68 Charger with 69 Grille - iniquity or not ?

[urgewalt]

Hi there,

how think you about this ?

I like the look from the 68 Charger tail and her taillights,
but the front grille from the 69 Charger.

Now - is this a "no go" - or is this acceptable ... !?

I know it is always better when all is original.
Therefore I want know what you means ...

[bull]

No biggie. We might have a problem if you wanted to totally convert a '68 into a '69, but just the grill? Nah. But be ready for all the preachers if you ever take it to a car show.

[Silver R/T]

68 grill looks much better than 69 imo

[BrianShaughnessy]

68 grill looks much better than 69 imo

You'd be wrong yet AGAIN. 

[C500]

68 grill looks much better than 69 imo

You'd be wrong yet AGAIN. 

Its not a right or wrong case, its only his opinion 

I prefer the 68 grille and have no problem mixing the 68 and 69 grilles, but not on my car

[BB1]

Aw Sh1t, when is this crap going to stop!! 

[kab69440]

My '69 has a '68 grille in it. Go with whatever makes you happy, and to blazes with those Puritans if they don't like it.

[bull]

68 grill looks much better than 69 imo

You'd be wrong yet AGAIN. 

No he's not.

[Rack]

68 grill looks much better than 69 imo

It's a matter of personal preference, but I agree. I like the 68 grill much more. I still like the 69 (and 70) grill though.

[Mike DC]

 
A 1968 and a 1969 grille can be swapped with nothing more than hand tools.  So it's not a big deal. 

But you'd be wise to keep the original 1968 grille stored away in case you ever change you mind or you want/need to sell the car later.

 

[urgewalt]

Thanks,

I think that isn't a good idea to change the grille.
But I love the tail from 68 and the front from the 69 ...

At first I must find a moderate car for me, than I will decide what I finally do.
When I change the grille - I put the original grille back, so I can rechange it every time.

[pettyfan43]

My '69 has a '68 grille in it. Go with whatever makes you happy, and to blazes with those Puritans if they don't like it.

I agree, Go look at this thread...........
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,28994.0.html

That is my 66, The one with the late model 15X7 and 15X8 wheels with 88 Diplomat Police car center caps.

YEP this is probably the way it will stay UNLESS I buy a set of Torq Thrusts for it. 440 with electronic ignition and an Edelbrock carb on an original POLY 318 car.
If SOMEBODY else doesn't like it, OH WELL!

[RECHRGD]

Back "in the day" when the new '69's came out, I thought the taillights were very sexy, but hated the split grill.  I thought it would be cool to put '69 taillights on my one year old '68.  In the years since, I have come to the conclusion that nothing on a 1968 Charger should be changed, they are absolutly perfect as is.  Bob

[jmeekins33]

It's your car.  It should be how you like it.  Just be ready to hear a few comments from people.  Personally, I prefer the 69 grill, but that's just me.  Like someone else said, don't get rid of the 68 grill in case you want to sell the car someday.

-Jason M

[Charger1973]

My '73 has '72 grilles and taillights...  Its your car, build it how you want it.

[TylerCharger69]

I agree...It's your car.  If that's what you want then do it!!!   I won't complain.  Yes...anal retentive people may ridicule you for it,  but...........does it really matter what other people think???   I get ridiculed because I built a General Lee sometimes, and that I "ruined" my Charger,   but the funny thing is...that most people who want to say negative things about it are usually  driving an 'ol beat up Ford Tempo, Chevy Chevette, or something to that nature.  Put that "69 grille in there and be proud!!!  In some cases, that may be all that's available or affordable anyway.  I'm backing you 100%!!!       Ace

[TUFCAT]

In the years since, I have come to the conclusion that nothing on a 1968 Charger should be changed, they are absolutly perfect as is.  Bob

EXACTLY!! - - BUY THIS MAN A BEER!   

[pettyfan43]

My '73 has '72 grilles and taillights...  Its your car, build it how you want it.

So will my 73 S/E!

[pettyfan43]

I'm gonna poke the gorilla a little bit, but my favorite Charger, has always been and still is a 69 R/T, My perfect car would be either triple black with NO tailstripe OR F6 green with white trim.


Like so.........

[Skyview69]

Build it how you want it -it's your car - Most people won't even know it so who's cares what they think!

[Hemidog]

I love the 68 grille,and i think the 69 rear looks real tough, but i'm not gonna do anything to my 68, or... maybe? 

[Orange_Crush]

Nh...I'm a purist.  I don't even like seeing Hi-Impact paint, Rallye wheels, or go-wings on pre-1970 cars (es yes yes..I know bout the A12 cars).

But that's just one man's opinion.

[6670charger]

I prefer the 68 a little over the 69.  I think that seeing a car with mixed grille would look a little weird, just like the guys who put a first gen Charger grille into a 67 Coronet, but like said above, it's their car.  I don't care for it personally, but who am I to say?

[nakita7]

You've seen the bumper sticker..."Just say NO!"....

[PocketThunder]

You mean LIKE THIS!!!  Bwahahahahaha!!     

[terrible one]

While the '68 grill is my favorite, the '69-70 rear tail lights look better than the '68's to me. Still, I'll just keep my '68 the way it is.

[urgewalt]

This is a funny discussion.
We have in my forum similar discussions - is the better car the original one ?
Or when you build a car - what modifies are allowed without destroying the character of the car.

When I read all the posts here, I think that I do my own thing and than it is my way ...

Thanks for all your answers.

[Old Moparz]

I've always preferred the '69 over the '68's, mostly because of the tail lights. The long, horizontal, rear panel looks better to me filled out with the larger tail lights. I also like the way they are recessed into the back of the car as opposed to the small, round ones that seem out of place to me. The car has plenty of swooping, horizontal lines all over it, the sides, the hood, the recessed rear window, & the long lights just look better to me. The grille is a toss up though. The split '69 was my favorite, but the cleaner '68 is really growing on me. I think it really depends on the color of the car. Darker colors make the '68 grille look more appealing for some reason, like Mike's Mr. Angry, but I still like the "I" in the middle.

Now the '70 is a whole different story. I had one & never got used to the big, fish lipped, bumper that surrounds the grille. The best thing to do with that, is to either take it off & put a Daytona cone on, or use the whole car for parts. 

[richRTSE]

Old Moparz, I guess you really don't like the black/orange Charger on the cover of the new Mopar Muscle? '70 Charger with '68 taillights  Definately doesn't look right to me.
personally, I like the '68 grille on '68s, not a big fan of swapping different year parts. it is a bolt in item and can easily be undone, and it's your car, so do what makes you happy!

[Old Moparz]

Old Moparz, I guess you really don't like the black/orange Charger on the cover of the new Mopar Muscle? '70 Charger with '68 taillights  Definately doesn't look right to me.
personally, I like the '68 grille on '68s, not a big fan of swapping different year parts. it is a bolt in item and can easily be undone, and it's your car, so do what makes you happy!

I haven' seen it, but you're probably right, LOL. I was kidding on the 70's comment, but it is the least favorite of the 3 years. As for swapping parts.............well...........I've done something like that before. 

My 1969 Satellite convertible has.....

1970 Nose From a GTX
1970 Road Runner Grille
1972 New Yorker Bucket Seats
1973 New Yorker Steering Wheel
1968 Coronet Rear Seat
1973 Duster Seat Belts
1968 Plymouth Quarter Panel

[six-tee-nine]

Well i'm not an originality freak but that's a bridge too far.....

I prefere the grille of the '68 and the tail of the '69 but i'll accept my '69 grille no such body surgery for me.

[mikes_classics_68]

better to start with the tail lights you like then change the grille if you must.  its alot easier than   keeping the grill and changing the tail lights 

[urgewalt]

better to start with the tail lights you like then change the grille if you must.  its alot easier than   keeping the grill and changing the tail lights 

Yes, I mean it too ...
So my favorite is definitly the 68 Charger.