'68 Charger 383 auto in Vancouver

[69bronzeT5]

Well...back in July, Dan (Dans 68) asked me to go check out a '68 Charger 383 4spd car in Vancouver when I had the chance. Of course, being on summer vacation I had lots of time. I called and found out where they were located and I asked if I could check it out. I said 'well, I'm restoring a '69 and I'd like to take reference shots'. Now I said that because apperentley, this car was an untouched rust free survivor. It was also apperentley a 383 4spd (hence why Dan contacted me). Anyways, the lady on the phone said 'sure, come on down'. Now, keep this in mind...they had the car on Craigslist and it said 'Feel free to stop by and check it out, we have nothing to hide!'. Well, I headed down there camera in hand. Got there and asked if I could check it out and the manager goes 'Oh well, we don't allow people to look at customer's cars usually but you seem like a nice kid so go for it.' I was grateful for them allowing me to look and take pictures but he watched over me like a hawk and then not even 3 or 4 minutes into looking, told me I had to go and escorted me to the gate. So pretty much exactly opposite of what they said on Craigslist. Now, I asked the guy 'I thought this is a 4spd?' and he goes 'No, it's always been a column shift auto'. I noticed the newer Craigslist ad they had up says automatic but me and Dan both remember them saying 4spd in the original ads Anyways, by the looks of things it is actually a rust free survivor. Needless to say, cool car and I was happy to take pictures. I tried to take as many pictures as I could. I think they wanted something like $22,000 obo for it?

[Troy]

Hey! That car has Strat's (Brock Sampson) missing seat cover...

Troy

[Brock Samson]

I was gonna say,...  then. i wondered how long it would be before somewiseguy chimed in...   
What you think of $22K for that?..   

[Troy]

I was gonna say,...  then. i wondered how long it would be before somewiseguy chimed in...   
What you think of $22K for that?..   

It's green, it's a column shift auto, and - while it may be a "survivor" - it's pretty ratty. I can't imagine it selling in this market for $22k.

Troy

[bigred68]

 Cool story! Thanks Cody for traveling and taking the pics. I gotta say, I'm waay no expert but I did notice two GLAREING problems with the "survivor" #1 The Chargers rear valance corners/lower quarter panels seem to be bondoed over? (big red has this same problem) This would leave me to believe either a rearend impact, rusted out valence corners, or both? This would suggest a repaint "survivor?" of at the very least, the rear of the Charger. #2 I notice the cool behind the flip up eyelid "grills" are missing. I thought? this was a '68 only option. Since they're missing, what does that suggest about the front end of this car? Possible front impact? More possible "survivor" repaint? Please experts, correct me if I'm wrong. It seems maybe those under the eyelid grills may? have been an option? available in '68? BTW, good lookin Charger and 20g's doesn't seem toooo stiff, but I would be checking out the car MUCH more thoroughly (Looking in trunk, under hood, under carriage, for any other signs of rust, impact, etc.) The more things I could "nitpick" against their "survivor" status, the more bargaining I'd try to do against the price!!

[Troy]

It has definitely had some body work at some point. The valence corners were likely filled in due to rust repair (or maybe it was painted and they just thought it looked better). The tail panel blackout is also painted all the way out to the quarter extensions like a 69 instead of ending within the outline of the trim.

The bezels for the headlights were standard in 68. I think you have to remove them to adjust the headlights but now I can't remember. They seem to be missing on a large number of cars.

It does appear to have a rear defogger which is nice but no A/C. The grill is warped too which sometimes points to an overheating (or fire) problem. The front bumper doesn't fit right and the valence looks tweaked so maybe it took a bump.

Troy

[69bronzeT5]

I was gonna say,...  then. i wondered how long it would be before somewiseguy chimed in...   
What you think of $22K for that?..   

It's green, it's a column shift auto, and - while it may be a "survivor" - it's pretty ratty. I can't imagine it selling in this market for $22k.

Troy

It would look better dark green or black

[dkn1997]

clean car, but on the tail panel blackout...in addition to what troy said about it not being done correctly, should it even be there?  I thought only R/T chargers got the blackout?

[Brock Samson]

 nope they all got it.

[Troy]

clean car, but on the tail panel blackout...in addition to what troy said about it not being done correctly, should it even be there?  I thought only R/T chargers got the blackout?

And you call yourself a 68 owner...

I haven't yet figured out how that rumor got started - although, like many others it could stem from another model. The 70 Challenger (maybe other years as well) only had the blackout tail panel on the R/Ts. It also had a 383 available in an R/T which is one of the other more common misconceptions about Charger R/Ts. Visually, 68-70 Charger R/Ts got badges and could have a stripe (the 70 also got door scoops). The rest of the changes were mechanical.

Troy

[bull]

That's got to be the TT1 green. Did you get the fender tag info?

[dkn1997]

mine didn't have it when I got it and I thought that I read it in a magazine way back when that only r/t's got it.

I have also seen a few base model chargers at local shows with body colored tail panels.