I knew everything
Wouldn’t this have originally come with a bench seat? (Not that it really matters)
Bench seats didn’t show up till 1970.
Gary, I’m not sure where you got your information. In 1969, my mother ordered (with my help) a 1969 blue Dodge Charger, with a bench seat, 318V8 and a column mounted automatic transmission.
No way is that going for 5 figures.
That slant six will be running long after the V8s have worn out.
Those slant six engines were tough. They used them in Cabs, and for city vehicles for that very reason. They were pretty gutless, but they were extremely reliable.
$20-$25K gets you a brand new 69 Charger body that you can put on a modern performance chassis. Why would anyone pay close to $30K for this shell plus rust, given the huge amount of restoration work that lies ahead? Just for a slant six??
How about a cuda and where from?
The owner of this 1969 Dodge Charger should give it to a local High School or Community College for one of their “auto shop “ programs. Let some of the students and faculty restore this car and then auction it off for a charity of their choice. Time to quit being greedy and give back to the community. Good luck. Nice article.
That’s a wonderful idea, but once done, the rich dude that buys it will still drop a hemi in it.
here we go again …..
IMO, strait/slant sixes only belong in big city taxis used on flat roads(lol) & in the lighter compact cars, like duster, nova, hornet, maverick, etc. & even the ford, chevy, & amc pony cars of the ’60s.
I can’t believe the 225 slant 6 was even available for ex. in the GIGANTIC! 5th generation 1969–1973 Plymouth Fury!! I wonder how many of THOSE were sold, hopefully w/o a/c & other heavy options. lol
Years ago I knew a guy that owned a 1973 Chevy Biscayne that had a 250 in it. I think the only option that car had was the automatic transmission . . It was slow, but dependable !
I would not want to parallel park that thing if it had no power steering. lol
Not sure if the strait 6 could be had in lesser full size WAGONS! of that gigantic chevy generation!
I knew a guy ions ago that had a 70 Coronet with a slant 6. 65 mph was tops in it. That car had buckets and floorshift and power steering from new. This thing is way overpriced but everything is today. Atleast this one is not like the one a guy has locally that was a circle dirt car. Beat to crap with a hillbilly roll bar, gutted and that fine gem can be had for 40k firm. There is craziness everywhere. Slant 6s are wonderful engines. I would leave this as is if I had it but I doubt there is anyone that is going to pay 30k. Prices are falling on super nice things, so junk like this may face a reality check and no doubt a few will hit the shred.
Charger values are still climbing in general. What astounds me are the ones coming on the market that require a tetanus shot if you touch it. “Don’t low-ball me man, I know what I got”!
With a 6-cylinder, I bet the Duke boys couldn’t even get enough speed up to jump a creek especially w/ Cale Yarborough sitting in the backseat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SzZY3VHORw
If there was ever a car for a Hellcat engine transplant it is this one. But 30k to buy into this is way out of line for the work that needs done.
Looked at a 1971 charger w/slant 6 about 20 years ago but was not for sale, kind of rare for that style also.
I saw a plum crazy cuda with a slant six years ago.
Not a Cuda, Barracuda I presume. I saw a Challenger once at a show. It was B5 Blue, 225 with a three speed. All restored. It drew a crowd. I didn’t hear a bad comment about it, at least not while I was there. Someone paid a bundle to restore it that way. Not everyone sees the need for speed. Though, I will add, a small car like a Challenger (only a 100 pounds more than a Dart) is a better fit for a slanty then a mid sized car like this. Still, if I had the dough, I would restore this car as is and take it to the shows, and drive it on sunny afternoons. Once off the line, this car will travel as well as any other.
Wow i would hate to be in this car going 65 and hit a hill. Yuk. A lesson in futility, then again it sure beats walking, the motor in a charger should put a smile on your face.
Pass
The Dodge Diplomat was available through the 1980s with a smog equipped slant 6 and it is heavier than a Charger.slants were even in medium duty trucks. As for V* swapping, yeah, you can have the same car that everyone else has at a Mopar meet, you know, the ones that people pass by without even looking
I whole heartily agree. I can only look at so many clones with high HP. What people really want to see is something that they can relate to, that brings back memories. Pintos seem to draw crowds, so do Crevettes. Four door darts and Valiants, Mavericks with 250 sixes in them. This is what the vast majority of us drove, and the people we knew. performance cars were rare, and for very good reason. A Hemicuda might get a gander from me, but I can never relate to it.
Gotta love auto correct. Chevettes. I once saw a restored 1962 Ford pick up with a 223 six in it, just like I learned to drive on. My eyes got watery from the nostalgia. That is what people really want at a car show, at least from all of us old enough to remember what really once was in America.
30k is a joke. Someone has smoked a big one and then planted their head firmly up their backside. It’s a sub 10k car at best.
You know, in this day where EVERYONE has a big a$$ motor in everything and 1200 horsepower in everything., this would be a really cool ride. It would get hoards of people around it!! Funny, back in the day, 20 years ago, you would be laughed out of the show. Now the uncool is cool!! Every Tom, Dick and Harry has a big block charger. How many can say they have a slant six charger?? 20 years ago if you brought a station wagon to a show you would be kicked out. Now, they are the in thing. Funny how the pendulum swings.
I.would.rock.this.slant.six.charger!!!
Keep it original!
Bought a ’67 Camaro convertible once that had a 250 six in it. The next day a VIN check proved it to be a V8 car. How long did that six last in there? Until the next Saturday. Had the VIN check proved it to have been a six cylinder car it still would have not made it past the next Saturday. LOL :-) Terry J
I’ve seen a 1966 Impala SS convertible with a 6 cylinder, and a showroom ’67 Camaro with a 6, I’d go for leave this thing with the original motor, but it’s nowhere near any $30,000 buy it now.
There is no word if that is the original engine. Yes, not many people would pull a V8 to put a slanty in, but If you are buying this to restore to original, you want to make sure it has the born-with engine.
Bid at 6/30 10:34 AM, $22,701 USD. Somebody wants it!
Somebody stupid at that price. As I said here earlier, that is a sub 10k pile of rust if ever I saw one.
what a joke 30,000 plus another 60,000 or more and then what, you have a car that nobody wants, it’s just about as expensive to restore a true muscle car as a 6cyl car so why bother, people say to keep this as a 6cyl car because of the rarity but who would want to put in that kind of money I’m not seeing anybody stepping up yet, get rid of the 6 and do what you want and nobody would care, and yeah the seller is on some kinda medication for sure!!
WOW it’s up to $22,700. man some people are just that desperate to get their hands on a 69 Charger, but we will see if the buyer comes through with the money or if it gets relisted, absolutely stupid
As mentioned earlier, for that kind of money, I would go with a repo body and a modern chassis. That way it is all brand new and tight, plus a far better car in many ways, but still has the classic lines.
This should keep the slant six. It would give the owner incentive to stay in a normal weight range. If they become overweight like many car guys the car will not be able to make headway.
It’s funny all the people trash talking the slant six. Had a 70 Dart with one and it had no problem maintaining highway speed on hills. Had good torque and got low to mid 20’s MPG.
I pretty sure the 225 had a longer stroke that most 6 cylinders, and that gave them a lot of bottom end torque to pull with!
23.6 and still going. What is amusing is that there are bidders that have pushed it that high. Are there enough original parts, NOS or factory to be able to say it is restored to original?
And why no 01 on the doors and roof, it would bring more interest.
The 225 you just can not kill them. I have seen one in a 1970 Dart that had seized up from overheat, hole in radiator, and the next day start right up drove it home and replaced radiator. And it ran until there was no body left on the car. The car was green with one red door.
SOLD for $23,800.
I think the slant 6 is a great engine. I had one in a 60s coronet and it took off no problem and had a good passing gear but never in a charger. They must have taken this out of a junkyard not worth nearly that much
The slant six & Ford 300 as well as Jeep 4.0 six are some of the best longest lasting engines around -the inline 6s were the smoothest most well balanced engines because of the design, will outlast most anything else.