Quirky 1968 Charger details

[Magnumcharger]

Manfred,
Are these like the wheelcovers you have/had?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-Dodge-Charger-Hubcaps-67-68-69-Hemi_W0QQitemZ320236971573QQihZ011QQcategoryZ140745QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Manfred318]

Manfred,
Are these like the wheelcovers you have/had?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-Dodge-Charger-Hubcaps-67-68-69-Hemi_W0QQitemZ320236971573QQihZ011QQcategoryZ140745QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Yep those were the ones. I sold mine on the E-bay last year.

[Magnumcharger]

Would the VIN, being sequential, give an indication as to it's approximate build date?
XS29L8B356031

Magnumcharger:

It is possible to come up with a reasonably close guess as to your car's scheduled production date from the VIN.

I've been collecting 1968 Hamtramck VIN/SPD combo's for a couple of years.



The ones I have near yours are:

XS29L8B353917-419
XP29G8B357848-424
XS29L8B357900-424

I'd say that your car PROBABLY had an SPD of somewhere in the 3rd week of April, 1968. Not really an early production car.

I'm surprised that your car has some of the early stuff on it. Was it original when you got it?

Does anybody have an idea of how many cars were built at this plant each day?

[YGBSM]

Magnumcharger-

Can't help you on number of cars built at Hamtramck each day, but my Charger XS29L8B356411 has a SPD of 4/23.  That's pretty close to your number.

[Magnumcharger]

Hey....post some pictures of that car would ya? And: do you have your build tag still?

[YGBSM]

Yes, have the fender tag and two build sheets.  I don't have any digital pictures handy; I'll get them as soon as I can.  It was professionally restored about 10 years ago and we've had it ever since.  It's getting a little ragged as it is actually driven and is not a trailer queen.

Also, about five years ago I saw for sale XS29L8B356413 (only two numbers off mine!!) with same SPD.  It was blue with white guts, 440/727/3.23.  Wish I knew what happened to it.

[Finn]

Wow I didn't know about the slide down ashtray, pretty cool.

[Magnumcharger]

Yes, have the fender tag and two build sheets.  I don't have any digital pictures handy; I'll get them as soon as I can.  It was professionally restored about 10 years ago and we've had it ever since.  It's getting a little ragged as it is actually driven and is not a trailer queen.

Also, about five years ago I saw for sale XS29L8B356413 (only two numbers off mine!!) with same SPD.  It was blue with white guts, 440/727/3.23.  Wish I knew what happened to it.

Holy crap! My car is/was QQ1 blue with white guts.....what color is yours???

[YGBSM]

Originally JJ1 with tan interior- now triple black.

[Magnumcharger]

Alright...to ressurect this thread, I have the following:
As an owner of a 1968 Dodge Charger, and an enthusiast of the marque, I've been looking at these cars for around 30 years or better.
And yet, I've never seen this particular piece of equipment on any 1968 Charger. The cover for the rear tail lights.
It's widely known that this feature can be found on both 1969 and 1970 models, but on a '68??

Was it an early '68 production variation? Or indicative to only one, or certain manufacturing plants?

[Charger-Bodie]

Thats not a Charger.  ....No bumper to floor plate and If you look close you can see the top style line on top of the 1/4 ...like a bee or a RR. Likely a 70 Dodge.

[Magnumcharger]

By golly...you're right!!!

[UFO]

Thats not a Charger.  ....No bumper to floor plate and If you look close you can see the top style line on top of the 1/4 ...like a bee or a RR. Likely a 70 Dodge.

Also no bumper jack hold downs,no trim on the top of tailpanel.
Robin I think you need to turn in your charger owners card.

[b5blue]

It can't be 70, no side marker light.

[Charger-Bodie]

It can't be 70, no side marker light.

Thats likely just blocked by the tail-light ....By 70 I mean 70 Bee or Coronet etc.

[69bronzeT5]

'70 Coronet/Bee for sure.

[Magnumcharger]

Thats not a Charger.  ....No bumper to floor plate and If you look close you can see the top style line on top of the 1/4 ...like a bee or a RR. Likely a 70 Dodge.

Also no bumper jack hold downs,no trim on the top of tailpanel.
Robin I think you need to turn in your charger owners card.

Yes...it doesn't pay to post while drunk does it!! 

[8WHEELER]

'70 Coronet/Bee for sure.

Good job Grasshopper.

My 70 Superbee had them laying in the truck, took me a couple months to figure out where
they went    I never did put them on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

68 Charger never had any protection, and not all 69-70 Chargers, seem to have come with the
full length version that came on the Chargers.

Dan

[Magnumcharger]

Will the '70 Coronet part fit a '68 Charger?

[8WHEELER]

Will the '70 Coronet part fit a '68 Charger?

\


I wish, but no go on that one   

Dan

[squeakfinder]

 Just came accross this thread. My first 68 had chrome belt buckle's. I'd have to contact the presant owner, but I thought the front's were chrome also.

[8WHEELER]

Just came accross this thread. My first 68 had chrome belt buckle's. I'd have to contact the presant owner, but I thought the front's were chrome also.

Chrome rear buckles are common on early 68's. My wife's December 68, has rear chrome buckles.

I have not seen front chrome buckles yet, in person, on a 68 Charger.

Dan

[69bronzeT5]

'70 Coronet/Bee for sure.

Good job Grasshopper.

My 70 Superbee had them laying in the truck, took me a couple months to figure out where
they went    I never did put them on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Mine are laying in my trunk too

[68318gg1]

Well, first off, I'm a new member, having just discovered this site today.  What a great source of information!
Figured I'd take a stab at posting something, and thought this was an interesting topic.

FWIW, my XP29F8G has SPD 4/23 . It has the bull's-eye medallion, slide-down ashtray, all-red door medallion trim, green seat belt buckles, and no it doesn't have the '70 Coronet tail light covers (although those would be cool!).

Here's my quandry: is April SPD considered "late year"? I'm trying to determine if the GG1 paint code refers to the Racing Green Metallic, or the "late year" Dark Green Metallic ?  
Anybody have a guess, as it seems according to the paint chips I've seen they are slightly different colors.

Anyway, thanks.

[Dans 68]

Welcome! 

Do you have the fendertag and/or buildsheet to reference? I'm of the opinion that there will never be enough time to discover all the "quirks" in the '68 Chargers. Makes for a lifelong passion.... 

Dan