1968 Dodge Charger: A Muscle Car Legacy

Some words evoke a smile for almost any car enthusiast. Mopar is one of them, always will be. Even for car enthusiasts who prefer a Ford or a Chevy, there’s no denying the impact Chrysler muscle cars made through the 60’s and 70’s. Although most car companies had a “hot rod”, the 1968 Dodge Charger was one that truly stood out.

The 68 Charger was actually the second generation of this Charger line. “Charger” packages were offered on some models since 1964, like the Dart GT, but the first actual Chargers were released in 66. These first generation cars weren’t really much more than a souped up Coronet, and sales were slow in the muscle-hungry performance car market. Then, in 1968, Chrysler got serious about competing for the expanding market for muscle, and the second gen Chargers began what would become a muscle car legacy.

The ’68 Charger and Charger RT feature what’s referred to as the Coke-body style due to the long, sleek lines, and its low stance add to the aerodynamics (and the appealing appearance) of the vehicle. As noted by Old Ride, the 1968 Charger measures 77 inches wide and 208 inches long with a 117-inch wheel base.

Under the Hood: Dodge V8 Engines Offered for the 1968 Charger

1. 225 cubic inch 1bbl – A straight six that strained to push the two tons to anything resembling performance. Only about 500 were made.
2. 318 cubic inch 2bbl V-8 – Base level power plants that did the job, but not much more.
3. 383 cubic inch 2bbl and 4bbl V-8 – A true high performance upgrade from the small block 318.
4. 440 cubic inch 4bbl V-8 – At 375 horsepower, this was the standard engine for the Charger R/T. The 440 magnum is an icon of the muscle car era.
5. 426 cubic inch 2 x 4 bbl RB V-8 Hemi- Now we’re talking. The 425 hp rating is generally considered to be a lowball figure. Most estimates put it well over 500 horses.

The iconic styling played a part in the car’s popularity, but it was the muscle that made the 1968 Dodge Charger the legend that it is today.

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