68 HEMI 4 SPEED

[Ghoste]

There were a few late production 68s that were taken off of the assembly line and turned into 500s. The early one's did not get the XX in the VIN.

Must have been really late since they didn't start 500 production until August. 
AFAIK there is only the one 68 that was used as a prototype/mockup car for the 69 500.  It was first shown to the press in June of 68 I believe.  I've heard rumors about one other one but I've never seen any proof of it.  Regular production 69 Charger 500's began at the end of August and it is only the first handful that still have an "XS" in their pedigree.  Danny will know the exact number.

[Hemidoug]

There were a few late production 68s that were taken off of the assembly line and turned into 500s. The early one's did not get the XX in the VIN.

Must have been really late since they didn't start 500 production until August. 
AFAIK there is only the one 68 that was used as a prototype/mockup car for the 69 500.  It was first shown to the press in June of 68 I believe.  I've heard rumors about one other one but I've never seen any proof of it.  Regular production 69 Charger 500's began at the end of August and it is only the first handful that still have an "XS" in their pedigree.  Danny will know the exact number.

Well Ghoste....I can tell you for fact that I laid hands on one of them...see my post above.

[Ghoste]

I read it Doug and don't take it as me saying you are wrong.  This is one of those conversations I wish we could do in person so meanings aren't lost in the keyboard.  All I meant was word for word what I wrote; that I've only heard rumors about and I haven't seen the proof.  Not meaning there isn't proof just that I personally haven't seen it.  The topic came up in the aero forum once too and there was someone on there (was it you?) with a similar post.  Of course, now I can't find it.
The 69 C500's have been my dream car since I read the issue of Hot Rod where they road tested a pair and I have been fortunate enough to drive the four speed one from that story but unfortunate enough to not own one of any flavor yet.  So many cars, so little money.  I have seen the other 68cum69 C500 from Michigan several times although not in recent years.  I would love to know more about the Charger 500 development but it barely registers a footnote in Daytona history.  I need to talk to someone who was intimately involved with them to get some of my questions answered.  Their NASCAR record wasn't nearly so bad as the collective memory implies but the sister car so overshadowed it that it's become somewhat forgotten in a way.

[XS29J8]

I read it Doug and don't take it as me saying you are wrong.  This is one of those conversations I wish we could do in person so meanings aren't lost in the keyboard.  All I meant was word for word what I wrote; that I've only heard rumors about and I haven't seen the proof.  Not meaning there isn't proof just that I personally haven't seen it.  The topic came up in the aero forum once too and there was someone on there (was it you?) with a similar post.  Of course, now I can't find it.
The 69 C500's have been my dream car since I read the issue of Hot Rod where they road tested a pair and I have been fortunate enough to drive the four speed one from that story but unfortunate enough to not own one of any flavor yet.  So many cars, so little money.  I have seen the other 68cum69 C500 from Michigan several times although not in recent years.  I would love to know more about the Charger 500 development but it barely registers a footnote in Daytona history.  I need to talk to someone who was intimately involved with them to get some of my questions answered.  Their NASCAR record wasn't nearly so bad as the collective memory implies but the sister car so overshadowed it that it's become somewhat forgotten in a way.

Hi Ghoste, here are a couple of good threads on the possible 68 500 that might have been built as I have searched and talked with people about this for years..............

Doug, any info you can provide on this white Charger 500 would be greatly appreciated!!!


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,38863.msg638808.html#msg638808

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,41072.0.html


Steve

[Ghoste]

Thanks Steve, I have been searching like mad all morning for that second thread.

[nascarxx29]

Try a search under Jerry Service in the aero section and in here

  Re: Red Book anomaly? '68 Charger R/T w/exposed headlights?
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2009, 11:51:34 AM » Quote 

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Quote from: Dans 68 on January 16, 2008, 11:17:21 PM
Quote from: bull on January 16, 2008, 11:07:26 PM
They are describing a '69 Charger 500. It's probably something that made print but was never a reality if they're talking about something else.


Bull,

I did take that into account but no mention was made of the flush back window. And specifically hemi's with 4-speeds? They were probably talking about something else. Were there any 1968 Hemi 4-speeds made after June 1, 1968??

Dan


I must chime in here as I own one of the last 68 HEMI Charger 4spds built. May 28 1968 is her birthday. The original owner tried to order a HEMI 4spd Charger in June of 68 and  was told he would have to wait for a 69. He then searched for a 68 and found this one in July of 68. I am the second owner.

I have read documents from Chrysler stating the cut off date for the 68 HEMI 4spd Charger would be June 1st.

There is at least one 68 Charger 500 (with flush back window) originally owned by Jon Weible a former Chelsea Employee from the late 60's early 70's and the car is now owned by Jerry Service who puchased it from Jon in Michigan in the early 70's.

It was originally a Burgundy color with pearl upholstery and Dodge Main had it painted Orange to take better photographs after an unproven original orange pilot car was destroyed or stolen. I have tried to find documentation of any other 68 Charger 500s having been built but the closest I have found is a white or light blue one that was destroyed in testing at the Chelsea proving grounds. Once again All this is speculative based on conversations with MOPAR fanatics over the years and several Wing Car members will say this is all bologna but a few are open minded and will not totally dismiss this as anything could have happened in testing these cars. 

Conversations such as this are sometimes what it takes for more evidence to surface and it can educate a few who were unaware of some of the facts.

I will always say "never say never with Mother Mopar".



Steve

[Hemidoug]

Doug, any info you can provide on this white Charger 500 would be greatly appreciated!!!



Steve

After I posted last night I got on the horn to another friend who had seen the 68 and we compared notes..(including a few laughs about the guy who originally bought it and brought it back from Texas). He remembers the same things as I did, how unusual the car was being a "69" 500 but having all 68 stuff on it and having an XS VIN. The reason I (we) remember it so well is we busted poor Tom's chops for years over that car....why someone would drive all the way down to Texas, during an ice storm, to drag something back that looked like it spent most of it's life in Jersey (rust) was most of it. The things I remember about the car stand out. I can remember walking around the car in stunned disbelief as he related the story of the trip to me at the same time I'm seeing things that didn't make sense...like 68 marker lights and the gas cap missing "fuel" on it. As we dug deeper into the car one of the controversies was the VIN....it was XS. We argued back and forth of it's significance for quite some time. I gotta tell you that in the end, I was convinced it was a 68 that the factory made into a 69 500...no doubt about it. Now wether it was an actual 68 that was converted or a very early 69 is anyone's guess....but what I saw I have no doubt about....it was a 68 that was converted into a 69 500 before it was sold to the general public....no doubt about it. I'll try to call Tom, maybe he can recall the VIN or some other detail about it.

[nascarxx29]

You mean Tom M white 69 charger 500 early cars had XS later had XX

[Hemidoug]

You mean Tom M white 69 charger 500 early cars had XS later had XX

YES! Is that the car? It's still around? It looks like a recent photo......it sure does look like it...but I remember a red stripe and red gut. Last time I saw that car was 20-25 years ago....The whole trunk floor is rotted out right?

[68RED4SPEED]

This is rocknroll  all photos and info, after they took out driveline they or him put it in a 1971 Challenger where it sat when Peter bought it 1977 dont know for how long he drove it like that but I can ask him if anyone have interest of it, Peter lived and still lives in Brunswick NJ.
Sven

[XS29J8]

This is rocknroll  all photos and info, after they took out driveline they or him put it in a 1971 Challenger where it sat when Peter bought it 1977 dont know for how long he drove it like that but I can ask him if anyone have interest of it, Peter lived and still lives in Brunswick NJ.
Sven

Great to know Sven! The DANA wouldn't fit the Challenger correctly & probably explains why he sold it. Hope you are able to get hold of the original owner and find some more history about this 68 Charger! 

Cheers,
Steve

[XS29J8]

You mean Tom M white 69 charger 500 early cars had XS later had XX

Dave did you take these pics & have you anymore info on this Charger 500, is this a red trim car with 68 features as Doug remembered or is it a different car? The date on the pics suggest it still survives?



Steve