Most cars that are left in barns or junkyards for decades end up in bad shape. A lot of people are killed, and the ones that are saved are often only used as spare parts and never go back out on the open road. Still, there are some famous rigs that do get a second chance. The 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T is one of these lucky cars.
The YouTube account “A Mostly Mopar Family” found this Coronet from the golden age in Missouri. The car had been off the road for decades, so it was missing some parts that were needed to make it run and drive. The classic two-door car also didn’t have the VIN or the hood tag, which are both important parts of any old car.
Reuniting a Classic Mopar with Its Long-Lost VIN
Most Mopar fans would stay away from a classic car that doesn’t have a VIN, but our speaker was determined to find one. In an amazing turn of events, he was able to find the person who had bought the dash frame, which had the VIN on it. He was able to match the VIN with the car thanks to this amazing stroke of luck.
Even though this was a happy meeting, our host had another problem: he couldn’t bring the R/T back home because he didn’t have enough room. He left the Coronet with the seller, hoping that one day he would be able to bring this old beauty back to life.
This 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T is a shining example of hope for everyone who loves cars. That people are willing to keep going and repair these classic cars shows how passionate they are.
After a month, our host went back to the yard to get the Mopar. When the seller told him that the lost fender tag had been found, it was the biggest surprise of his life. Now that both tags are on the car, it is much easier to prove that it is who it says it is. This is important because this isn’t your average Coronet.
The Rarity of a True-Blue Dodge Coronet R/T
This Mopar is a real R/T, which makes it very rare compared to other models. A lot of people bought the Coronet in 1968; almost 200,000 were sold. But the R/T, which was the most powerful model, was much harder to get. That year, only 10,280 were delivered. This only makes up 5.2% of the whole production.
Performance Powerhouses: The V8 Engines
In 1968, the R/T came with two different V8 engines. The powerful 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI engine was an option, and the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB engine came as stock. This Coronet came off the assembly line with the four-barrel 440 engine, which is the same setup that was used in 9,734 other cars sold in the US.
This Mopar R/T is a great find because it is very rare and has powerful engine choices. Finding the lost fender tag makes it even more real and valuable, making it a real gem for anyone who loves classic cars.