Why I bought (and imported) a classic 1968 Dodge Charger manual
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- The classic Dodge is one of Jonny's project cars that always gets asked about, so here is a 'story so far' and detailed walk around of the 1968 Charger 4-speed. The car was bought on Ebay in 2008 and arrived from San Diego in July 2008, just in time to be dragged on a trailer to his wedding. A week later he went on honeymoon to California and ended up touring San Francisco, where this particular 1 of 259 spec car was originally supplied. One of 259 meaning it is the smallest of the big block engined cars (High output 4-barrel carb 383 cubic inch) with a 4-speed manual gearbox, no centre console, no power brakes or steering.
The rawness of the spec and patination of what is a combination of original F6 bright green paint covered (badly) in bronze/brown metallic is what drew him to buy this particular car. Purchased when America went into recession, the car came over as a numbers matching (meaning original engine, gearbox and axle still intact) non runner and spent 9 months being sympathetically restored by Tim at Roadhouse Motor Co - roadhousemotor... - in a way so as to retain its weathered charm. The usual areas had rotted for these monocoque Mopars, like the boot floors, rear corners, lower quarters, rear valance, rear window and parcel shelf area.
Non-original mechanical features on the Charger include an aluminium radiator, electronic ignition, an Edelbrock 4-barrel carb, inlet manifold and the custom Wortec - www.wortec.co.uk/ - active exhaust system. The exhaust is hand built in the UK from 316 stainless steel and features Wortec's own design remote valve divert silencers. These can be made for any car, including new stuff, and are NOT to be confused with the off-shelf electric cut-outs. The valve in the exhaust is made by from 6061t aluminium (hard anodised) and 316 stainless parts, and it diverts the exhaust gas flow down two pathways. The silencer is a straight through design and has no chambers to reduce sound it is designed to divert sound waves not gas flow.
The suspension has been mildly upgraded to Hemi leaf springs at the rear and new torsion bars at the front. The shocks are KYB and the wheels are widened Wheel Vintiques cop car steels.
For its 50th birthday in 2018 (when this was filmed) Jonny gifted the Charger with a gold plated 'tooth' bumper overrider, to go with the characterful damaged front grille.
The Dodge is strictly a weekend and summer car, meaning it is the yang to his EV yin. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes including Jonny's ratty 1968 Charger muscle car.
1968 Dodge Charger factory tech spec.
Engine: 383 cubic inch (6276cc) 'High output' 4BBL
Power: 330hp @5000rpm
Torque: 425lbft @3200rpm
Transmission: A-833 4-speed manual
Brakes: Non servo drums
Steering: Manual
Kerb weight: 1678kg
0-60: 6.1 secs
Top speed: 128mph
Additions:
Pro Cool aluminium radiator
Pertronix electronic ignition
Edelbrock vac secondary 4 barrel carb
Edelbrock inlet manifold
Hemi Charger rear leaf springs
KYB Shocks
Wheel Vintiques banded cop car steel 15-inch wheels
Wortec active exhaust system
Gold plated bumper overrider
Music credit: Blaze McKenzie, Spirits, from Born A Shadow, ©2018 Medical Records open.spotify.c...
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Edited by: Ink Shark Studios / inksharkman
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant Design matttarrantdes...
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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
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That Charger is perfect. The best looking year, the right amount of rust, it's just so beautiful
For 20 minutes of oval track racing.
My dream car
Cars are meant for driving, no matter how valuable they are! Hell yes!
I have to say you completely fooled me with the amount of bodywork it needed! To do all that and make it look like you did none of it.. spot on! 😁
But after 10 years, still not know anything about the design/purpose of the product.
It cruises terribly. It doesn’t do long distance either.
It exits corners fast and enters corners fast. You’re supposed to adjust those settings.
@@dreyn7780 Not true at all Dreyn - I bought this car to keep it driving and feeling the way it would have driven and felt in 1968. If I wanted to hugely update it I would have built a resto-mod. This is a slice in time of muscle car history, not a modernised re-make.
I have to thank Tim at Roadhouse Motor Co for his bodywork and paint blending skills. He specialises in patinated car sourcing and sympathetic repairs.
@@TheLateBrakeShow I’ve never said you need to up date it or resto mod it.
You need to learn what job the engineering team tuned the car to do.
Then you need to drive the car to what the components are built to do.
The makers only allowed you to adjust engine power and wheel alignment, the rest of the stuff you’re not allowed to change.
You’re not allowed to tune cruising performance. There’s nowhere to adjust that on the car.
The throttle doesn’t adjust cruising speed.
You are competing with v10 and v12 motors don’t forget.
There’s a simple reason why Ford wanted to buy Ferrari.
Ford wanted to add a few more explosions to their motors but their motor performance was in the same style as Ferrari motors.
“Why I bought a “68 Charger” - why on earth wouldn’t you?!
Cause we do more than race round in circles.
Because you really ought to buy two
I was going to say that! 🤣🤣
Love it, you just can't beat the late 60s American muscle cars. You've done a lot of work on this beauty, Jonny, nice !! Would love to blag a ride in this with you ! Happily pay for fuel and get the coffees in ! Cheers, Daz, Leicester.
I got to drive one when I was 16 yrs old, here in Australia. It had been converted to right hand drive. Most amazing vehicle to drive. That was back in the early 80's.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
More of the charger please, I’m not into American classics but I’m happy for you to educate me 😀
Thank you Paul.
So glad to see this grand ol’ relic plowing around the lanes of the UK! And kudos for going over all the paint and body info w/o ever saying “patina”!
Not to state the obvious, but you’re rather good at this stuff, Smith...
Thank you Ian.
Pervert
It's a beaut Johnny, I'm glad that you kept the little dings and dents, it shows that the car has lived.
Just the right amount of patina, a colorful history and a bit of a bruised fighter with a front tooth missing. Perfect!
They are one of the great shapes even without Bullitt and Dukes of Hazard. I was after a nicely patinated import but they've all started to be restored, badly sometimes, so there is not a huge amount of choice. Yours is brilliant Johnny.
what a wonderful labour of love. You've done so much but retained the majesty of the original history. Superb Jonny!
my NEW favorite Car Show !
I had one of these as a teenager, sold it for $1700 in 1983 and still have nightmares about it.
Such a great car. I personally came decided which looks better between the '68 and the '69. V8 great although the 440ci V8 would be nice as well. The 4 speed manual is the one to have and happy you are keeping it alive. The exhaust is beautiful. Great work
It’s my bloody dream car exactly how you’ve done it. Thanks for saving another of these amazing cars. 👍
Love the car!! I've got a 68 Impala SS coupe myself. I love driving it, nice and simple with no computers, plus it sounds great.
Love it Johnny, the epitome of the late 60s American muscle car.
The handcuffs, the bullet holes, the gold tooth... such a gangster! I'd love to do add these kind of mods to a CLEAN Ford Galaxie to make it the "retired gangster" look
1:47, seeing young Johnny reminded me of watching 5th gear back then,Memories...
It was a while ago, right? I started Fifth Gear in 2006. 18 series later I still have a job there.
CarPervert yup
"I did a home video on my honeymoon..." usually means something else than cars... ;-)
Have never really appreciated this car but this video has highlighted just how fantastic it is and the job you have done on it. So personal and cool
The 1967 Mustang Fastback is absolutely legendary to me. The design is gorgeous and those taillights are to die for.
It's THE car that sparked my interest in cars, I didn't really care about cars at all before I saw the '67.
Thou the '68 Charger is a real beauty as well!
Hi Jonny, hope you and yours are well as can be. And what an awesome beauty you have there. Love all the patena (dings and dongs!) and glad you haven't tarted it up. I could sit and listen to it idling all day long. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe and keep up the good work. 👍🖖😎🐶🦴🏍🐔🌈
Would love one of these or a fastback stang of the same vintage just with modern brakes and cooling etc so it works properly day to day 🤣 awesome car. Love the gold tooth!
Nice job taking care of this old classic. I can appreciate how difficult it must be to source parts in the UK for an old American classic like this.
I absolutely love watching your videos. You only live up the road from me and I constantly look out for the Charger ❤
Personally, not a fan of the patina look but when it comes to other people's cars that they have built for themselves the way they like them, I don't judge. This car brings a smile to it's owners face and is loved and enjoyed, that's what classic cars are meant for. Great video and lovely to see a classic have so much time and thought poured into it.
68 is my favorite year!! You did this perfect!!
Some cars come with a story, but "real bullet holes, shot from the inside out" .. I so want to know what happened there! Real gangster shit xD
Nothing as cool as violent stupid bullshit.
I checked and a drunk guy murdered his wife cos she was speaking to another guy. 'gangster' eh?
@@themadplotter He killed her by lying in the boot and shooting her from the inside? wow that's some shooting!
@@craigk1328 With bullets, quantity exceeds quality, I'm afraid.
probably kidnapped someone then had to repaint it to that bronze colour to make it less identifiable lol
Love the car Johnny. Glad to see American muscle enjoyed across the pond!
Great video Jonny, thanks for sharing.
The 68-69 chargers are my favourite muscle cars ever! Nothing else on earth has EVER looked as cool as these chargers!!
I need to like this a lot more than once!! Geat to hear you talk about it Johnny.
As Dolly Parton famously says "it costs a lot of money to look this cheap" xD Glad ya love it Jonny
Great car, always wanted one, for the look but mostly for that sound! Something primal about this car. Love it.
This video is why it's worth looking back through the video catalogue of your favourite channels. Stunning car mate. If you have it still please let it pop up in some newer videos.
Roadkill absolutely made me fall in love with cars like these. I really want a an old V8 muscle car hero in my life. Maybe a 60's camaro.
Do it mate!
Right! Just MAKE IT HAPPEN.
B. E. A. Utiful! I love this car, Jonny. All the way down to the handcuffs!!
Love old chargers.That car is beautiful. Its got so much character and is just perfect. Im very jealous.
I’m an old Yank so I remember a few of my friends with cars like this. Really brings back memories. Glad you got one for yourself! And what is it with Brits and their American cars and Yanks with Jags?
What you did is make this car a PERFECT usable classic. If I was standing there checking it out in person, I wouldn’t have a single area to disagree or argue other than maybe fixing the grill. Maybe.
I absolutely love this car, and the way you restored it, to let all the 'war scars' visible, even the choice of wheels with the lettering. Thanks for sharing, it was 16 minutes of pure pleasure to watch!!
Love the beautiful yellow fields you are driving next to, gorgeous backdrop for driving videos :)
A classic car is SO much more enjoyable when it has paint like this! (Especially when it’s as wide as this one.) Such a fun car.
Very true.
"Why I bought a `68 Dodge Charger" is akin to explaining to someone "Why I sleep with my wife."
You might as well if you're paying for their time.
Cause you go round and round in circles.
It’s built to sit in top gear while you go around and around in circles.
Johnny my Dad had a 71 Charger with a Straight six in Durban South Africa . The last of his Chrysler cars . Preceded by a Baracuda and a VIP 4 door saloon . I used to lie on the rear parcel shelf as he drove fast to his house calls as a GP . Great memories / thanks 🙏
You got that for all the right reasons and are showing it the love and respect it deserves, keep it going for as long as you can. Nicely done Jonny.
Wrong!
It’s only job is to be an oval track racer. That’s the unique job it was designed for.
You look like an oval track racer AND that’s what driving experience you’re getting from this car.
I may be a Mustang fan-boy, but I love all muscle cars............and that one is off the scale. Awesome!
Can anyone remember the show “the car is the star”?
this would have been the definitive car for that show!
How many films and tv shows has this thing been on?
And not surprising it’s one of those cars you literally never get sick of looking at!
An icon!
That is fabulous Jonny, I absolutely love them. Streets ahead of any Mustang 👌💪
Love how you recreated the patina after the reconstruction. Spot on! This car is all the better with its rough edges
Love the 1968 charger. I think I will build one as my next project. Yours is perfect!
Many thanks. 👍🏼
The Special FX have come along so far on this channel. The hair and beard CGI from the green screen in California were amazing.
I bought my '69 when it was just an old car. 383/727 AT, leather and air, Earl Shieb paint job and new Crager SS wheels. All for a tidy some of 600 USD. Only rust is the corners under the rear window. Might of gone up a smidge in value in the last 40 years. Great to see yours.
The pinnacle of "Fuselage styling". You have to love any car that has something as brilliantly named as a tiktoktach, sounds so much more enticing than a clock with a rev counter in it.
Greetings from Canada!..i found a 69 charger in the woods,parked for 40yrs,rotten..i extracted the car and overhauled it but left the paint,scuffs and scratches,and the whisky dents(grandpa dents)..its been my daily driver for 3yrs now,with no issues!..im happy a handful of them are in the u.k,but yours is a suspicious masterpiece compared to the others😎
Your video in Frisco is from July 20! My late father had birthday that day. I love Chargers and Bullit. Thank you for uploading.
Hey Johnny, this is precisely the vibe I am after for my charger.
That rumbling sound is music to my ears.
Love it. Everything you have done.
I hate when people buy a dope car and keep it locked up glad you’re driving it and hope you still are! Amazing car.
That's such a badass car! I love the patina and the broken grill is the icing on the cake (as if a cake metaphor is actually appropriate in this case!) you must keep that Johnny! Putting a new one on just wouldn't be right... The fact it is broken looks like it's been up to no good and much more menacing! Can't wait for future videos on your beast!
Love the fact it still has its original patina and you have preserved it! I absolutely love it. There is a Charger that lives in Wrexham funnily enough. Great video fella
Wrexham? I wonder who owns that.
my first car was a gold '68 plymouth road runner i bought when i was 15 in 1980. also had a '70 440 four speed charger. glad to see this thing in loving hands.
I'd love either of those now, but a '70 binocular car with 440 and 4 speed would be glorious.
@@TheLateBrakeShow while the car was gutted it was an original a/c car. you should have seen the car i serviced when i was a mechanic: '70 440 r/t-se with what seemed like every option. the woman's daily in the mid-1980s! love your channel! my intro to it was the lightweight 911. every video is a winner.
This is MY kind of car. No poncey paintwork. What's important are the interior and the mechanics. Love it mate 👍👍👍
The best kind of resto job. love it!
Brilliant! Dream car for me, looking forward to more Dodge videos! (Also, if you haven’t done it yet, PLEASE straighten the steering wheel! It drives me nuts and I know from your smith&sniff video it does your head in too haha)
Love your passion for your Charger. One of the mist gorgeous shaped muscle cars. Stunning!!!
I bought a '70 aussie vg valiant and had to 'paint match' the front quarters the same way as yourself. Was alot of fun to do, but not easy to get right.....
Great project! You had me searching the classifieds for a new project halfway through the video. I think it would be great to see you work on it more actively, and watch you manage the build. I look forward to your new videos, and I enjoy going back and catching up too. Be well.
Thanks Paul, I'll try to do some tinkering this winter.
Lovely car and agree it right to keep its history in place as you are with the tasteful mods you have done
Right on. What a cool car. Greetings from Palm Springs.
Great car! I love how you've kept the patina and just drive it as is.
That charger is perfect. Just like I always wanted . Thanks man,,, I appreciate you. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Jeremy in Alabama.
What a machine. Big brash and crazy. Just the way it should be.
Enjoyed that, great respect for the sympathetic rebuild and your knowledge of the car. So much info here I watched it twice.
Thank you. Praise indeed.
Congratulations on your beautiful charger, its definitely a keeper
Great film sir. You have been a proper antidote to these horrible last 2 months. Thank you😊
Thank you v much Julian.
Well put together, from the heart video. Keep them coming Jonny.👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧
I had '69 in the UK in 1980/81, painted it in General Lee colours!
Did you? You hero.
My favourite American muscle car ever! I saw the one that recently sold at the silverstone acuction, in London a few weeks ago that was mint! You can see it on Harry’s garage
Gorgeous car wears its wear well. Sounds glorious. Good to see the Rutland space centre in the background too
In Australia, the police put these cars off the road for unroadworthy condition.
Boaty coolness, love it! And the sound... such a brute
Love videos on the dodge, how good do they sound, and smell like so much better then newer cars 😍😍
Absolutely beautiful
I have a 4 speed manual in an 86 F150 and it's quite nice to not have to think about what gear to be in because you get up to speed and it's like oh......well I guess we're done here.
Love this. Closest I have got so far was my '66 Plymouth Belvedere B Body with transplanted 440, it was in Richard Petty Blue from new which was pretty cool! She wouldn't fit on the ramps where I normally get cars MOT'd, had to go to a commercial vehicle place around the corner instead :)
Love it Jonny. Best sounding car ever. I like your homage to Bullitt in your film. It appears to go around Morrison’s roundabout several times, just like the black Charger passes the green Beetle several times in the original!
Ha! True!
Because, after a lot of love and money put in, it's a beautiful car. Liking the sound already. That front is so nice.
Always a pleasure to watch and listen to Jonny. Love what you've done/not done to the charger. That car is almost alive..I can imagine what sort of bloke it would be...👍
I bet the residents of Stamford love that thing 😂 what a machine! Great vid as usual.
Iconic Charger 🤘last year when I was 24 bought my 1970 Pontiac Firebird man I love old classic muscle. Make more content with your 68' Charger
68 to 72 chargers rock. Awsome car brother 👍
This is just such a good Charger! So many good decisions went into making this. Love it!
I love the car it's perfect the way it is. I had one I bought to restore but where I worked shut down so I had to sell the car. It was the bronze colour like yours.
This charger is awesome! I love that you've kept all the patina it's a part of the cars history and it wears it well😎
fantastic mate quality motor enjoy and thanks for sharing
Nicely done, I like the look. I grew up around one of these in Canada so it has some good memories for me.
Love it, more videos of this car please Jonny
last wek ive seen one ... 1968 nor RT but done to look like. this is my fream car. im illing to sell my S8 D4 to get this car. im 36 and since i saw first in newspaper i felt in love with 1968 dodge charger. its a beauty , lucky guy...