For most people who purchased and owned muscle cars from new, there was the further process of “Day Two” changes, upgrades to increased performance and enjoyment. While many people consider the 1968 Charger R/T to be an ultimate supercar from the time period, there were still possibilities to make it “better than stock,” and this example is the beneficiary of such changes. The R/T model came stock with one of the largest engines available from Detroit at that time, the RB-series 440 Magnum. That is what is installed under the hood here, but it has been tastefully dressed up with black-finish Mopar Performance parts, a dual feed 4-barrel carburetor, premium MSD ignition components, an aluminum radiator with dual electric fans and a modern air conditioning compressor. The engine is now backed up by a 5-speed manual transmission, and the car has further been upgraded to power 4-wheel disc brakes, both non-existent from the factory at that time. This car has power steering as well, and, as a real XP29 R/T, it had the factory performance frame and suspension upgrades from new. The outside is covered in red paint with the wraparound dual rear Scat stripe a trademark of the 1968 model season. The styling is unmistakable even today, with the vertical-ribbed inset grille, covered headlamps, turbine-themed side markers and tail lamps, and special drop-off flying buttress rear window. Inside is an OEM-look interior done in black vinyl, with front bucket seats, booted floor-mounted shifter, fully updated factory-style white-face gauges including the Tic-Toc-Tach, a wood-grain dash fascia, and the appearance of a factory AM radio. All Chargers from this era were hardtop, open-cab designs, and the body is further highlighted by script Charger emblems, front and rear R/T emblems, chrome exhaust tips, the flip-open gas cap and a set of chrome wheels with tri-point Cragar spinner centers and BF Goodrich blackwall radial tires. The factory Charger R/T was enough for many buyers, and today, most are restored to exacting OEM condition. This example is an exception, reborn to run with the types of upgrades a true driving enthusiast will appreciate—a lot.
