Early '68 Chargers

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Besides the funky tail light brackets in the trunk and the skeleton trunklid frame, what else is unique to '68 Chargers built in '67?

[VegasCharger]

Horn button, vent pull handle (round instead of square), seat belt re-tractors (not having the plastic case), arrow emblem on the sail panel?   I even heard stories where the side headliner trim did not have screw holes in them as they used clips to secure the trim and it was a factory fail so the screws were used to correct it.

There's more but that's what comes to mind.



EDIT: Trunk lid underside, with seems to no seems (smooth).

[Charger-Bodie]

Red white and blue in the emblem on the upper door pads.

Steering wheel center cap.

Vent cable pulls.

[tan top]

 what the other guys said  

also
 dash ash tray , slide down,
chrome map pocket buttons,
trunk floor ,
gas tank filler tube gasket ,
heater & AC control panels  ,
no thread , in roof for shoulder belts , ?
trunk lid hinge brackets ?
hood latch/ lock / release lever  ?
rear shock absorber cross member ? there is a difference between 68 & 69 cars , think  late 68 cars got a 69 cross member & or depending what assembly plant  , don't quote me on this though  , I've since lost this info / vins etc & pictures when computer blew up a few years back.

the ones with a question mark , are  , not 100 percent sure  , just trying to remember stuff   , even think there are one or two more  differences ...... ,

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Thanks all.   

I just purchased a 68 with a build date of 8/13 & I'll have to check these things out when it arrives. Anyone got a picture of the door medallions on the upper door panels?

[moparnation74]

Thanks all.   

I just purchased a 68 with a build date of 8/13 & I'll have to check these things out when it arrives. Anyone got a picture of the door medallions on the upper door panels?

I may have those medallions......will ck

[mightywing7]

Not sure, but was there a distinction (date-wise) as to why some of the 68 dashes had the fratzog emblem vs the bullseye emblem that's used to cover up the screw on the dash faceplate??

[ds440]

Here's a pic of my door medallions.  9/18/67 SPD and mine has most, if not all, of the previously mentioned items. 

There's a thread floating around that goes through some of the novelties of the early models - this might be of some help:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,22899.0.html

[Mytur Binsdirti]

My car has the old style front seat belt retractors and it looks like it has a 1967 rear view mirror

[crj1968]

Man, you guys need a hobby,    

[68X426]

what else is unique to '68 Chargers built in '67?

They have lower VINs Mr. Dirti.

Seriously, they'll all be from the Hamtramck assembly plant.   None from St. Louis (until March '68).

[MxRacer855]

I just found out my '68 is from Nov. 17th, 1967. 
I always thought the round vent knobs were tossed on because the previous owner could find the original stuff. 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Mine has a build date of 8/13.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Never knew any of these things were early 68....     

My Charger has

a round dash medallion
tri color door pad medallions
skeletal trunk lid structure
tail light brackets are different
headliner trim was only clipped on - no screws
small round horn pad
slide down ash tray
Chrome map pocket buttons


Build date was Oct 27, 1967

[70-500-SE-EXPORT]

I have a 8/67 built charger and noticed the trunk gutters are also different. The round spot where the rubber bumpstop contacts the gutter has a 3/8 wide x 1/8 raised nipple in the center. My two 68 and one 69 parts cars don't have this so it must be a early 68 thing.

[Homerr]

Can you post pics of the different areas?

[challenger70]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

[tan top]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

you have the side ways arrow on the sail panel !!   , whats your cars SPD ?

[challenger70]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

you have the side ways arrow on the sail panel !!   , whats your cars SPD ?

I do, what is SPD?  I assumed it was added by a previous owner, I believe it is a pretty early built car, no shoulder belt mount either.

[tan top]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

you have the side ways arrow on the sail panel !!   , whats your cars SPD ?

I do, what is SPD?  I assumed it was added by a previous owner, I believe it is a pretty early built car, no shoulder belt mount either.

SPD is the scheduled production date ,   see below , the three digits  circled in green  , is the spd , in this case  425   , april 25th  1968

[Dans 68]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

I have never heard of a factory delivered car with the arrow emblem. My '68 does have it, but the previous owner put it on.

Dan

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I have never heard of a factory delivered car with the arrow emblem.  

Same here.


Do early cars have the large retainer (secured with a nut) at the rear of the door beltline moldings? Mine appears not to and I'm just wondering if the holes may have been filled in.  





Also, would the early cars have these wipers?

[70-500-SE-EXPORT]

My early car does not have the nut for the door beltline trim. Just clips hold it on. There is no hole drilled in the door for it.

[challenger70]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

you have the side ways arrow on the sail panel !!   , whats your cars SPD ?

I do, what is SPD?  I assumed it was added by a previous owner, I believe it is a pretty early built car, no shoulder belt mount either.

SPD is the scheduled production date ,   see below , the three digits  circled in green  , is the spd , in this case  425   , april 25th  1968

No idea  never got a fender tag.  The vin ends in 1106XX though any idea when it was built?

[tan top]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

you have the side ways arrow on the sail panel !!   , whats your cars SPD ?

I do, what is SPD?  I assumed it was added by a previous owner, I believe it is a pretty early built car, no shoulder belt mount either.

SPD is the scheduled production date ,   see below , the three digits  circled in green  , is the spd , in this case  425   , april 25th  1968

No idea   never got a fender tag.  The vin ends in 1106XX though any idea when it was built?

 if you have enough 68 charger  vin numbers  with their SPDs  from both assembly  plants  G & B   st Louis & Hamtramck  , you can make a educated guess ! , ( sorry cant help, with the 68s !  as I only have / collect  69s on file )  but  the 68 charger guys  will know more  also  check out the 68 registry !  

[tan top]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

I have never heard of a factory delivered car with the arrow emblem. My '68 does have it, but the previous owner put it on.

Dan

this picture below I  found  long time ago while searching the web , &  long since lost the link & other pictures , when computer blew up few years back    anyways , there was a picture of the fender tag from memory , pretty sure it said  a  late july  1967 SPD .....car was unrestored & looked un messed with  





 

[VegasCharger]

Thanks TT for backing up my theory on the arrow sail panel emblem on early 68 Chargers. 

I didn't have any sources or pictures to prove that the factory did have them on the early 68s. I remember hearing more than one source on this topic.

[TPR]

TT and Vegas,
This picture from a vintage sales brochure from Canada clearly shows the Charger script and arrow emblem too. [bottom pic in ad]
I believe both badges were also on the '68 Charger on the cover of Car And Driver Magazines October '67 issue. [not really visible tho]
I was under the impression that early Chargers did not feature both emblems, as a rule, only one did, the one used for early promo material.
All three, including your image above TT, might very well be the exact same, one and only, double badged car.
Of course I don't know for sure.
TPR

[VegasCharger]

TPR 

[dual fours]

1968 Non R/T, arrow on sail panel, different license plate then above pictured Charger, different Charger.
Second picture, the yellow 1968 has the same license plate (DD1968) as in my first picture.

[tan top]

.... arrow emblem on the sail panel? ......

Is this a confirmed thing?  My car has this and I was planning on removing it while I am repainting.

I have never heard of a factory delivered car with the arrow emblem. My '68 does have it, but the previous owner put it on.

Dan

this picture below I  found  long time ago while searching the web , &  long since lost the link & other pictures , when computer blew up few years back    anyways , there was a picture of the fender tag from memory , pretty sure it said  a  late july  1967 SPD .....car was unrestored & looked un messed with  





 

Thanks TT for backing up my theory on the arrow sail panel emblem on early 68 Chargers.  

I didn't have any sources or pictures to prove that the factory did have them on the early 68s. I remember hearing more than one source on this topic.

TT and Vegas,
This picture from a vintage sales brochure from Canada clearly shows the Charger script and arrow emblem too. [bottom pic in ad]
I believe both badges were also on the '68 Charger on the cover of Car And Driver Magazines October '67 issue. [not really visible tho]
I was under the impression that early Chargers did not feature both emblems, as a rule, only one did, the one used for early promo material.
All three, including your image above TT, might very well be the exact same, one and only, double badged car.
Of course I don't know for sure.
TPR

found the car & the source  , I mentioned in my above post , with  sail panel sideways arrow !!

pictures from Carole Waller's , flicker website page .... ,    



https://www.flickr.com/photos/hangtowngal/sets/72157626224776683

[TPR]

Good research there Gents.
So I wonder how many out there have the double badge?
TPR

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I was fortunate that (what I think is) the original tire pressure decal came with the paperwork. So, should the early tire pressure decal be placed horizontal or vertical in the door jamb?  


Also, does anyone know what the cutoff date was for the tri-colored inner door Charger medallions?

[NOWIFE]

An early 68 That went to Sweden, shoulda kept this one.

[NOWIFE]

More pics

[NOWIFE]

I took these pics in 08 I believe

[NOWIFE]

trunk

[NOWIFE]

ashtray

[NOWIFE]

Door medallion   
I can't remember the exact build date on this car, but I think it was early September 67.  It wasn't a true survivor, as it had one repaint.  The guy fogged a lot of paint in the trunk area and was sloppy under the hood. But it was a 70k mile car with 95% original parts and of course numbers matching.

[NOWIFE]

I did replace the vinyl top and the sail panel emblems went back on after the picture was taken.  It had the 4 holes on each side for the
"CHARGER" script and the arrow medallion, but If I remember correctly I didn't install the arrows because I never had the correct NOS or even decent originals to put back on it.  The ones that were on the car each had a broken stud and were pitted.  I don't know if the new owner is on this site, but perhaps if he is, he can confirm.  My memory isn't what it used to be.

[6bblgt]

I was fortunate that (what I think is) the original tire pressure decal came with the paperwork. So, should the early tire pressure decal be placed horizontal or vertical in the door jamb?  

Also, does anyone know what the cutoff date was for the tri-colored inner door Charger medallions?

here's an early November '67 Lynch Rd 318 Satellite's door jamb tire label  can you post a clearer pic of your decal?

[tan top]

An early 68 That went to Sweden, shoulda kept this one.

nice 68  
good lot of  !early 68 reference pictures !   thanks for sharing  NW  

[Mytur Binsdirti]

here's an early November '67 Lynch Rd 318 Satellite's door jamb tire label  can you post a clearer pic of your decal?

Unfortunately, mine is the same decal. Should have put my reading glasses on before I said something. 

[6bblgt]

here's an early November '67 Lynch Rd 318 Satellite's door jamb tire label  can you post a clearer pic of your decal?

Unfortunately, mine is the same decal. Should have put my reading glasses on before I said something. 

It could still be the correct decal - "W29" is Charger
the last 2 digits of the part number didn't show up on the broadcast sheet until some time mid-December/early-January (52, 53, 54, 55)  maybe there was one generic b-body tire label prior to that?

[6bblgt]

here's an original Feb. '68 tire decal & a couple reproductions * round VS. square cut (easy tell on some reproductions) corners

not sure when they went to 1969 style tire decals, but they did arrive during the '68 model year

[6bblgt]

& notice the orientation - vertical and read from the passenger compartment

[6bblgt]

this early '68 was at "Spring Fling" in Van Nuys CA a few years ago