Introduced in 1966 as a premium fastback aimed at the Rambler Marlin, the Dodge Charger got a significant makeover for 1968. The company went with a sportier design, dropped the fancy interior, and introduced the performance-oriented R/T version. The recipe was a massive success, and sales jumped from just 15,788 units in 1967 to a whopping 96,100 in 1968.
But while the shell and the interior were redesigned, things remained largely similar under the hood. More importantly, the Charger retained the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB and 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI big-block mills. These were offered in the R/T model, now a sought-after classic.
At 17,582 units sold, the R/T was a relatively popular choice. However, most of these rigs were ordered with the standard 440 Magnum, which delivered 375 horsepower and 480 pound-feet (651 Nm) of torque. Only 475 left the assembly line with the 426 HEMI, the holy-grail Mopar engine of the golden muscle car era. The undeniably stunning example you see here is one of those cars.
Set to cross the auction block at Mecum’s Indy 2024 event, this Charger parades a flawless Bronze Poly exterior with matching wheels, a black stripe, and a black vinyl top. It’s not the most desirable color combo out there, but it suits the Charger’s “Coke bottle” design. And you won’t see too many examples in this hue on public roads today.
The black interior appears dull at first glance, but the restoration process returned it to brand-new condition. If you’re looking for signs of wear, cracks, and a saggy headliner, you should look elsewhere.
This muscle car is just as perfect under the hood. Restored to a perfect shine, the mighty 426 HEMI looks better than new. And even though there’s no video footage to run by, I bet it sounds great idling and when the pedal hits the metal. By the way, the HEMI was rated 425 horsepower and 490 pound-feet (664 Nm) of twist back in the day.
There’s no info on how much of this engine is still original, but the block is numbers-matching. The same goes for the A833 four-speed manual transmission and the Dana 60 rear axle. Speaking of which, the HEMI/four-speed combo makes this Charger R/T one of only 211 examples built with this drivetrain configuration.
The Mopar has quite a few convenience features to brag about, including power steering and brakes, front discs, bucket seats, and a rear defroster. The original owner opted for a radio delete.
Not surprisingly, this finely-restored Charger is estimated to change hands for a six-figure sum. But I’m not talking about $100,000 to $150,000. Mecum forecasts it could cross the block for $225,000 to $275,000. Yup, that’s what a quarter-million-dollar muscle car looks like
