1968 Charger 318 3 on the tree

[John Milner]

I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to the fender tag and options on my '68.  It had a 3 on the tree column which I found odd.  I finally sit down and decoded my fender tag and it turns out it is a 318 3 on the tree car.  Is that a very rare option for Chargers?  I can only recall seeing a slant 6 3 on the tree. 

[Bad B-rad]

When you say "3 on the tree" you are talking about a three speed manual transmission,  column shifted, correct?

I have heard people say 3 on the tree, and they are talking about a 3 speed automatic, so just want to be clear.

[John Milner]

When you say "3 on the tree" you are talking about a three speed manual transmission,  column shifted, correct?

I have heard people say 3 on the tree, and they are talking about a 3 speed automatic, so just want to be clear.

Thanks for the reply.  Yes, I'm referring to 3 speed manual column shifted. 

[Chad L. Magee]

They are rare, 100 to 200 made total (my best guess).  Probably no more than 30-50 left in any condition, even fewer left original.  The reason I say that is that there are no factory production numbers for that particular engine/trans combo in 1968 Chargers.  I used to have one, but traded it away (since I already had a three speed column manual Charger to restore).  Mine was orginally yellow exterior, black vinyl top and gold interior per the fender tag.  It did not have many options.  It had been sitting out in a small rural town in Missouri since 1974 per the license plate that was still on it.  I did register it with TDC before I traded it off and Wayne Wooten wrote back saying that it was a rare one indeed....

The catch with the rarity of them is that it does not make it exceedingly valuable over a regular 318, automatic version due to not many collectors desiring the 318, 3 speed column manual combo.  Many collectors simply do not know that they even existed.  However, that may change with the ebb and flow of time....

[John Milner]

They are rare, 100 to 200 made total (my best guess).  Probably no more than 30-50 left in any condition, even fewer left original.  The reason I say that is that there are no factory production numbers for that particular engine/trans combo in 1968 Chargers.  I used to have one, but traded it away (since I already had a three speed column manual Charger to restore).  Mine was orginally yellow exterior, black vinyl top and gold interior per the fender tag.  It did not have many options.  It had been sitting out in a small rural town in Missouri since 1974 per the license plate that was still on it.  I did register it with TDC before I traded it off and Wayne Wooten wrote back saying that it was a rare one indeed....

The catch with the rarity of them is that it does not make it exceedingly valuable over a regular 318, automatic version due to not many collectors desiring the 318, 3 speed column manual combo.  Many collectors simply do not know that they even existed.  However, that may change with the ebb and flow of time....

Interesting.  Mine spent some time in the Missouri area judging by the Missouri bumper sticker that was on the back of it.  I bought it with the intentions of putting a 440/4 speed in it.  I kind of hate doing that to such a unique car now. 

[Bad B-rad]

I think, but I am not positive the the 318 was the standard engine until late in the year ,when the slant six was a no cost option, and the 3 speed manual trans was also the standard trans, but most everyone optioned for the automatic.
That's what I think, but I am sure someone will correct me.
I know that they are RARE, is in there were not a ton of 318-3 speed manual transmission cars built., but as Chad said that does not make them worth a ton of cash, at least not right now.
That sounds kinda cool though, I can not remember when the last time I saw a 318/3 speed man, trans Charger at a car show.
It may make a cool cruiser if you redo it stock.
I don't think there is a lot of love for the 3 speed manual trans, not sure if that's cause there are not a ton of them around, or they are maybe kinda a pain to drive, I don't know.

[Chad L. Magee]

I think, but I am not positive the the 318 was the standard engine until late in the year ,when the slant six was a no cost option, and the 3 speed manual trans was also the standard trans, but most everyone optioned for the automatic.
That's what I think, but I am sure someone will correct me.
I know that they are RARE, is in there were not a ton of 318-3 speed manual transmission cars built., but as Chad said that does not make them worth a ton of cash, at least not right now.
That sounds kinda cool though, I can not remember when the last time I saw a 318/3 speed man, trans Charger at a car show.
It may make a cool cruiser if you redo it stock.
I don't think there is a lot of love for the 3 speed manual trans, not sure if that's cause there are not a ton of them around, or they are maybe kinda a pain to drive, I don't know.

After working on the one I have, I agree that they are a pain to try to drive....

[Bad B-rad]

Maybe do a 318/5.2 Magnum conversion and keep the org trans set up?
You would have to do some checking on the durability of that three speed, and then decide.

But as I said before you do not see that many of them at shows at all, so it is kinda unique, but it is your car so you got to build what you want.
At least at the moment, I do not think building it to a 440/4 speed would hurt the value vs org combo.(just keep the #'s parts if you still have them)

[Bad B-rad]

I have only ever driven one Ford Bronco that was a standard on the tree, It was a tad tricky, but I only drove it once, for 25 miles and I was 17, so I just got my license.
But there must be a reason that this is NOT a popular trans for people to run.
Some guys have told me that once you get used to the shifting that the column shift is the same as floor shift, but I have no experience.

[69CoronetRT]

In that era, three speeds on the column were not particularly rare but were becoming less common due to advances and acceptance in automatic transmissions throughout the 60s.

It was the typical standard lowest cost transmission. We had several three on the tree cars and pickups. A lot of us learned how to drive and drive a stick car with a three speed.

[70B5Cuda]

I've got a weird one too...what I "believe" I have is a 68 charger with 383-4bbl and 3 speed manual on the column. The weird combos is what I love about mopars though.

Unfortunately it's kind of a puzzle and I don't have the most important piece: the fender tag.
1. The VIN is XP29H
2. It has 3 pedals
3. It has the z bar bracket welded to the driver's side frame rail
4. Does not have 4 speed hump
5. Dash frame looks like it's never been out of the car as far as I can tell.

It's entirely possible that someone swapped VIN plates but it's been sitting in a field for 30 as a parts car so someone would have had to go to the trouble to do the swap 30+ years ago when they weren't worth much.

[John Milner]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  I didn't even realize they did a 383 3 speed manual on the column.  That's cool.   I have already jumped into the 440 6 pack build.  I guess I could do a 440 6 pack 3 on the tree.  I wonder how strong those Mopar 3 speeds are?

[70B5Cuda]

I wouldn't do that...the 3 speed manual won't stand up to a 440-6. Plus rare doesn't always mean desirable. You will have more fun with a 4 speed and it will be worth more.

[crj1968]

I wouldn't do that...the 3 speed manual won't stand up to a 440-6. Plus rare doesn't always mean desirable. You will have more fun with a 4 speed and it will be worth more.

Yeah I wouldn't sweat swapping out the motor/trans either.

The only 2nd Gen Chargers that I think that originality factors into the value are the R/T's....just an observation over the years.

[6bblgt]

I've got a weird one too...a 68 charger with 383-4bbl and 3 speed manual on the column. The weird combos is what I love about mopars though.

I wasn't aware that was a factory available combination

can you share some more info and pics of this Charger?

[ACUDANUT]

[quote author=6bblgt link=topic=128956.msg1605158#msg1605158 date=1496433755]

I've got a weird one too...a 68 charger with 383-4bbl and 3 speed manual on the column. The weird combos is what I love about mopars though.

I wasn't aware that was a factory available combination

can you share some more info and pics of this Charger?
[/quote[/b]]

yeah, never heard of such of thing.

[Chad L. Magee]

I wouldn't do that...the 3 speed manual won't stand up to a 440-6. Plus rare doesn't always mean desirable. You will have more fun with a 4 speed and it will be worth more.

Yeah I wouldn't sweat swapping out the motor/trans either.

The only 2nd Gen Chargers that I think that originality factors into the value are the R/T's....just an observation over the years.

Not quite.  I think you are forgetting the non-RT big block, 4-speed Chargers of 1968 in that equation.  There were not many made of them (383-2bbl. 74 made, 383-4bbl. 259 made).  They are sought after by collectors, even if just to convert them over to 440 power in the end.  Many cannot afford a real 4-speed 1968 Charger RT...

[ACUDANUT]

I wouldn't do that...the 3 speed manual won't stand up to a 440-6. Plus rare doesn't always mean desirable. You will have more fun with a 4 speed and it will be worth more.

Yeah I wouldn't sweat swapping out the motor/trans either.

The only 2nd Gen Chargers that I think that originality factors into the value are the R/T's....just an observation over the years.

Not quite.  I think you are forgetting the non-RT big block, 4-speed Chargers of 1968 in that equation.  There were not many made of them (383-2bbl. 74 made, 383-4bbl. 259 made).  They are sought after by collectors, even if just to convert them over to 440 power in the end.  Many cannot afford a real 4-speed 1968 Charger RT...

Show me the facts and prices. Your dead wrong.  :Twocents

[John Milner]

I wouldn't do that...the 3 speed manual won't stand up to a 440-6. Plus rare doesn't always mean desirable. You will have more fun with a 4 speed and it will be worth more.

Yeah I wouldn't sweat swapping out the motor/trans either.

The only 2nd Gen Chargers that I think that originality factors into the value are the R/T's....just an observation over the years.

Not quite.  I think you are forgetting the non-RT big block, 4-speed Chargers of 1968 in that equation.  There were not many made of them (383-2bbl. 74 made, 383-4bbl. 259 made).  They are sought after by collectors, even if just to convert them over to 440 power in the end.  Many cannot afford a real 4-speed 1968 Charger RT...

Wow, not many of the 383 4 speed cars made either.  I know of one that's been sitting for years in my area.  It needs a ton of work but I believe it is numbers matching.  Used to be a couple others in my area. 

[ACUDANUT]

I BET It Was not a BB engine with a three on the tree.

[Chad L. Magee]

I wouldn't do that...the 3 speed manual won't stand up to a 440-6. Plus rare doesn't always mean desirable. You will have more fun with a 4 speed and it will be worth more.

Yeah I wouldn't sweat swapping out the motor/trans either.

The only 2nd Gen Chargers that I think that originality factors into the value are the R/T's....just an observation over the years.

Not quite.  I think you are forgetting the non-RT big block, 4-speed Chargers of 1968 in that equation.  There were not many made of them (383-2bbl. 74 made, 383-4bbl. 259 made).  They are sought after by collectors, even if just to convert them over to 440 power in the end.  Many cannot afford a real 4-speed 1968 Charger RT...

Show me the facts and prices. Your dead wrong.  :Twocents

I am going partly on my experience in people wanting to buy my 383-2bbl., 4-speed Charger over the past few years.  Many of them want it simply to do the 440 conversion and make a clone of the Bullet RT.  They do not want to have to hassle with putting in a 4-speed hump in the floor, so they are simply not looking at the automatics for a starting point on their project.  The car that they want to modify is often way rarer than the one that they are trying to clone...

They are kinda of a special case in the second gens because they are so close to being like a very expensive, high performance model that everyone wants.  If you could get a 4-speed in a 318 Charger that year, then their demand would be less (and their value) because that would be a much better starting point for many people wanting to build a clone 4-speed 1968 Charger RT.  Unfortunately, there were no factory 318, 4-speed Chargers made that year....

As for the other part, if you want data to work with, here you go for 1968 Chargers:

https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuationtools/1968-dodge-charger

On the Hagerty valuation site, it states +20% for a 4-speed and -10% for automatic versions.  That goes for both RTs and non-RTs....

[ACUDANUT]

"Hagerty valuation ".  Is a false biased liberal view on anything you own. They just want your money. Nothing else.
Do you really think they care about your car, or the money they can make for insuring it

[Chad L. Magee]

I wouldn't do that...the 3 speed manual won't stand up to a 440-6. Plus rare doesn't always mean desirable. You will have more fun with a 4 speed and it will be worth more.

Yeah I wouldn't sweat swapping out the motor/trans either.

The only 2nd Gen Chargers that I think that originality factors into the value are the R/T's....just an observation over the years.

Not quite.  I think you are forgetting the non-RT big block, 4-speed Chargers of 1968 in that equation.  There were not many made of them (383-2bbl. 74 made, 383-4bbl. 259 made).  They are sought after by collectors, even if just to convert them over to 440 power in the end.  Many cannot afford a real 4-speed 1968 Charger RT...

Wow, not many of the 383 4 speed cars made either.  I know of one that's been sitting for years in my area.  It needs a ton of work but I believe it is numbers matching.  Used to be a couple others in my area. 

John, you may want to look into that one...

[crj1968]

I wouldn't do that...the 3 speed manual won't stand up to a 440-6. Plus rare doesn't always mean desirable. You will have more fun with a 4 speed and it will be worth more.

Yeah I wouldn't sweat swapping out the motor/trans either.

The only 2nd Gen Chargers that I think that originality factors into the value are the R/T's....just an observation over the years.

Not quite.  I think you are forgetting the non-RT big block, 4-speed Chargers of 1968 in that equation.  There were not many made of them (383-2bbl. 74 made, 383-4bbl. 259 made).  They are sought after by collectors, even if just to convert them over to 440 power in the end.  Many cannot afford a real 4-speed 1968 Charger RT...

I was just speaking in general terms. Many folks are looking for an R/T or nothing.
Others just want a 2nd Gen and don't care about the numbers matching correctness stuff, and any solid car will fit their needs.  

That said; the value on all of them is high. The R/T's at a premium just like when new.....

[70B5Cuda]

[quote author=6bblgt link=topic=128956.msg1605158#msg1605158 date=1496433755]

I've got a weird one too...a 68 charger with 383-4bbl and 3 speed manual on the column. The weird combos is what I love about mopars though.

I wasn't aware that was a factory available combination

can you share some more info and pics of this Charger?
[/quote[/b]]

yeah, never heard of such of thing.

I modified my previous post with some of the info I have used to deduce this combo but I don't have proof in the way of a fender tag. I'll see if I can take some closeup pictures detailing my clues. I could be wrong and maybe someone can teach/show me something new from the pictures but for now I believe that is what the combo was in my car. I have see a 1970 satellite convertible locally that came with a 383 and 3 speed manual. It was verified with a fender tag.