1968–1970 Dodge Charger history: the second-generation classic

1968–1970 Dodge Charger history

Dodge restyled the Charger for 1968 with a "Coke-bottle" body, hidden headlamps and a flying-buttress rear window. Demand far exceeded Dodge's plans: 96,100 were built for 1968, more than 17,000 of them R/Ts with the 440 Magnum V8.

For 1969 Dodge added the flush-grille Charger 500 and the winged Charger Daytona to compete in NASCAR, and production reached about 89,199. A 1968 Charger R/T starred in the chase scene of Bullitt, and an orange 1969 Charger became the General Lee in The Dukes of Hazzard.

The 1970 Charger got a large wraparound chrome bumper, electric headlight doors, an available pistol-grip shifter and the 440 Six Pack. Production fell to 46,576 before the third-generation car arrived for 1971.[1],[3]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The R/T package made the 440 Magnum standard; the 426 Hemi was the only optional engine above it.
• Only 67 of the 392 Charger 500s and 70 of the 503 U.S. Charger Daytonas had the Hemi.

Sources:[1]

What changed over the years

1. 1968New Coke-bottle body with hidden headlamps; slant-six added mid-year.
2. 1969Split grille and new taillamps; Charger 500 and Charger Daytona for NASCAR.
3. 1970Wraparound chrome bumper, electric headlight doors, pistol-grip shifter, available bench seat and the 440 Six Pack.

Sources:[1]

What to check before you buy one

• Clones are common: R/T, 500, Daytona and General Lee tributes are often built from base cars. Decode the fender tag and serial number and compare them with the car's documents.
• For "numbers-matching" claims, have the engine, transmission and rear axle stampings verified by a specialist before paying a premium.
• Inspect for rust in the floors, trunk pan, quarter panels and around the rear window, typical of unibody cars of this age.

How to verify a 1968–1970 Dodge Charger's factory options

Standardized 17-character VINs began with the 1981 model year, so every 1968–1970 Charger predates them. These cars are identified by their original 13-character serial number, fender tag codes, engine stampings and the documentation that survives with them.[4]

For vehicles built before the 17-character VIN, identification rests on the original serial number, the body (fender or data) tag, engine stampings and the paperwork that survives with the vehicle. A VIN-based build lookup does not apply. Researching a later model? Start at the Dodge history timeline.