Unfinished Business: 1968 Dodge Coronet 440
The Coronet nameplate was a Dodge staple from 1949 to 1959 and again from 1965 to 1976. In its later years, it was a mid-size using Chrysler’s B-body platform that was also employed by the Plymouth Belvedere and Road Runner, and also by Dodge for the Super Bee and Charger. This ’68 Coronet 440 2-door hardtop wears an older restoration and was having its motor gone through when the prior owner stopped work. The seller doesn’t have time for the car, either, so it’s available here on craigslist from St. Louis, Missouri. The asking price is $15,000 for a mostly complete Mopar, Heads up to Gunter Kramer for the tip!
Dodge bestowed the name “Coronet” on its cars as a type of crown that was worn by royalty. At first, they were the manufacturer’s top-end full-size models, then entry-level, and finally revived as a mid-size in the mid-1960s. The 440, like the seller’s Coronet, was a notch down in the pecking order behind the Coronet 500. Many were family-oriented sedans and hardtops, which explains the 318 cubic inch V8 in the seller’s car and many others like it.
The seller acquired this Dodge from the family of the original owner. And it was produced at the Dodge plant in the same locale where the seller lives today! We’re told that an unfinished restoration was done 15 years ago but has acquired a few nicks and scratches since then and a split in the driver’s side seat. The original engine was broken down with new parts added, but never completely reassembled. And that’s where the car stands today as the second owner didn’t make much – if any – further headway. But almost everything needed to finish the project is thought to be there.
You will have to find a back seat as that one has flown the coop over the years. But the seller makes up for it by throwing in a cadre of paperwork that dates back many years. The redesign of the 1968-70 Coronets appealed to buyers as sales increased by nearly 20%, although the similar Chargers that were also redone saw even more success with the new styling. What’s your take on this generation of B-bodies?
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Comments
Am I missing something or is the steering wheel missing something? Looked inside many old cars, don’t remember seein that.
That’s part of the “unfinished business” satus of this ad, LOL!! :-)
The 65-76 Coronets were just great cars in general….and the rounded 68-70s were just beautiful cars from about every angle and fun to drive (with maybe the only exception being the distortion thru the rear window due to its funky – but cool – curvy shape). I drove my Mom’s thru college until I married it to a phone pole!
Always loved the looks of the 68,69 Coronets. Missed out on a 440 Magnum R/T back in the day
i love mopars
Price seems a little steep not finished a not not a super bee or road runner with 318 family car I would pay about 1/3 the price and use money to finish it for a driver
Utility pole! Electric pole. Phone company never erected poles. Darn those poles; they have been known to jump in front of drivers! Hohum.. one guys unfinished work is anothers to start again. Pass
Technically correct, but we always called them telephone poles…still do. Like saying “Let’s go for a coke”, when your favorite soda is Big Red.
I also wrapped a car around one back in HS. Car looked like a banana afterwards. Ha.