'68 383 4-barrel 4-speed sold on Mecum 1-29-12 - $37,000

[Dans 68]

Nice to see the '68 383 4-speeds getting some love on one of the auction extravaganza's. Did anybody happen to see it cross the stage? Looks to be a very nice restification, but certainly not factory correct. Here is the auction site description:

DESCRIPTION

- 1 of 259 original 383 CI 4-speed 1968 Chargers produced
- Full nut and bolt rotisserie restoration
- Original color combination
- Original fender tag

No mention of a numbers matching engine or transmission or buildsheet. It looks like a brand new car.    I do see a couple of hands worth of fingers items "wrong" with regards to a "factory" restoration. What do you experts see?  

Dan

[Dans 68]

4 more photos....

[68RED4SPEED]

Exhaust tips is Plymouth style.

[tan top]

    nice 

[bull]

Where's the tail panel emblems? And what's with the bumblebee stripes?

Wow, $37k actually seems pretty cheap for as nice as it looks.

[NHCharger]

Hard to tell, but looks like the rear valence seams are filled in.

[PocketThunder]

Can you get a chrome pedal dress up in 68?

[mightywing7]

Non-1968 dog dish hub caps......

[OldGuy]

1) Bumblebee stripe on a 383 cid engine
2) Wrong exhaust tips - in fact mine does not have exhaust tips; the end of the exhaust pipe is just turned down toward the ground
3) No tail panel emblem
4) Shifter doesn't look right in the console
5) Not sure about pie tin reading "Magnum" - most read "383-Four Barrel"
6) Not a lot of them came with a inner hood pad - would have to see the build sheet
7) Looks like the passenger door panel is pulling away from the door at the front - could be just the angle
Can't tell what the red piece is that is hanging down below the front valance - probably should be painted black if it is the bottom portion of the radiator support

However, all in all - looks like a very nice restoration!

[six-tee-nine]

Is it just me but why is it that every car that gets sold these days need to be inspected on whats "wrong" with it?

There might be some things left to do so its only 99,9999999999% original but come on guys you have to admit that this is a mint car and a nice piece of macinery to own.....

[kokxville]

Steeringwheel not original for a 68.They came from 69 to 70 if i'm correct  
Nice charger though 

[Ghoste]

Is it just me but why is it that every car that gets sold these days need to be inspected on whats "wrong" with it?

There might be some things left to do so its only 99,9999999999% original but come on guys you have to admit that this is a mint car and a nice piece of macinery to own.....

Because if it sets a high price at auction and that value becomes a benchmark then the quality of the car needs to equal said benchmark.

[Troy]

There are a lot of things right that people normally whine about so maybe they actually read a few threads to correct them?

I'm surprised at the price but it appears to be a nice car. As usual, stripes are easy to remove and wheels/hubcaps/pie tins are simple to replace. I doubt if all the imperfections were "fixed" that it would bring any more money.

Troy

[Aero426]

I'd be glad to own it, stripes and all.

[bull]

I'm surprised at the price but it appears to be a nice car.

Troy

Surprised that it sold for that high or that low?

[Dans 68]

The only other non-factory detail not already mentioned that I could see would be the 15-in wheels. 

The bullseye medallion on the dash in combination with the Hurst shifter does not seem correct. Anyone have photos to prove/disprove this?

To be fair, and I did not hear any of the actual auction description, I believe the car was not advertised as a factory correct Charger. It is indeed a splendid example of a restored '68 Charger with "upgrades" and anyone would be happy to own it. I sure would like to get a look at the fender tag and more photos, but that probably is not going to happen....

Dan

[NHCharger]

Is it just me but why is it that every car that gets sold these days need to be inspected on whats "wrong" with it?

Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't kick her out of bed for passing gas.

[bakerhillpins]

I saw a red with black interior 68 383 4spd car for sale in middle America last year which had a 440 in it. It was for sale on craigslist and the guy was trying to move it for a while at 17k but no sale. I wonder if this is the same car with a quick face lift for the auction? I recall it having a 24 in rad.   

Steeringwheel not original for a 68.They came from 69 to 70 if i'm correct  
Nice charger though 

According to this dealer sheet you could get one with a full horn ring in 68. Apparently the half ring wheel that is shown is at least a 69 option.

[viper r/t]

Is it just me but why is it that every car that gets sold these days need to be inspected on whats "wrong" with it?

There might be some things left to do so its only 99,9999999999% original but come on guys you have to admit that this is a mint car and a nice piece of macinery to own.....

Exactly.......
Jeeze rough crowd

[bakerhillpins]

Is it just me but why is it that every car that gets sold these days need to be inspected on whats "wrong" with it?

There might be some things left to do so its only 99,9999999999% original but come on guys you have to admit that this is a mint car and a nice piece of macinery to own.....

Because if it sets a high price at auction and that value becomes a benchmark then the quality of the car needs to equal said benchmark.

Where is the emoticon for hit the nail on the head.  Nice car yes, rare car yes, but I think that is a good deal of money for a 68 383 4spd. 

[1970Moparmann]

  Nice car yes, rare car yes, but I think that is a good deal of money for a 68 383 4spd. 

I have to disagree.    Outside of a Hemi car, or an RT, this would be next.   Nice car, need to fix some of the odds and ends.   

[bakerhillpins]

Maybe if the #s matched and it had a broadcast sheet, but hey, neither of us ponied up the cash for that car so it still fits the old saying it's worth what some one will pay.

[68 Bullitt Charger]

IMO I must say a very nice Charger for the money. Come on guys, folks are buying Chargers needing full resto's from$15-20K everyday. Personally I do not think you could build that car for $37K?

[charger Downunder]

I like it when people pick the mistakes or faults on cars as i learn more about what is factory correct.

[tan top]

I like it when people pick the mistakes or faults on cars as i learn more about what is factory correct.

yeah after a while looking at these cars , you tend to just see the things that are not correct or done correctly  or  filled rear valance seams  or wrong parts etc etc , &  seeing what an awesome looking charger etc etc it is secondary !! same with   the  gold 68 hemi charger in the other thread  , a number of things not done correctly , so you zoom in on them straight away  , well i do  ,  & think oh thats not how is should be  , these are still awesome  cars & would love to own any of them  , just not OEM gold winners , but who cares , every one to their own  , can't believe all the coments on moparts about the gold 68         

[Ryan]

I think someone got a nice car for a good price. Granted maybe it's not OE gold status but so what? Looks to be a very nice restoration and I don't think one could go out and buy a 383 4 speed car and restore it for less than this one sold for.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Looks a bit over restored to me...  not to mention the extras already picked at.    Glossy painted undercarriages weren't factory 

But $37K is probably a break even point on decent resto like this on a base model.    If it was a restored R/T and you picked it up at that price you'd have a steal.

[Troy]

Looks to be a very nice restoration and I don't think one could go out and buy a 383 4 speed car and restore it for less than this one sold for.

No. But it's unlikely you could restore one and sell it for that price either. I think the price was high for this market. I'd be happy as a seller (unless I had just put $50k into it!). I don't think the buyer made out terribly either as there aren't a lot of really clean cars out there. It's a popular color combination and it seems like everyone adds the stripes so neither of those hurt.

Troy

[bill440rt]

I think someone got a nice car for a good price. Granted maybe it's not OE gold status but so what? Looks to be a very nice restoration and I don't think one could go out and buy a 383 4 speed car and restore it for less than this one sold for.

I agree 100%, Ryan. 

[Dans 68]

Remember, out of the 80,000 plus XP's made in 1968, only "333" were 4-speeds. And that breaks down further to "259" 383 4-bbl's and "74" 2-barrels. Rarer than the much coveted Daytonas. 

Oh, wait, Curtis is going with a 4-bbl in his...so make that "260" 4-bbl's and "73" 2-bbl's. 

Dan

[bull]

Remember, out of the 80,000 plus XP's made in 1968, only "333" were 4-speeds. And that breaks down further to "259" 383 4-bbl's and "74" 2-barrels. Rarer than the much coveted Daytonas. 

Oh, wait, Curtis is going with a 4-bbl in his...so make that "260" 4-bbl's and "73" 2-bbl's. 

Dan

Yea, I'm going to hammer those numbers flat on the fender tag too.

[resq302]

Nice car but like others said, a few incorrect things that could be changed back.      Kinda makes me wonder what I could get for my 69 383 4 bbl 4 spd car.   

[richRTSE]

Remember, out of the 80,000 plus XP's made in 1968, only "333" were 4-speeds. And that breaks down further to "259" 383 4-bbl's and "74" 2-barrels. Rarer than the much coveted Daytonas. 

259?? Thats alot more than they made of 4-speed 4-bbl Daytonas....


I see they added stiffening plates to the lower controls arms.....

[Ghoste]

Rare does not always equal desirable.  Look at the production numbers for 66-67 and then the value guides.   I have a 67 with a factory vinyl top, factory disc brakes, and a factory "recall" steering wheel.  It's a rare car but worth no more really than any other 67, and that ain't much.

[bull]

Rare does not always equal desirable.

In this case it does. It may not be as desireable as a Hemi car or R/T but you can safely bet a 2nd gen Charger with a big block and a 4 speed is right in line right behind those. Add to that the rarity and in many people's minds it becomes a toss up. I would wager that to those who know and love these cars, a 383/4 speed is probably evenly popular with an R/T 440/auto.

[Troy]

Rare does not always equal desirable.

In this case it does. It may not be as desireable as a Hemi car or R/T but you can safely bet a 2nd gen Charger with a big block and a 4 speed is right in line right behind those. Add to that the rarity and in many people's minds it becomes a toss up. I would wager that to those who know and love these cars, a 383/4 speed is probably evenly popular with an R/T 440/auto.

Well, I know and love 68 Chargers! However, I've had opportunities in the past to pick up 383 4-speed cars yet I have a 440 R/T 4-speed in my garage instead. I think if the price/quality is equivalent most people would grab the R/T. None are plentiful. The 383 cars were much more affordable which makes them a great choice. This car is getting into the range where it's competing with R/Ts.

Troy

[bull]

I agree that a 383/4spd is not going to be as popular as an R/T 440/4spd (what you chose) but that in many minds it is as popular as a R/T 440/auto.

[Ghoste]

I disagree.  Just my  though.