Was 8-track player available in a 68 Charger?

[TiMopar]

I recently noticed that my car appears to have one. Is this stock? If so, how on earth does it work? - there does not appear to be a 'play' button or an 'eject' button...

[5hunert]

Push the tape all the way in, it plays. Pull the tape out, it stops. 

[TiMopar]

Push the tape all the way in, it plays. Pull the tape out, it stops. 

Ok, cool, thanks! I'm old enough to remember these things but never actually had one before. So it was available in a 68?

[5hunert]

Yep.  Does it have a small speaker at both sides of the dashboard?

[TiMopar]

Yes it does, the player itself is also a radio with the twin thumbwheels on each side of the display/ cartridge hole.

[Troy]

Yes! And I believe it was about the most expensive option you could get (due to the 3 speaker dash I'm sure). Way back then, the 8 track was the only "stereo" option - even FM radio was still mono. Of the seven 68 Chargers that I've owned, only one has had it.



Troy

[TiMopar]

Many thanks for the replies! I will have to buy some cartridges now to see if it works!

[cbrestorations]

Yes! And I believe it was about the most expensive option you could get (due to the 3 speaker dash I'm sure). Way back then, the 8 track was the only "stereo" option - even FM radio was still mono. Of the seven 68 Chargers that I've owned, only one has had it.



Troy

wasnt the most expensive option a hemi engine?

[Troy]

Yes! And I believe it was about the most expensive option you could get (due to the 3 speaker dash I'm sure). Way back then, the 8 track was the only "stereo" option - even FM radio was still mono. Of the seven 68 Chargers that I've owned, only one has had it.



Troy

wasnt the most expensive option a hemi engine?

I said "about". I usually don't consider drive train along with all the other "options". Mainly because you have to get an R/T before you can add the Hemi whereas things like light packages, rear defroster, vinyl top, console, A/C, sound systems, and 3 speed wipers were available across the board. The Track Pack was close in price to the 8 Track but, again, you could only get it on an R/T so you're cost was already significantly increased.

Troy

[GOTWING]

My 68 GTX came with one from the factory...

[68pplcharger]

Could you get the three speakers in the dash without the 8-track? My charger had the three speakers, but the radio didn't have the 8-track

[green69rt]

Many thanks for the replies! I will have to buy some cartridges now to see if it works!

If you plug in a tape and it doesn't work, one of the most common things to break is the drive belt.  After 40+ years they get brittle and snap.  You have to get inside to fix it.  There are restoration services available but be ready -$$$!

[6bblgt]

Could you get the three speakers in the dash without the 8-track? My charger had the three speakers, but the radio didn't have the 8-track

AM radio w/8-track STEREO tape was the only OPTION for 1968-'70 Mopar B-bodies that included the 3-speaker dash.

[Daytona R/T SE]

What was the fender tag code for the 8 track in '69?

Was an am/8 track available without the three speaker dash?

[Lennard]

What was the fender tag code for the 8 track in '69?

Was an am/8 track available without the three speaker dash?

Read the reply above yours again.

[6bblgt]

Charger AM radio w/stereo 8-track tape - OPTIONAL

1968 sales code: 420 & fender tag code: R/0 $196.25
1969 sales & fender tag code: R22 $196.25
1970 sales & fender tag code: R22 $196.25

the above included the 3-speaker dash (necessary for the "STEREO")
an additional OPTION was a single rear speaker

1968 sales code: 426 & fender tag code: P/6 $14.70
1969 sales code: R31 $15.15 (NO indication on fender tag)
1970 sales code: R31 $15.15 (NO indication on fender tag)

dual rear speakers was NOT a factory OPTION

[RECHRGD]

Interesting!  I bought my '68 R/T in February.  I special ordered it in January and don't remember that option.  In fact, shortly after I got the car I installed a 'four-track' stereo under the dash and cut speakers into the doors.  Was it an option from day one or maybe a mid run deal.  I remember that the four-track stereos were pretty short lived.  When the eight-tracks came out, they pretty well owned the market until cassettes......

[68pplcharger]

Could you get the three speakers in the dash without the 8-track? My charger had the three speakers, but the radio didn't have the 8-track

AM radio w/8-track STEREO tape was the only OPTION for 1968-'70 Mopar B-bodies that included the 3-speaker dash.

Someone must have swapped the 8 track at some point or simply found an AM radio when piecing together the half stripped car I eventually bought. The dash frame had the factory cut outs for a three speaker system

[MoParJW]

Could you get the three speakers in the dash without the 8-track? My charger had the three speakers, but the radio didn't have the 8-track

My car has the three speaker dash, but the 8-track was removed by the dealer, if I understand correctly.

[TiMopar]

Thank you everyone for the additional replies and information. Although this is not the first 68 I have owned I am not very knowledgeable about their options/ codes.

[68pplcharger]

Charger AM radio w/stereo 8-track tape - OPTIONAL

1968 sales code: 420 & fender tag code: R/0 $196.25
1969 sales & fender tag code: R22 $196.25
1970 sales & fender tag code: R22 $196.25

the above included the 3-speaker dash (necessary for the "STEREO")
an additional OPTION was a single rear speaker

1968 sales code: 426 & fender tag code: P/6 $14.70
1969 sales code: R31 $15.15 (NO indication on fender tag)
1970 sales code: R31 $15.15 (NO indication on fender tag)

dual rear speakers was NOT a factory OPTION

I have a general question about the rear speaker option. If the dual rear speaker was never offered on the premium b-body (charger) then why did they have the package tray equipped for two speakers?

Thanks,
Scott

[mightywing7]

Charger AM radio w/stereo 8-track tape - OPTIONAL

1968 sales code: 420 & fender tag code: R/0 $196.25
1969 sales & fender tag code: R22 $196.25
1970 sales & fender tag code: R22 $196.25

the above included the 3-speaker dash (necessary for the "STEREO")
an additional OPTION was a single rear speaker

1968 sales code: 426 & fender tag code: P/6 $14.70
1969 sales code: R31 $15.15 (NO indication on fender tag)
1970 sales code: R31 $15.15 (NO indication on fender tag)

dual rear speakers was NOT a factory OPTION

I have a general question about the rear speaker option. If the dual rear speaker was never offered on the premium b-body (charger) then why did they have the package tray equipped for two speakers?

Thanks,
Scott

The passenger side "speaker opening" on the rear package tray is used to mount the blower motor for the optional rear defogger. The driver side opening on the package tray is for the single rear speaker option.

[68pplcharger]

Charger AM radio w/stereo 8-track tape - OPTIONAL

1968 sales code: 420 & fender tag code: R/0 $196.25
1969 sales & fender tag code: R22 $196.25
1970 sales & fender tag code: R22 $196.25

the above included the 3-speaker dash (necessary for the "STEREO")
an additional OPTION was a single rear speaker

1968 sales code: 426 & fender tag code: P/6 $14.70
1969 sales code: R31 $15.15 (NO indication on fender tag)
1970 sales code: R31 $15.15 (NO indication on fender tag)

dual rear speakers was NOT a factory OPTION

I have a general question about the rear speaker option. If the dual rear speaker was never offered on the premium b-body (charger) then why did they have the package tray equipped for two speakers?

Thanks,
Scott

The passenger side "speaker opening" on the rear package tray is used to mount the blower motor for the optional rear defogger. The driver side opening on the package tray is for the single rear speaker option.

Cool thanks for the info

[Daytona R/T SE]

Ok, somebody 'splain this one to me:

I've got a '69 Charger with R22 on the fender tag.

R22 is on the build sheet.

When I bought the car, the radio was out of it, but it came with it.

The radio is an AM 8-track.

The VIN on the dash matches the VIN on the fender tag, build sheet, core support and trunk gutter.

I don't believe the dash was ever out of the car until I took it out.

The VIN on the dash and it's rivets look untouched.

Here's the punch line:


The dash only has the one speaker in the center.

[5hunert]

Was it built on a monday morning?

[6bblgt]

The dash only has the one speaker in the center.

Mistakes happen in assembly plants & lots of stuff can and did happen to cars in 45+ years

[Daytona R/T SE]

The dash only has the one speaker in the center.

Mistakes happen in assembly plants & lots of stuff can and did happen to cars in 45+ years

Yes,  could be a mistake.

I wonder if the wiring harness is different between the single speaker and three speaker dash.

[lukedukem]

Many thanks for the replies! I will have to buy some cartridges now to see if it works!

I have a bunch for sale. here are some pics. not sure if they work, i dont have a player to test them.

Luke

[billssuperbird]

I put a AM/FM 8 track in the dash of my car some times it gets more attention than the car. 

[timmycharger]

I put a AM/FM 8 track in the dash of my car some times it gets more attention than the car. 

yup, I loved the expression on my 14yr old daughter's face when I first played it for her, it blew her mind. 

I had mine worked on by Barry's 8 track repair service, he replaced the belt, cleaned up the internals and added a headphone jack and RCA outputs that I can plug my ipod into as well as an amplifier so I can actually hear it over the exhaust. 

[GOTWING]

Many thanks for the replies! I will have to buy some cartridges now to see if it works!

I have a bunch for sale. here are some pics. not sure if they work, i dont have a player to test them.

Luke

You actually want money for them? 

[lukedukem]

Many thanks for the replies! I will have to buy some cartridges now to see if it works!

I have a bunch for sale. here are some pics. not sure if they work, i dont have a player to test them.

Luke

You actually want money for them? 

at first, i dont know what to ask, and since they never sold when on here to begin with, ill probably ask for shipping cost or keep them if no one wants them.

Luke

[Daytona R/T SE]

Many thanks for the replies! I will have to buy some cartridges now to see if it works!

I have a bunch for sale. here are some pics. not sure if they work, i dont have a player to test them.

Luke

You actually want money for them? 

at first, i dont know what to ask, and since they never sold when on here to begin with, ill probably ask for shipping cost or keep them if no one wants them.

Luke

P.M. me if you want to get rid of them.