1968 Dodge Charger

1968 Dodge Charger RT Hardtop The only 1968 car which comes close to challenging the new Charger for styling accolades is the new Corvette, which is remarkably similar to the Charger, particularly when viewed from the rear quarter.  But, we give the honors to the Charger for several reasons.  First, the Corvette, being a smaller car in both seating capacity and wheelbase, has a much easier time attaining the desired sporty image.  Second, Dodge stylists have shown that they can create a car in the current idiom with originality, combining just the right amount of tasteful conformity with that novelty and freshness which attracts attention.  From Car and Driver's review of a '68 Charger, published November, 1967.  For consignment, a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T hardtop, a highly optioned true J-code Hemi car in a metallic version of L-code Medium Dark Turquoise paint.  17,584 R/T models were built in 1968 and added more than $400 to the price of a Charger, about $3,600 in today's money!  But only 475 of them received the Hemi, just 0.5% of Charger production.   Exterior The genius design of the Mopar B-body is properly expressed in this generation of Charger with its long body panels, flat horizontal planes, sweeping C-pillar and the stupendous flying buttresses that flow off the rear window like tail of an F-15 jet.  The one year only tail treatment of the car screams muscle car and pulls in more jet inference with quad tail lights that halo around dark holes in the center on a textbook square rear fascia over dual exhaust tips positioned perfectly under the car.  Body lines on the door suggest forward movement and they repeat on the hood with turn indicators baked in.  The hidden headlights flanking the vertical grille lack any disturbance of a midrib that would alter the '69 and '70 and the front fenders sport one year circular side markers.  Body keyed 15-inch steel wheels are wrapped in red line tires and the vinyl top is done in white which as we'll see, matches the interior.  Imperfections include a scuff on the left front fender, filler on the right, minor scratches, minor bubbles, and some waviness or depression to the vinyl top.  Interior White vinyl door cards are topped with a header that is more ivory, underscored by a polished trim piece over an armrest that shows some patina on the driver's side.  White bucket seats with sectional pleats also wear head restraints which have a classic 60's design in their simplicity.  Dorchester grained vinyl continues on the back where the seats, armrests, and horizontal surface of the sidewalls show some patina.  A brown plastic steering wheels tops a column that tracks down to the dashboard which with off center gauges and a combo clock/tachometer, (optional), on ribbed black plastic, while toggles for the vent controls are mounted on the bottom surface of the dash pad, just over the optional Music Master AM radio.  The ribbing theme continues on the center console and takes on a more metallic profile and houses a curved chrome shifter with thumb button actuation.  Black loop carpet covers the floor along with some carpeted mats and the white perforated headliner holds tight to the shoulder belts clipped to the outside edges, and we note some separation of the headliner back at the C-pillar.   Drivetrain All Hail!  The non-original, but date correct 426ci Hemi V8 under the hood, it all its gleaming goodness, rated at 425 horsepower and sucking fuel through dual 4-barrel carburetors.  Miles per gallon?  Who cares when you're counting smiles per gallon?!   The bay is spotless and period correct, backed by a date correct A727 Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission sending hundreds of horses to the 8 ¾ inch rear and 3.23 gears.  Power brakes are needed to rein in those ponies and are configured as optional front discs and standard rear drums.  Undercarriage Very clean underneath with surface rust appearing only on a section of frame