1968 Charger 383 1 Owner, Original Paint, Greenx3

About 2 months ago I stumbled on this 1968 Dodge Charger, 1 Owner car, 188k miles, locally. The husband/wife stopped into my buddies shop looking to sell it. After looking at it I bought it on the spot.

Here is some info on the car:
CAR: Dodge Charger 2 Door Sports Hardtop
ENGINE: 383cid 2-bbl V8
TRANSMISSION: 3-Speed Automatic
TIRES: 7.75x14 White Side Wall
BUILD DATE: December 18.
AXLE: 2.76 Rear Axle Ratio
INTERIOR: Charger Trim Grade, Vinyl Bucket Seats. Green Interior.
PAINT: Monotone Medium Green Metallic Paint.
OTHER: Racing Green Metallic Upper Door Frame Color.

MOLDINGS:
25: Drip Rail Mouldings
30: Body Belt Mouldings
78: Wheel Lip Mouldings

ABC OPTIONS:
H1: Power Brakes
K8: Power Windows
R1: AM Radio
S1: Air Conditioning
T7: Tachometer
X1: Tinted Glass (all)
Y4: Green Vinyl Top

abc OPTIONS:
a6: Console
b4: Bucket Seats
h7: Fender or Hood Mounted Turn Signal Indicators
m6: Driver's Outside Remote Operated Mirror
u1: Sold Car When Built (Somebody Ordered It)

Before Pictures:






The trunk & underneath are all solid and rust free. A few areas of slight rust by wheel wells in rear. Front passenger rear wheel hit something, sides got into a few minor "rubs". It required new radiator, new carpet, electrical run through (still sorting ALL of this out as the original owner was a tinkerer so there are switches everywhere), removal of a few dents, removal of side molding, new tires, new brakes, etc. as it sat for 14 years. The 383 was swapped for a 400 locally and I did track down the shop and looked through it but could not find the engine. Interior seat coverings were changed previously but they are pretty nice.

So, after 2 months of working on it, I drove it about 60 miles on its maiden voyage and took it to work & back today. It drives and rides really well!

Current Pictures:




Rich

very cool car you got there.

Nice Charger! I had a 70 that had the stick on side molding. I did the same thing. Pulled it off and buffed

Great car and good job on getting her going again. Love the hub caps.

Dave

Thanks guys! I have been polishing about 40 years of oxidation off the paint. Those side rubber guards sure pulled the paint off as well... Yes those hubcaps are original!!

It has some rust in the rear skin behind both wheels. Think I should patch those and blend the paint in? Anyone have advise on that?

It has been starting and driving like a dream. Feels just like it did back in 68 I bet!
Thanks
Rich

I think I'd let it be and enjoy it for a while.

Yeah, enjoy it for a little while and then sell it to me...no Chargers like that in FL! Great looking car...thanks for the awesome pics.

nice find!! what are your plans for it?

Since no one else has said it let me be the first to say I hate you for finding such a nice car You should leave the original paint and just blend the patches Well done on the revival!

Very nice!

Very nice SCORE!! A/C and electric windows!
Do u know the story with the New York sticker?

Very nice! I'm sure it was a hard decision to pick up that beauty!

Dan

Guys,
Thanks for the comments.

I will include a new pic below where I buffed the hell out of the paint and took 40 years of crap off of it. I swear this car was never waxed. I cleaned the engine bay also. Swapped out the hubcaps with some original used Magnum 500's I picked up locally as well to give it a different look.

I do plan on just driving it. I added another 1500 miles to it as I have been driving the wheels off of it.

The A/C was running recently then it went out... On the winter to do list. I have never had an old car with electric windows... It is very handy!! I don't plan on restoring the car at all. I will eventually patch the rust and blend it in, but the original paint with wear through the grey & red primer is just too cool to let go... It's only original paint once.

The deal with the car in New York is the PO was a PhD and attended a few different universities. He lived in Florida, Texas, New York and North Carolina. While in NY, he says the drivers rode his bumper so bad, he installed a switch on the console to turn on the reverse lights to scare them... Switch is still there! Other than that not sure of more info on sticker.

Thanks again for the comments on the car!!!

Thanks
Rich

A rare find!

Talk about being at the right place at the right time!

That car and color was the very first time I had seen a 68 charger! Sitting on the front porch with my dad watching, a neighbor comes by getting the gear. After the smoke cleared, black tracks on the street; I said dad - someday I'm going to buy one of those cars!

Memories...