1968 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible

Engine Details: 440

Fuel Injection/Carburetor: Holley 750

Headers: 1 7/8th Hooker

Exhaust / Mufflers:

Transmission: 4 speed

Rear-end / Ratio: 3.54

Front Suspension: Stock

Front Brakes: Converted to disc brakes

Rear Suspension: Dana 60

Rear Brakes: Stock

Wheels: Cragar SS

Body Modifications: None

Hood: Stock

Paint Type / Color: 1968 Dodge Red

Gauges: Stock with Auto Meter oil pressure and temp gauge with a column mounted Sun Tach

Interior Goodies: Clarion Stereo

Custom Pieces:

Awards:

Cool Story:

Daniel Ross Hawbaker of Adel Iowa ordered this car new from Hawkeye Dodge in Des Moines Iowa.

In my opinion the only things he missed were disc brakes and a Hemi. Daniel ordered this R/T with a 4 speed manual transmission passing on the optional no cost automatic transmission. Of the 519 R/T convertibles made in 1968 only 88 came with a 4 speed manual transmission. The car was built at the Chrysler assembly plant in St Louis Missouri the car has a build date of April 5th 1968.

Daniel took possession of the R/T on April 17th 1968. The car had a sticker price of $4083.10. Daniel financed the car through Chrysler Credit borrowing $1553.57. Daniel kept the car until November 8th 1972 when he sold it to Budget Auto in Des Moines. The car was sold to James Mitchell of Des Moines on November 15th 1972. James kept the car until July 19th of 1973 when he sold the car to Thomas Rodd of West Des Moines. Thomas kept the car until March 15th 1977 when he sold it to Ruble Modern Classics of Woodburn Iowa.

I purchased the car July 20th 1980 it had 84,298 miles. In 1982 I had the car painted and I changed the color from Sunfire yellow to the correct red for a 1968 Coronet. The shop rate was $22 an hour at that time. The estimate was $2324 and ended up costing me $4803.68 a lot of money for a college student. In 1985 the engine and transmission were removed and the engine was rebuilt, it was bored .30 over. I added a Competition Cam with 292 duration and .501 lift with an Edlebrock Torker manifold, Holley 750 double pump carb, Chrysler Electronic ignition and 1 7/8 Hooker headers. I also swapped out the 4 speed for a 727 torque flight transmission. After a couple of years I added a 150 hp Nitrous kit. I took the car to the drag strip once where the best ET I had was a 12.96. On that run I was ahead of the opponent at the top end so I hit the brakes and crossed the finish line at 85 mph when my practice runs were around 110 mph. Without slicks it was difficult to get traction and know when to add the nitrous. Not having slicks probably prevented me from blowing up the engine.

The racing bug passed quickly and I removed the automatic transmission, nitrous and installed the original 4 speed transmission. Future plans include new American Racing Anthracite Torq-Thrust M 17inch wheels with Nitto tires. It also might include a TKX 5 speed transmission from Silver Sport returning the engine to stock and a repaint with possibly a new color maybe blue this time.