My uncle had just gotten out of Vietnam and bought this same model of Charger. I remember it was red, and the interior was white. I'll never forget sitting in the back seat with my mother and grandmother as we went down the (then) narrow Iowa highways to Cedar Rapids. Ken had a lead foot, and we screamed down the highway at 90 - 100 mph in that car. Ken was the type of guy who didn't tolerate complaints, so we were silent and held hands because we thought we were all going to die. We didn't, of course, but we made it from Sioux Falls to Cedar Rapids in a flash! What a car!!
I was a car crazy pre-drivers license teenager in '68 living in a small Indiana town. Our local hot rod hero (about 5 years older) had gone off to the Army, and then showed up back in town driving a black '68 Hemi Charger similar to this one. Every local kid near my age was in reverent awe of this guy and his Charger.
Chrysler absolutely nailed it with these Chargers. The 383 is also a very under rated engine in my opinion. Dyno tests repeatedly show how well they stack up with similarly sized and equipped competitors particularly in torque. Thanks again Adam for your balanced and informative videos.
The 383 (and later 400) took the large bore short stroke concept to extremes. However it made plenty of torque to move even the big Chryslers that it was installed in quickly.
originally the design/prototype/1967-71 by bill/Richard was meant for a scissors-convertible top "gm-patent-1950's" and a removable hardtop ( fibreglass/carbonfiber a must for me as i live in winter ❄and end up parking outside a lot and or driving in the storms including regular rainfall and like saving the vinyl soft top for nicer weather conditions 😉 ), at 19yo~2013~ i was glad that my 2-gen wasn't a convertible ( something i hated but have changed my mind about after being married 😉 ) or 4-door but after 5+years of ownership im kinda wishing for 1/2-sized back doors and convertible top like Richard salis/wood originally was thinking and did to his personal convertible charger 1969 G F8 car
Adam, I agree with you 100%. The second generation Chargers were all beautiful in their overall form, but the details of the 1968 are my favorite. The full width grille with the understated lower front bumper is the best looking of the 68-70 models. I prefer it to the split design of the 1969 and the loop bumper of the 1970 model. The round tail lights are simple and distinctive. And I love the dash and the center console. So, so cool.
Perfectly said. In my early 20s I could have gotten a great car but had no place to keep it, 8k…. It was a west coast car, perfect. I love the first year too, great interior
@@gregz6418 I had an opportunity to buy a 1968 Charger R/T 440 with 727 automatic when I was in high school in the late 1980’s for $3500. It was a copper color with a black vinyl roof and it was beautiful. It might as well have been a million dollars, and I probably would have wrapped it around a telephone pole if I had bought it.
I have very few regrets but back in the early to I’d 1980s I was a teenager and a friends neighbor had a Panther Pink Cuda convertible with a Hemi !! It was sitting in their back year and needed to be rebuilt/ restored hemis were known then for beings bear to keep in tune and they wanted about$3000 which I thought was way too much for a 14-15 yo car with rust and an engine that smoked and hardly ran. And it was PINK and a convertible. Those two things to A teenage boy was everything a muscle at should NOT BE! Fast forward today and that is what makes it so cool and special today to me. Amazing how tastes change. Hindsight is always. What it is a did never guess in my lifetime a classic Mopar would be worth 6 to even SEVEN figures yes 7 some of these classic Muscle cars have sold in the million + range!
My first car out of high school was a '68 charger!! It was ten years old when I bought it in 1978!! The guy I bought it from was a mechanic who souped up the 383 engine! My buddies thought the motor was so clean you could eat off of it!! Fastest I ever went in a car was the 68 charger, I hit 135 mph on the highway racing a Mercury cougar!! Stupid thing to do looking back on it now but I won the race!! Boy if that car could talk, the stories it would have!! Sold it a few years later for what I paid for it , 1200 dollars!! Wish I held on to it now that I see what just a shell is going for now!!
A boyhood friend of mine was a fellow by the name of Randy Fredrick. We were eleven years old in 1968. I remember another friend had a sleepover at his house and I was already there when Randy's dad dropped him off. Randy stepped out of a brand new 1968 Dodge Charger R/T with a black body, a black vinyl roof and black interior. It had a higher end wheel (Magnum 500?) but not sure exactly what wheel it was. The car is definitely one of the best designs ever. I certainly knew that even as an eleven-year-old. Interestingly Randy's dad was Bob Frederick a famous NFL referee who passed away in 2002. I'll never forget seeing that car for the very first time. My how things have changed. Your channel is he next best thing to a time machine.
My aunt had a '68 Charger R/T with the 440 Magnum. It was silver with white interior. It was awesome and so much fun to drive. Nothing sounded like the rumble it produced.
I grew up with muscle cars....I go to shows and see them all the time. But just as I grew up up and saw them on the streets every day I never got tired of them just as I never get tired of them today. I guess I am just a real car guy.
Bill Hickman was arguably the greatest stunt driver Hollywood ever employed. He certainly was the template for others who followed. The role he played in the making and participating in some of the greatest movie car chase scenes, along with many other behind-the-scenes roles will live on forever. He was good friends with James Dean; he was present when Dean died from injuries sustained in a car accident. By the way, the whole story about James Dean and his love for auto racing, including his friendship with Bill Hickman makes for a great read.
People remember the Bullitt scene but the French Connection scene had me on the edge of my seat when I first saw it. Blows everything else out of the water.
@adeeponion9152 I don't think there are any biographies written solely about Bill Hickman, but there are numerous stories online about how he and James Dean bonded over auto racing. Any further information biographical in nature would probably be contained in books written about James Dean.
Agreed, Hickman was every car guy’s movie hero. Some actors surprised their directors with their driving skills. Steve McQueen and Paul Newman proved in private life that they could duke it out with the pros in the most demanding and dangerous road races. James Garner surprised everyone including himself when he played a gran prix driver and the professional driving the camera car could not stay with him.
Except maybe the 68-70 RoadRunners, 68-70 Chevelles, 67-69 Camaros, 55-57 Thunderbirds, 64-66 Thunderbirds, 55-57 Chevys, 70-73 Camaros, 68-70 Super Bees, 68-70 GTO. I can go on and on and on.
The 1969 GTO with hideaway headlights does it for me for a musclecar. Everything is perfectly designed, and making the rear quarter marker lights the GTO crest was an awesome touch by the design team. Ever since I first watched BULLIT, I've had a soft spot for the 1968 Charger, like you said, beautiful from every angle.
My first (real) boyfriend had a 1969 GTO convertible. It was red with white interior. Fond memories of hanging out with friends while they would tinker with their cars. Then a cruise down Wisconsin Ave to Milwakee's lakefront.
I bought my 1970 in 1985. The Fast and Furious franchise really pushed the 70’s to be more desirable than they previously were. One of the things some don’t like is the chrome front bumper. Dodge had a pre production film of a red ‘70 with a red front bumper. That didn’t appear til ‘71. Mine is a factory 440 Six Pack 4 speed. It was the only year of that gen to have the high back buckets, Pistol Grip shifter, 440 Six Pack, and Hi Impact colors.
My uncle who turned 30 that year bought a silver 1968 Dodge Charger with a black vinyl roof and interior. What a nifty car it was. His was just a 318 V8 with a Torqueflite.
I must agree.... the Chargers this generation were a home run for ChryCo design. I'm an Olds 442 guy....I have two but I have always liked the Charger. I owned one Road Runner, not a very good example as it needed mechanical work. Most desirable Mopars to me are Charger R/T, Coronet R/T and Super Bee.
No argument from me. I worked at Chrysler during that era. The joke was that the head of design was on vacation when this slipped through. I bought a new '69 R/T SE (Copper Metallic, stripe Delete!) It was gorgeous. The SE (Special Edition) got you leather seats and woodgrain IP. Lovely car.
Holy Jupiter...You really pulled my heart strings with this awesome video Adam. You explained this car splendidly. Thank you man. I attest the 69 was my introduction to loving the Charger from the TV shows. Then I got fond of the 66 which is pretty cool too. But I absolutely agree with you that the 68 has a menacing cool look to it. Jay Leno loves round rear backlights and many of us car lovers do as well. It really is a pinnacle car as you stated. A hemi with a hurst shifter as an option was the cherry on the cake. And as you said, regardless, any option was still cool..
Hey Adam, this black & red Charger is stunning!!! It makes me think of my uncle's Charger he bought new in 1966. It was then that I fell in love with hidden headlights, in fact a decade later my first car, a 69 Cougar XR7 had hidden headlights!!! 👍👍🙂
Hey Adam, I just commented on how much I enjoy your channel because you feature old sleds. That said the 68 Charger is an iconic car. I may stand corrected but side matker lights were mandated in 68. I also think that the lane change feature for your turn signals appeared that year as well. Just some fun facts if I'm right. The R/T also had an extra leaf on 1 side of the rear springs to handle the higher torque. I had the pleasure years ago to drive an R/T with a 440 and a stick. Wow was that fun! Cheers!
I agree and have always loved the styling of this generation Dodge Charger (68-70). When compared to its Plymouth Road Runner sibling the Charger's 'flying buttress' roof treatment, one inch longer wheelbase, and 'fuselage' front end made it the more handsome vehicle.
Good catch on the fuselage element of the Charger’s and incidentally the Challenger’s design. Taking a page from Jaguar’s book, the designers dispensed with the boxy form factor of most American big cars, replacing the flat rocker panels with curved ones that followed the body’s aircraft-inspired roundness when seen head-on. This approach saved the second-gen Charger from becoming a hulking monster.
@@johntechwriter no think boating and convertibles and zepland's/air-ships, most "gm guy's" don't understand this and washout/smoothing/rounding the airship-body-lines that are sharper but rounded like the nose on the pre-1940-hindinberg-ect richard helped with the 1967-68~ prototype that's a widebody convertible aka OG design team intended for the charger like mine/68-70 to be a convertible and Richard-S/wood's personal f8 is a convertible using a 1975~ caddy top and OG-hardtop-steel/or/fibreglass
I can’t agree with you enough! This year was special! My friend bought one of these new from Crosstown Motors in Edmonton, Canada. Canary yellow with a 383. It sounded amazing and boy did it go!
This is why your channel is so interesting. I’ve learned a ton about full size classic cars. I still love muscle cars(68 chevelle/nova). But nobody else covers/collects full-size cars. Never realized how cool the full-size cars were. Thanks for bringing them to us.
I was a junior in college in 1968 and remember how I drooled over these Chargers when they came out. I agree that they were the best looking mid-sized car on the road. I desperately tried talking my buddy into buying one. We took one for a test drive. He, being a GM supporter, was not impressed. He bought a 1968 6-cylinder, 4-speed Camaro instead. That purchase went south for him as he picked up his new Camaro Monday night and totaled it on the way to the university Tuesday morning. Not even 24 hours old. If I recall, you could get the 225 leaning tower of power in a Charger if you so desired. Chrysler engines were king back then. In 1968 one never tried to race a MOPAR. You'd lose every time. Great synopsis of a stellar car.
Don't blame you for liking this, bereft of stripes and muscle car cues...it's a true sleeper. Like the 70 Plymouth Sport Satellite my dad had when I was a kid. It had the 383 motor, buckets and console. I loved that car. My fav Chargers bounce between the 66 and 71. I've always been torn between them. Thanks Adam.
Something in black and it ain't a Cadillac. This car made the stylist, the bean counters, the dealers and the customers happy. Few years later, the insurance companies very happy.
I have to agree. Chrysler was really leading the pack with this Charger in 1968, though I always loved the ‘69 version about as much. Our family car was a ‘69 Dodge Coronet 500, similar in many ways to the Charger, but of course was more pedestrian with its 4 doors and 383 2 barrel. Believe me, it moved very well, especially when floored and in passing gear. I learned to drive on it. What a treat. The downside to these cars was noise, ride, and build quality. Squeaks and rattles abounded. But these Chrysler cars with the Coke bottle styling were beautiful and very sporty.
I went to high school in the early to mid 80s....seems the steel wheels/dog dish hubcaps would be swapped out for a set of Cragers.....As I got older, I have an appreciation for the dog dish/steel wheel look. I even retconned my Dodge Dakota with a set of OEM Dodge Pickup dog dish hubcaps...correct for the era. My Dakota had full wheel covers originally, that I had a hard time finding...but did get a set of dog dishes on Ebay.
One of my all time faves, too. No vinyl top is a plus, as is the black paint w/o stick on performance (stripes). No nonsense dash and thoughtful interior styling puts it over the top for me. Thanks for sharing!
Unabashed Mopar guy here. Love your content no matter what you cover. Other than the 1970 Challenger, the '68 Charger is the best Chrysler ever offered imo. Thank you for showing us this great example!
My all-time favorite Mopar is the '68 Road Runner. I love the idea of it more than the looks compared to the Charger. All stripped down except the go fast stuff.
Great looking car. The Australian Chargers released in 1971 had some of their styling cues on a smaller scale, particularly the rear window buttresses.
I was 8 when they introduced the '68 Charger. It has the best rear three quarter view of any muscle car ever made. Handsome and brutal at the same time. Some of its styling features are derivative, but I love it. Especially the flying buttress C pillars (which look best on a vinyl roof car when the roof is a different color than the body) and its Coke-bottle shape.
Thanks Adam...looking on from Australia when Aussie muscle cars from Ford and GM were in their infancy and Chrysler had to wait for its muscle appearance till '69, I can only drool at this time in the US auto industry. I know your allegiances lean to GM so your gushing description of this rolling work of art means a lot to us Mopar guys and says much about you as a person and as an overall auto aficionado.
The Aussie Charger had a straight 6 Hemi engine I think rated at 265 hp. The Yank tanks did not have that engine. A car buff mate of mine told me the hemi6 would blow away a 318 that only had 230 hp.
68 + 69 68 started it with that body style I like how it retain The hideaway headlights from the first series charger Although 68 I did like the the small round tail lights although 69 was definitely a good-looking machine too. I've come to appreciate the 70 but not quite as much but there's certain models that look really good
The red interior is very rare on any 68 charger if its original, my car is QQ1 blue, white vinyl top, blue interior, 383 4 barrel, 727 trans, 323 suregrip rear gears, console car, bucket seat, no head rests.
Thanks for making this great video. Just to clarify a few things. The buckets, 3 spoke wheel, clock, lighter, front & rear bumper guards, and wheel opening moldings were all standard even on base models. Had my numbers matching 68 R/T since '87 and still love it.
You're a man after my own heart. Since I was a child and saw the 1968 charger and then watching Bullit I said it was the baddest, best looking and flawless from any angle. I prefer the 68 for the same reasons. The grill, the marker lights and the round tail lights are the pinnacle of muscle car styling. Just a beautiful, beautiful ride. Perfection and in Parr set the standard of what a muscle car is.
Well, there’s probably two schools of fans for this body style….. those like you Adam who love the ‘68, and those like me who love the ‘69-70. That rear end design really separates the otherwise same exact car. The ‘69 is my all time favorite muscle car and it’s the car that got me into cars. I’m a GM guy and I own a Camaro SS but my bucket list car of all cars is a ‘69 Charger R/T 440 4 speed. I owe my love of cars to watching that ‘69 Charger in bright orange with 01 on the doors and the stars and bars on the roof fly through my TV set every Friday night on CBS from 8-9 PM from the time I was about 4-10 years old!!
Back when I was a kid, these Coke bottle Chargers were everywhere. I mean you couldn't go down any Street in any neighborhood of America without seeing a couple of them. I desperately wanted one with every fiber of my being. But within just a few years, they all rusted away to nothing. It absolutely shattered my heart to see so many of these beautiful cars sitting in junkyards.
@@danielsellers8707 I remember reading somewhere a while back that about 350 of these Chargers were destroyed in the making of that series. Compare that with the nearly quarter of a million Chargers that were produced between 1968 and 1970, and it becomes pretty clear that the Dukes of Hazzard was not a really big factor in eliminating these cars from existence. In truth, they simply rusted away.
My brother in law had one when he dated my sister. I was 7, or 8 at that time but this was undoubtedly the coolest car on the street!! I know he wishes he had that car back. 35 years ago and I still remember sitting in the back seat and just cruising around. I'm sure they weren't thrilled to have me back there!! Lol
No one likes a Charger more than me, but damn, that forest-green Challenger with the black vinyl top next to it... if it's a '70, I'm in love. I love all of the '68 Chryslers, those little round marker lights are AWESOME. A '68 340/4-speed notchback Barracuda is my favorite muscle car of all time, but I can't deny the superior beauty of the Charger. The interior on this one is REALLY cool, and poverty caps will never not rock. That particular 383 is my favorite big-block V8 (from any manufacturer) of all time, they rev like a 327 or 340 and make power like a big-block. Love a good 383 (most aren't very good).
I wake up (Here in the UK) at 7am look at my Cellphone and what do I see, Oh Boy! You posting a Vlog on a 68 Dodge Charger. What a car. Thank´s once again. Great car!
Fun fact about the movie Bullitt is Steve McQueen's 68 Ford Mustang GT Fastback had a hard time keeping up with the 440 Dodge Charger R/T being only a 390 cubic inch V8 with 320 horsepower while the Charger had 375 horsepower. So during the car chase Bill Hickman had to slow down to make it look like both cars were equally fast. Warner bros purchased two green Fastback mustang's and two 440 R/T Chargers for the film. The mustangs had to be heavily modified to withstand the stunts but the Chargers were pretty much left factory stock and handled the stunts very well.
I agree Adam. I was almost 3 yo when these came out and saw them throughout my school years. They looked and sounded sinister. I knew whoever was driving it was a real car lover.
My first car, which I bought when I graduated from high school at the age of 18, was a used 1970 Charger R/T with the 440-4V. I had no idea what I gotten myself into. Everyone wanted to smoke the tires (which was easy to do). Its color, "Plum Crazy" purple, also garnered a lot of attention. Many attempts were made to steal my Charger, as my father had no driveway/garage and so the car was parked on the street. One time my father came out of the house in the morning and found I guy sitting in the driver's seat. Apparently he had managed to break into the car but did not know how to start it. Looking back, I wish I had kept it, but the lousy gas mileage (ca. 9 miles per gallon) and the insurance cost led me to move on to more sedate cars.
Had a friend that had an early 70's charger that was brown, mighty 318 2 barrel and it looked like a coke bottle. I was a kid and loved that car! All these years later the master of the classics finally tips me off that if he just put a bumble bee stripe (bumble butt) the thing would of done wheel stands. Missed opportunity! Favorite was the 73/74 AMC Javelin AMX with the corvetish taillights, huge curved benders and roomy interior. Second place is the Dodge Challenger with the 340 from 1971 because they put urethane over the chrome bumpers giving it a lethal look. 68 Mustang fastbak...302 was my Ford favorite. Then again, I always loved the 68 Olds Toronado as my secret crush cuz when you are a teenager, loving a lead sled called your sanity into question. The Toro, Jave and Challenger would be my top three (I'll hide the 78 Pacer X wagon in the back with a 304 V8 as my goofball car)
I’m pretty sure you and I would get along great. The only muscle car for me would be a ‘68 or ‘69 Charger, but the first 2 cars I owned were a ‘78 LTD Brougham 4dr with a 351 Cleveland in ‘poop’ brown, and a ‘77 LTD II 2dr with Sport Stripes and a 351 Windsor. The LTD II was so cool! I wish I still had it! It wasn’t an actual factory sport stripe car, but a Silver coupe. The previous owner then purchased the 1978 red / orange striping set and had it installed by the dealership body shop. I thought it looked super cool rolling on 255/70R15 BFG T/A radials in the rear and 235/75R15’s up front with classic Cragers. Dang I want it back!!
The '68 Charger looks to me like an updated '66-'67 GM A body, so I love them too! And the '68 is my favorite, with its round taillights and marker lights. My second favorite Charger would be the '70, with its lesser-seen bumper/grill-surround. I didn't much like the later Chargers. First gens are OK. Nearly all of those '66-'70 B bodies were quite good looking cars. Now maybe you could do a video on the '67 Cougar XR7 interior?😀 Or how about a video on the AMC Marlin?
I prefer the '69 version cause of the beautiful taillights. Man the shape is so iconic. Dodge made amazing cars back then. The Polara and Royal Monaco are great too. The Royal Monaco Brougham from the 70s is so damn rare but stunning as can be (especially the '75 model). Would love to see a video about that.
out of the 68-70 Charger 70 was my favorite , The chrome surround bumper was the selling point for me . Had a 70 Charger 500 in High School . I miss that car
I like the 68 the most of the second generation Chargers as well. The grill and especially the tail light details are just that extra bit nicer than on all of the great looking 2nd gen cars, I do like the 66/67s too.
In 1976, for a “birthday present”, a friend in high school was given a 1969 Charger RT with a 426 hemi engine, the 727 torqueflite transmission, and a (2.73) “highway gear” posi rear end. The car was owned previously by his rich uncle in Texas, and it had only 23,000 miles. It was not “stock”, and made 600 hp on the dyno. Even with the auto transmission and the highway gears, it would roast the stock car sized rear wheels, and would easily bury the 160 mph speedometer. I can only imagine what that awesome car would be worth today.
Agreed with you Adam. Great looking car that I've always held in high regards. Can't wait to check out dozens of them at the upcoming Mopar Nationals just outside of Columbus in a couple of weeks.
Sweet car. The Gen 6 Camaro and the new 7th Gen Mustang (seems to have copied some outgoing Camaro styling cues) both have impressive quarter panel haunches, as you said rare these days.
In the summer of 1970, this (then) seventeen year old Ohio boy met a tiny sixteen year old strawberry blonde girl from Tennessee. She could drive her mother's 1968 Charger like a flippin' pro. Some great memories. Thank you.
Most beautiful Muscle Car ever made IMHO. And like you said, the other things that came along with it, Engine, Trans, running gear and interiors also amplified what in my mind was the ultimate car. So gorgeous and at the same time powerful looking and powerful performing. I put this car up there with the 57 Chevy, the 65 Riviera, and the Split window Corvette as most beautiful designs. I think I am partial to Bill Mitchell’s work.
I did like the 68 at all. Later like 1979 I adapted. It has style, but the challenger was my Mopar love. In my elder years I ended up with a 96 c4 vette. Thanks for your sweet vids. From Aurora Illinois
Adam might be interested to know that I bought a '68 Charger in probably the early 1980's for $87.50. I kid you not...running and driving, too...but just barely. We drove it up the driveway and that was it. Actually my brother and I bought it for $175, which was $87.50 each. It was trashed and thrashed by the standards of the day - much rust and bondo - but a '68 Charger in that condition today would easily bring $15k and maybe even more like 20-25k. The prices on them today are truly obscene. I still like them, but like so many desirable cars from that era, driving them wasn't a substantially different experience than driving much more ordinarly cars, unless you had some super high performance engine option in your Charger. A friend of mine from when I was a teenager had very nice '69 model with vinyl top and a really nice dark turquoise/teal color. Much better than my car! :D
Very extensive details about the car. I think about the many films and tv shows this car has appeared. I recall the many Chargers over the years. It has come a long way. Thank you once again Adam.
I remember seeing this in the Parade magazine annual new car issue back in 68. It was definitely a great looking car with that front end. I also liked the little circular side marker light that were now required in 68.
Nice, thanks for this one! We do prefer the look of the '70... we like the elongated taillight treatment, and the clean look of the loop front bumper. To each their own, of course.
I would agree with you on the beauty of the lines of those Chargers. They are beautiful. To me, the most beautiful classic cars are the 1974-75 Imperials and 1976-78 Chrysler NYBs. There's nothing I don't like about the looks of them, inside or out.
The '68-'70 is an iconic design. At the time, these were sold as much as personal luxury cars, with vinyl roofs and 318s, as they were muscle cars. Overall, they're absolutely stunning! While I think I prefer the first gen fastback Chargers just because of that big Electric Shaver grill, squared off side flanks, and the gorgeous bucket seat interior. Of the second gen, I think I prefer the '69, with its full width tail lights... but all of these classic Chargers are fantastic looking cars, with great powertrains! The poverty caps and redline tires absolutely set this example off and, yeah, it'd be hard not to want one. The 7 Ups gets my vote for favorite movie car chase. Bill Hickman did some amazing work, weaving and slamming that huge jiggly Pontiac around the streets of NYC.
The second gen Charger is one of the best designed cars of all time. I love its sleek exterior design with smooth curves. And when equipped with 440 or 426, these things don't just fly. They're rockets!
Chargers from 1968 to 1970 had a LOT of drag compared to the 66 and 67, for racing the back glass and the flying buttress C-pillars were cleaned up with a larger flush rear glass. The one year only side marker lights are called "Fish Eyes." Adam, you're right, they were one of the best-looking cars made --- thanks MOPAR.
@@drippinglass I had so many '68 b- bodies (including 3 Chargers, 2 road runners, a GTX and a Coronet RT) that Ive lost count and i have never heard that either. Must be another 'online expert'...
One of my favorite styled cars of the era, thanks in no small part to Bullitt. The 69 Charger with the "split grill" just wasn't as mean or the exposed headlights of the 500 just looked off. You really need to do an episode on my favorite muscle car, the 73 Pontiac Trans AM with the SD455...i'll take mine in Brewster Green with a four speed!
In 1968 my friend's dad traded in his '66 charger for a 68. This car is a masterpiece of design
You're absolutely right. '68 Is the BEST year of Charger. Perfect shape. Perfect marker lights. Perfect roofline.
My uncle had just gotten out of Vietnam and bought this same model of Charger. I remember it was red, and the interior was white. I'll never forget sitting in the back seat with my mother and grandmother as we went down the (then) narrow Iowa highways to Cedar Rapids. Ken had a lead foot, and we screamed down the highway at 90 - 100 mph in that car. Ken was the type of guy who didn't tolerate complaints, so we were silent and held hands because we thought we were all going to die. We didn't, of course, but we made it from Sioux Falls to Cedar Rapids in a flash! What a car!!
I was a car crazy pre-drivers license teenager in '68 living in a small Indiana town. Our local hot rod hero (about 5 years older) had gone off to the Army, and then showed up back in town driving a black '68 Hemi Charger similar to this one. Every local kid near my age was in reverent awe of this guy and his Charger.
Chrysler absolutely nailed it with these Chargers. The 383 is also a very under rated engine in my opinion. Dyno tests repeatedly show how well they stack up with similarly sized and equipped competitors particularly in torque. Thanks again Adam for your balanced and informative videos.
The 383 (and later 400) took the large bore short stroke concept to extremes. However it made plenty of torque to move even the big Chryslers that it was installed in quickly.
originally the design/prototype/1967-71 by bill/Richard was meant for a scissors-convertible top "gm-patent-1950's" and a removable hardtop ( fibreglass/carbonfiber a must for me as i live in winter ❄and end up parking outside a lot and or driving in the storms including regular rainfall and like saving the vinyl soft top for nicer weather conditions 😉 ), at 19yo~2013~ i was glad that my 2-gen wasn't a convertible ( something i hated but have changed my mind about after being married 😉 ) or 4-door but after 5+years of ownership im kinda wishing for 1/2-sized back doors and convertible top like Richard salis/wood originally was thinking and did to his personal convertible charger 1969 G F8 car
That's my Charger. It was on display at Greenfield village. Thanks for the video
Adam, I agree with you 100%. The second generation Chargers were all beautiful in their overall form, but the details of the 1968 are my favorite. The full width grille with the understated lower front bumper is the best looking of the 68-70 models. I prefer it to the split design of the 1969 and the loop bumper of the 1970 model. The round tail lights are simple and distinctive. And I love the dash and the center console. So, so cool.
Perfectly said. In my early 20s I could have gotten a great car but had no place to keep it, 8k…. It was a west coast car, perfect. I love the first year too, great interior
@@gregz6418 I had an opportunity to buy a 1968 Charger R/T 440 with 727 automatic when I was in high school in the late 1980’s for $3500. It was a copper color with a black vinyl roof and it was beautiful. It might as well have been a million dollars, and I probably would have wrapped it around a telephone pole if I had bought it.
I have very few regrets but back in the early to I’d 1980s I was a teenager and a friends neighbor had a Panther Pink Cuda convertible with a Hemi !! It was sitting in their back year and needed to be rebuilt/ restored hemis were known then for beings bear to keep in tune and they wanted about$3000 which I thought was way too much for a 14-15 yo car with rust and an engine that smoked and hardly ran. And it was PINK and a convertible. Those two things to
A teenage boy was everything a muscle at should NOT BE! Fast forward today and that is what makes it so cool and special today to me. Amazing how tastes change. Hindsight is always. What it is a did never guess in my lifetime a classic Mopar would be worth 6 to even SEVEN figures yes 7 some of these classic Muscle cars have sold in the million + range!
My first car out of high school was a '68 charger!! It was ten years old when I bought it in 1978!! The guy I bought it from was a mechanic who souped up the 383 engine! My buddies thought the motor was so clean you could eat off of it!! Fastest I ever went in a car was the 68 charger, I hit 135 mph on the highway racing a Mercury cougar!! Stupid thing to do looking back on it now but I won the race!! Boy if that car could talk, the stories it would have!! Sold it a few years later for what I paid for it , 1200 dollars!! Wish I held on to it now that I see what just a shell is going for now!!
A boyhood friend of mine was a fellow by the name of Randy Fredrick. We were eleven years old in 1968. I remember another friend had a sleepover at his house and I was already there when Randy's dad dropped him off. Randy stepped out of a brand new 1968 Dodge Charger R/T with a black body, a black vinyl roof and black interior. It had a higher end wheel (Magnum 500?) but not sure exactly what wheel it was. The car is definitely one of the best designs ever. I certainly knew that even as an eleven-year-old. Interestingly Randy's dad was Bob Frederick a famous NFL referee who passed away in 2002. I'll never forget seeing that car for the very first time. My how things have changed. Your channel is he next best thing to a time machine.
My aunt had a '68 Charger R/T with the 440 Magnum. It was silver with white interior. It was awesome and so much fun to drive. Nothing sounded like the rumble it produced.
That car is so straight with the black paint looking perfect.
That is one beautiful classic muscle car...nothing better than a Charger!
I grew up with muscle cars....I go to shows and see them all the time. But just as I grew up up and saw them on the streets every day I never got tired of them just as I never get tired of them today. I guess I am just a real car guy.
Bill Hickman was arguably the greatest stunt driver Hollywood ever employed. He certainly was the template for others who followed. The role he played in the making and participating in some of the greatest movie car chase scenes, along with many other behind-the-scenes roles will live on forever. He was good friends with James Dean; he was present when Dean died from injuries sustained in a car accident. By the way, the whole story about James Dean and his love for auto racing, including his friendship with Bill Hickman makes for a great read.
People remember the Bullitt scene but the French Connection scene had me on the edge of my seat when I first saw it. Blows everything else out of the water.
What was the title of the book?
@adeeponion9152 I don't think there are any biographies written solely about Bill Hickman, but there are numerous stories online about how he and James Dean bonded over auto racing. Any further information biographical in nature would probably be contained in books written about James Dean.
Agreed, Hickman was every car guy’s movie hero. Some actors surprised their directors with their driving skills. Steve McQueen and Paul Newman proved in private life that they could duke it out with the pros in the most demanding and dangerous road races. James Garner surprised everyone including himself when he played a gran prix driver and the professional driving the camera car could not stay with him.
I read that they had to “beef up” the 390 in the Bullitt Mustang in order for it to even come close to keeping up with the 440 in the Charger.
My dream car. Nothing beats the Charger from the '68-'70 model years.
Except maybe the 68-70 RoadRunners, 68-70 Chevelles, 67-69 Camaros, 55-57 Thunderbirds, 64-66 Thunderbirds, 55-57 Chevys, 70-73 Camaros, 68-70 Super Bees, 68-70 GTO. I can go on and on and on.
The 1969 GTO with hideaway headlights does it for me for a musclecar. Everything is perfectly designed, and making the rear quarter marker lights the GTO crest was an awesome touch by the design team. Ever since I first watched BULLIT, I've had a soft spot for the 1968 Charger, like you said, beautiful from every angle.
1969 GTO , to me, is the greatest car ever made!
My first (real) boyfriend had a 1969 GTO convertible. It was red with white interior. Fond memories of hanging out with friends while they would tinker with their cars. Then a cruise down Wisconsin Ave to Milwakee's lakefront.
I bought my 1970 in 1985. The Fast and Furious franchise really pushed the 70’s to be more desirable than they previously were. One of the things some don’t like is the chrome front bumper. Dodge had a pre production film of a red ‘70 with a red front bumper. That didn’t appear til ‘71. Mine is a factory 440 Six Pack 4 speed. It was the only year of that gen to have the high back buckets, Pistol Grip shifter, 440 Six Pack, and Hi Impact colors.
The 68 Charger RT is in my top three cars from the 60s that I would love to own. I love the design front to rear.
My uncle who turned 30 that year bought a silver 1968 Dodge Charger with a black vinyl roof and interior. What a nifty car it was. His was just a 318 V8 with a Torqueflite.
I must agree.... the Chargers this generation were a home run for ChryCo design. I'm an Olds 442 guy....I have two but I have always liked the Charger. I owned one Road Runner, not a very good example as it needed mechanical work. Most desirable Mopars to me are Charger R/T, Coronet R/T and Super Bee.
I'm not one to drool over muscle cars either, but this is the exception. It really is design brilliance.
No argument from me. I worked at Chrysler during that era. The joke was that the head of design was on vacation when this slipped through. I bought a new '69 R/T SE (Copper Metallic, stripe Delete!) It was gorgeous. The SE (Special Edition) got you leather seats and woodgrain IP. Lovely car.
This car is just over the top. I’ve always liked the 1968 Charger the most. Thank you for sharing this with us.
In South Africa 1984, I drove a ‘68 Dodge Charger...The ONLY one in the country!
Light Blue paint, Black Interior, Black Vinyl Top, 383.
Holy Jupiter...You really pulled my heart strings with this awesome video Adam. You explained this car splendidly. Thank you man. I attest the 69 was my introduction to loving the Charger from the TV shows. Then I got fond of the 66 which is pretty cool too. But I absolutely agree with you that the 68 has a menacing cool look to it. Jay Leno loves round rear backlights and many of us car lovers do as well. It really is a pinnacle car as you stated. A hemi with a hurst shifter as an option was the cherry on the cake. And as you said, regardless, any option was still cool..
The 68 Charger is my favorite as well I like the round taillights the best. Dark green is my favorite color in the 68 Charger.
Hey Adam, this black & red Charger is stunning!!! It makes me think of my uncle's Charger he bought new in 1966. It was then that I fell in love with hidden headlights, in fact a decade later my first car, a 69 Cougar XR7 had hidden headlights!!! 👍👍🙂
I can't get over the absolutely PERFECT bodywork and paint!
69 Cougar...That's a beautiful car.
Hey Adam, I just commented on how much I enjoy your channel because you feature old sleds. That said the 68 Charger is an iconic car. I may stand corrected but side matker lights were mandated in 68. I also think that the lane change feature for your turn signals appeared that year as well. Just some fun facts if I'm right. The R/T also had an extra leaf on 1 side of the rear springs to handle the higher torque. I had the pleasure years ago to drive an R/T with a 440 and a stick. Wow was that fun! Cheers!
Yes! 1968 was mandated marker light time
I agree and have always loved the styling of this generation Dodge Charger (68-70). When compared to its Plymouth Road Runner sibling the Charger's 'flying buttress' roof treatment, one inch longer wheelbase, and 'fuselage' front end made it the more handsome vehicle.
Good catch on the fuselage element of the Charger’s and incidentally the Challenger’s design. Taking a page from Jaguar’s book, the designers dispensed with the boxy form factor of most American big cars, replacing the flat rocker panels with curved ones that followed the body’s aircraft-inspired roundness when seen head-on. This approach saved the second-gen Charger from becoming a hulking monster.
@@johntechwriter no think boating and convertibles and zepland's/air-ships, most "gm guy's" don't understand this and washout/smoothing/rounding the airship-body-lines that are sharper but rounded like the nose on the pre-1940-hindinberg-ect
richard helped with the 1967-68~ prototype that's a widebody convertible aka OG design team intended for the charger like mine/68-70 to be a convertible and Richard-S/wood's personal f8 is a convertible using a 1975~ caddy top and OG-hardtop-steel/or/fibreglass
I can’t agree with you enough! This year was special! My friend bought one of these new from Crosstown Motors in Edmonton, Canada. Canary yellow with a 383. It sounded amazing and boy did it go!
I totally agree with you, because I used to own one. I wish I still owned it today. 😎👌👍
This is why your channel is so interesting. I’ve learned a ton about full size classic cars. I still love muscle cars(68 chevelle/nova). But nobody else covers/collects full-size cars. Never realized how cool the full-size cars were. Thanks for bringing them to us.
Also my favorite automotive body design of all time.
I'm with you, Adam. This is my favorite Dodge model -- I like the '68s through the '70s.
I was a junior in college in 1968 and remember how I drooled over these Chargers when they came out. I agree that they were the best looking mid-sized car on the road.
I desperately tried talking my buddy into buying one. We took one for a test drive. He, being a GM supporter, was not impressed. He bought a 1968 6-cylinder, 4-speed Camaro instead. That purchase went south for him as he picked up his new Camaro Monday night and totaled it on the way to the university Tuesday morning. Not even 24 hours old.
If I recall, you could get the 225 leaning tower of power in a Charger if you so desired.
Chrysler engines were king back then. In 1968 one never tried to race a MOPAR. You'd lose every time.
Great synopsis of a stellar car.
Don't blame you for liking this, bereft of stripes and muscle car cues...it's a true sleeper. Like the 70 Plymouth Sport Satellite my dad had when I was a kid. It had the 383 motor, buckets and console. I loved that car. My fav Chargers bounce between the 66 and 71. I've always been torn between them. Thanks Adam.
Something in black and it ain't a Cadillac. This car made the stylist, the bean counters, the dealers and the customers happy. Few years later, the insurance companies very happy.
I have to agree. Chrysler was really leading the pack with this Charger in 1968, though I always loved the ‘69 version about as much. Our family car was a ‘69 Dodge Coronet 500, similar in many ways to the Charger, but of course was more pedestrian with its 4 doors and 383 2 barrel. Believe me, it moved very well, especially when floored and in passing gear. I learned to drive on it. What a treat. The downside to these cars was noise, ride, and build quality. Squeaks and rattles abounded. But these Chrysler cars with the Coke bottle styling were beautiful and very sporty.
I went to high school in the early to mid 80s....seems the steel wheels/dog dish hubcaps would be swapped out for a set of Cragers.....As I got older, I have an appreciation for the dog dish/steel wheel look. I even retconned my Dodge Dakota with a set of OEM Dodge Pickup dog dish hubcaps...correct for the era. My Dakota had full wheel covers originally, that I had a hard time finding...but did get a set of dog dishes on Ebay.
One of my all time faves, too. No vinyl top is a plus, as is the black paint w/o stick on performance (stripes). No nonsense dash and thoughtful interior styling puts it over the top for me. Thanks for sharing!
Unabashed Mopar guy here. Love your content no matter what you cover. Other than the 1970 Challenger, the '68 Charger is the best Chrysler ever offered imo.
Thank you for showing us this great example!
My all-time favorite Mopar is the '68 Road Runner. I love the idea of it more than the looks compared to the Charger. All stripped down except the go fast stuff.
Great looking car. The Australian Chargers released in 1971 had some of their styling cues on a smaller scale, particularly the rear window buttresses.
I was 8 when they introduced the '68 Charger. It has the best rear three quarter view of any muscle car ever made. Handsome and brutal at the same time. Some of its styling features are derivative, but I love it. Especially the flying buttress C pillars (which look best on a vinyl roof car when the roof is a different color than the body) and its Coke-bottle shape.
Thanks Adam...looking on from Australia when Aussie muscle cars from Ford and GM were in their infancy and Chrysler had to wait for its muscle appearance till '69, I can only drool at this time in the US auto industry. I know your allegiances lean to GM so your gushing description of this rolling work of art means a lot to us Mopar guys and says much about you as a person and as an overall auto aficionado.
The Aussie Charger had a straight 6 Hemi engine I think rated at 265 hp. The Yank tanks did not have that engine. A car buff mate of mine told me the hemi6 would blow away a 318 that only had 230 hp.
@@jayjaynella4539 The first Aussie built Chargers didn't come out till 1971.
I see a pretty nice Challenger R/T next to it, too! 👍🏻
68 + 69 68 started it with that body style
I like how it retain The hideaway headlights from the first series charger
Although 68 I did like the the small round tail lights although 69 was definitely a good-looking machine too.
I've come to appreciate the 70 but not quite as much but there's certain models that look really good
Luv the looks of the 68 also like that big bad menacing looking 71 body style
The red interior is very rare on any 68 charger if its original, my car is QQ1 blue, white vinyl top, blue interior, 383 4 barrel, 727 trans, 323 suregrip rear gears, console car, bucket seat, no head rests.
I’m a GM guy but I love the second gen Chargers, my personal favorite is the 1969 Charger 500
Thanks for making this great video. Just to clarify a few things. The buckets, 3 spoke wheel, clock, lighter, front & rear bumper guards, and wheel opening moldings were all standard even on base models. Had my numbers matching 68 R/T since '87 and still love it.
You're a man after my own heart. Since I was a child and saw the 1968 charger and then watching Bullit I said it was the baddest, best looking and flawless from any angle. I prefer the 68 for the same reasons. The grill, the marker lights and the round tail lights are the pinnacle of muscle car styling. Just a beautiful, beautiful ride. Perfection and in Parr set the standard of what a muscle car is.
Well, there’s probably two schools of fans for this body style….. those like you Adam who love the ‘68, and those like me who love the ‘69-70. That rear end design really separates the otherwise same exact car. The ‘69 is my all time favorite muscle car and it’s the car that got me into cars. I’m a GM guy and I own a Camaro SS but my bucket list car of all cars is a ‘69 Charger R/T 440 4 speed. I owe my love of cars to watching that ‘69 Charger in bright orange with 01 on the doors and the stars and bars on the roof fly through my TV set every Friday night on CBS from 8-9 PM from the time I was about 4-10 years old!!
Back when I was a kid, these Coke bottle Chargers were everywhere. I mean you couldn't go down any Street in any neighborhood of America without seeing a couple of them. I desperately wanted one with every fiber of my being. But within just a few years, they all rusted away to nothing. It absolutely shattered my heart to see so many of these beautiful cars sitting in junkyards.
Or getting destroyed in the Dukes of Hazzard🙂
@@danielsellers8707 I remember reading somewhere a while back that about 350 of these Chargers were destroyed in the making of that series. Compare that with the nearly quarter of a million Chargers that were produced between 1968 and 1970, and it becomes pretty clear that the Dukes of Hazzard was not a really big factor in eliminating these cars from existence. In truth, they simply rusted away.
My brother in law had one when he dated my sister. I was 7, or 8 at that time but this was undoubtedly the coolest car on the street!! I know he wishes he had that car back. 35 years ago and I still remember sitting in the back seat and just cruising around. I'm sure they weren't thrilled to have me back there!! Lol
The rear view is menacing. How wide the stance and those buttresses..it never really popped-out until I saw this video. Obrigado, Adam!
No one likes a Charger more than me, but damn, that forest-green Challenger with the black vinyl top next to it... if it's a '70, I'm in love. I love all of the '68 Chryslers, those little round marker lights are AWESOME. A '68 340/4-speed notchback Barracuda is my favorite muscle car of all time, but I can't deny the superior beauty of the Charger. The interior on this one is REALLY cool, and poverty caps will never not rock. That particular 383 is my favorite big-block V8 (from any manufacturer) of all time, they rev like a 327 or 340 and make power like a big-block. Love a good 383 (most aren't very good).
70 -71 Challengers for ever. YOU sir DO have great taste !!!
The Challenger next to it is a real 440 six pack 4 speed 4:10 dana car. He's one of my close friends we take our cars to shows together.
Still working on my 68' Charger. Loving the channel Adam, it's part of my lunch hour routine.
'68 is definitely the best Charger. I'm not a fan of hidden headlights, but I would gladly put up with them on one of these. They are beautiful.
I wake up (Here in the UK) at 7am look at my Cellphone and what do I see, Oh Boy! You posting a Vlog on a 68 Dodge Charger. What a car. Thank´s once again. Great car!
A neighbor of ours in the late sixties-early seventies had a pine green 1968-69 Dodge Charger, a beautiful car.
"68 Charger R/T in Blue w/White is my dream car. One day!
Fun fact about the movie Bullitt is Steve McQueen's 68 Ford Mustang GT Fastback had a hard time keeping up with the 440 Dodge Charger R/T being only a 390 cubic inch V8 with 320 horsepower while the Charger had 375 horsepower. So during the car chase Bill Hickman had to slow down to make it look like both cars were equally fast. Warner bros purchased two green Fastback mustang's and two 440 R/T Chargers for the film. The mustangs had to be heavily modified to withstand the stunts but the Chargers were pretty much left factory stock and handled the stunts very well.
Facts - that Charger walked the Mustang; though the Chargers were modified to strengthen the front suspension.
Exactly! I just posted the same thing a few minutes ago! The 440 was a beast!
I agree Adam. I was almost 3 yo when these came out and saw them throughout my school years. They looked and sounded sinister. I knew whoever was driving it was a real car lover.
Could not agree more Adam. Never cared for mopar when younger but now realize what I was missing!
Thanks for the '68 highlight. The rear taillights make this my favorite over the '69 or '70.
Me too.
@@craigbenz4835 thanks!
I love watching orange 69 charger go flying through the air
Yeehaah (Dixie horn)🙂
My first car, which I bought when I graduated from high school at the age of 18, was a used 1970 Charger R/T with the 440-4V. I had no idea what I gotten myself into. Everyone wanted to smoke the tires (which was easy to do). Its color, "Plum Crazy" purple, also garnered a lot of attention.
Many attempts were made to steal my Charger, as my father had no driveway/garage and so the car was parked on the street. One time my father came out of the house in the morning and found I guy sitting in the driver's seat. Apparently he had managed to break into the car but did not know how to start it.
Looking back, I wish I had kept it, but the lousy gas mileage (ca. 9 miles per gallon) and the insurance cost led me to move on to more sedate cars.
Had a friend that had an early 70's charger that was brown, mighty 318 2 barrel and it looked like a coke bottle. I was a kid and loved that car! All these years later the master of the classics finally tips me off that if he just put a bumble bee stripe (bumble butt) the thing would of done wheel stands. Missed opportunity! Favorite was the 73/74 AMC Javelin AMX with the corvetish taillights, huge curved benders and roomy interior. Second place is the Dodge Challenger with the 340 from 1971 because they put urethane over the chrome bumpers giving it a lethal look. 68 Mustang fastbak...302 was my Ford favorite. Then again, I always loved the 68 Olds Toronado as my secret crush cuz when you are a teenager, loving a lead sled called your sanity into question. The Toro, Jave and Challenger would be my top three (I'll hide the 78 Pacer X wagon in the back with a 304 V8 as my goofball car)
I’m pretty sure you and I would get along great. The only muscle car for me would be a ‘68 or ‘69 Charger, but the first 2 cars I owned were a ‘78 LTD Brougham 4dr with a 351 Cleveland in ‘poop’ brown, and a ‘77 LTD II 2dr with Sport Stripes and a 351 Windsor. The LTD II was so cool! I wish I still had it! It wasn’t an actual factory sport stripe car, but a Silver coupe. The previous owner then purchased the 1978 red / orange striping set and had it installed by the dealership body shop. I thought it looked super cool rolling on 255/70R15 BFG T/A radials in the rear and 235/75R15’s up front with classic Cragers. Dang I want it back!!
2nd best looking Mopar of all time , behind the 70 Cuda . IMO.
The '68 Charger looks to me like an updated '66-'67 GM A body, so I love them too! And the '68 is my favorite, with its round taillights and marker lights.
My second favorite Charger would be the '70, with its lesser-seen bumper/grill-surround. I didn't much like the later Chargers. First gens are OK.
Nearly all of those '66-'70 B bodies were quite good looking cars.
Now maybe you could do a video on the '67 Cougar XR7 interior?😀 Or how about a video on the AMC Marlin?
Adam, I agree with you completely regarding the styling of this generation! Thanks.
I prefer the '69 version cause of the beautiful taillights. Man the shape is so iconic. Dodge made amazing cars back then. The Polara and Royal Monaco are great too. The Royal Monaco Brougham from the 70s is so damn rare but stunning as can be (especially the '75 model). Would love to see a video about that.
The tail lights and side markers are why I prefer the '68 over the '69, but both are great.
Don't forget the Coronet Super Bee as well.
out of the 68-70 Charger 70 was my favorite , The chrome surround bumper was the selling point for me . Had a 70 Charger 500 in High School . I miss that car
Another beautiful video! It also happens to feature my favorite car of all time. Thank you Adam!
I like the 68 the most of the second generation Chargers as well. The grill and especially the tail light details are just that extra bit nicer than on all of the great looking 2nd gen cars,
I do like the 66/67s too.
In 1976, for a “birthday present”, a friend in high school was given a 1969 Charger RT with a 426 hemi engine, the 727 torqueflite transmission, and a (2.73) “highway gear” posi rear end. The car was owned previously by his rich uncle in Texas, and it had only 23,000 miles. It was not “stock”, and made 600 hp on the dyno. Even with the auto transmission and the highway gears, it would roast the stock car sized rear wheels, and would easily bury the 160 mph speedometer. I can only imagine what that awesome car would be worth today.
Agreed with you Adam. Great looking car that I've always held in high regards. Can't wait to check out dozens of them at the upcoming Mopar Nationals just outside of Columbus in a couple of weeks.
I’ll be there!
Sweet car. The Gen 6 Camaro and the new 7th Gen Mustang (seems to have copied some outgoing Camaro styling cues) both have impressive quarter panel haunches, as you said rare these days.
Dear Mr. Adam,
Great video and commentary, once again. You made my day because I have the exact same opinions on the 2nd generation Charger.
In the summer of 1970, this (then) seventeen year old Ohio boy met a tiny sixteen year old strawberry blonde girl from Tennessee. She could drive her mother's 1968 Charger like a flippin' pro. Some great memories. Thank you.
I agree The 68 Dodge Charger is A beauty in itself, And this is coming from a die hard Gm man.
Most beautiful Muscle Car ever made IMHO. And like you said, the other things that came along with it, Engine, Trans, running gear and interiors also amplified what in my mind was the ultimate car. So gorgeous and at the same time powerful looking and powerful performing. I put this car up there with the 57 Chevy, the 65 Riviera, and the Split window Corvette as most beautiful designs. I think I am partial to Bill Mitchell’s work.
I did like the 68 at all. Later like 1979 I adapted. It has style, but the challenger was my Mopar love. In my elder years I ended up with a 96 c4 vette. Thanks for your sweet vids. From Aurora Illinois
These cars have so much presence 😊
Adam might be interested to know that I bought a '68 Charger in probably the early 1980's for $87.50. I kid you not...running and driving, too...but just barely. We drove it up the driveway and that was it. Actually my brother and I bought it for $175, which was $87.50 each. It was trashed and thrashed by the standards of the day - much rust and bondo - but a '68 Charger in that condition today would easily bring $15k and maybe even more like 20-25k. The prices on them today are truly obscene. I still like them, but like so many desirable cars from that era, driving them wasn't a substantially different experience than driving much more ordinarly cars, unless you had some super high performance engine option in your Charger. A friend of mine from when I was a teenager had very nice '69 model with vinyl top and a really nice dark turquoise/teal color. Much better than my car! :D
Very extensive details about the car. I think about the many films and tv shows this car has appeared. I recall the many Chargers over the years. It has come a long way. Thank you once again Adam.
My Dad bought one, but it was long gone by '75 when I could drive.
I remember seeing this in the Parade magazine annual new car issue back in 68. It was definitely a great looking car with that front end. I also liked the little circular side marker light that were now required in 68.
Nice, thanks for this one!
We do prefer the look of the '70... we like the elongated taillight treatment, and the clean look of the loop front bumper. To each their own, of course.
I’m like you, I cannot express in words how beautiful I think that car is. Just…Wow. I went and found similar examples for sale and some were $200+k
I would agree with you on the beauty of the lines of those Chargers. They are beautiful. To me, the most beautiful classic cars are the 1974-75 Imperials and 1976-78 Chrysler NYBs. There's nothing I don't like about the looks of them, inside or out.
Adam- It does fit your inclination toward choices: Black, slick top, red interior.
The '68-'70 is an iconic design. At the time, these were sold as much as personal luxury cars, with vinyl roofs and 318s, as they were muscle cars. Overall, they're absolutely stunning! While I think I prefer the first gen fastback Chargers just because of that big Electric Shaver grill, squared off side flanks, and the gorgeous bucket seat interior. Of the second gen, I think I prefer the '69, with its full width tail lights... but all of these classic Chargers are fantastic looking cars, with great powertrains! The poverty caps and redline tires absolutely set this example off and, yeah, it'd be hard not to want one.
The 7 Ups gets my vote for favorite movie car chase. Bill Hickman did some amazing work, weaving and slamming that huge jiggly Pontiac around the streets of NYC.
We always called those dog dish hub caps. I hadn't heard poverty before this video.
One of my uncles bought one new. Great car
The second gen Charger is one of the best designed cars of all time. I love its sleek exterior design with smooth curves. And when equipped with 440 or 426, these things don't just fly. They're rockets!
That is hilarious, The Bumble Bee stripes added to the handling. Classic
Building three 1/25th scale models of 1968 Chargers right now…one of which is the black on black on black car from Bullitt.
My favorite is the '69, largely the rear taillights.
Chargers from 1968 to 1970 had a LOT of drag compared to the 66 and 67, for racing the back glass and the flying buttress C-pillars were cleaned up with a larger flush rear glass. The one year only side marker lights are called "Fish Eyes." Adam, you're right, they were one of the best-looking cars made --- thanks MOPAR.
I never heard anyone call them that. I currently have 3 ‘68 Plymouth’s. On those they look more property placed. 😁
@@drippinglass I had so many '68 b- bodies (including 3 Chargers, 2 road runners, a GTX and a Coronet RT) that Ive lost count and i have never heard that either. Must be another 'online expert'...
@@drippinglass I picked up the term "Fisheyes" from sellers at classic car swap meets a few years back. Have a great day.....
One of my favorite styled cars of the era, thanks in no small part to Bullitt. The 69 Charger with the "split grill" just wasn't as mean or the exposed headlights of the 500 just looked off. You really need to do an episode on my favorite muscle car, the 73 Pontiac Trans AM with the SD455...i'll take mine in Brewster Green with a four speed!
Total agreement with you on this thing and I think its obvious that thing goes at least 70 standing still.