440/4-speed/A33 Track Pack. One of 392 built. Formerly owned by NASCAR legend Ray Evernham. Highly correct and well detailed restoration in great colors. Runs and drives extremely well. Ready to show or drive anywhere.

If you don’t quite recognize the Charger 500, that’s OK—Dodge only built 392 of them. The Charger 500 was a kind of half-step towards the mighty Daytona wing car, an attempt to improve the Charger’s aero performance on the track to wrest some wins away from the fastback Fords. By eliminating the front grille and hidden headlights and creating a semi-fastback rear window profile, the Charger 500 was considerably slipperier than the stock Charger at NASCAR speeds but sadly, it wasn’t quite enough. The good news is that it opened the door for the Daytona and Superbird, which dominated NASCAR until they were outlawed in 1971. To quality for NASCAR, Chrysler Corporation had to build street versions of their race cars, hence this Charger 500. And given the Charger 500’s NASCAR connection, it should be no surprise that this one was owned until 2017 by NASCAR hall of famer Ray Evernham. Sources differ regarding how many were built but Mopar expert Galen Govier believes the number to be 392. His numbers also suggest that only about 1/6 of those were built with a 4-speed manual transmission, making this R4 Red car something special. In fact, this car has quite a few noteworthy features—check out the fender tag:

XS29: Dodge Charger Special, R/T 2 Door Sports Hardtop
L8B: 440 375HP 1-4BBL 8 CYL
1968
Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA
166361: Sequence number
E86: 440 cubic inch 4-barrel V8 (high performance) 375 horsepower
D21: 4-speed manual transmission
R4: Exterior color (Red)
C6W: Trim - Charger, vinyl bucket seats, white/black
W1: Int. door frames
929: Build Date: September 29
925237: Order number
A11: 69 only Special Model XX29 Charger Daytona or 500
A33: Track Pak w/3.54 ratio
B51: Power brakes
C16: Console with woodgrain panel
C55: Bucket seats
G15: Tinted windshield
G33: LH remote racing mirror
L31: Hood mounted turn signals
M21: Roof drip rail moldings
M31: Belt moldings
N85: Tachometer
R22: AM radio with 8-track (10 watts)
V28: Top color
Y39: Special order
26: 26-inch radiator
END: End of sales codes

We have a detailed photo album and receipts on the restoration, which was extremely well done. The car appears to be wearing its original sheetmetal, including trunk extensions and quarters, and the bodywork is shockingly straight. The R4 Red is still a bit orange, not quite Hemi Orange but not fire engine red, either, and it is the ideal muscle Mopar color. The shape is undeniably Charger, but the unusual front fascia and sloping rear window makes everyone who sees it do a double-take. Of course, the glossy paint certainly helps and there’s a white bumblebee stripe on the tail with ‘500’ callouts just to help with identifications purposes. Panel gaps are excellent, the doors close with a precise-sounding click, and it’s clear that this was an expensive restoration that didn’t cut any corners. All the unique Charger 500 items are in place, plus bright chrome bumpers, that awesome flip-up gas cap, and proper Charger emblems as needed. The wide taillights were a 1969-only feature that we think were the most attractive of the three years (1968-70), but that’s obviously a matter of opinion. But there’s no denying that this is a great-looking car from any angle.

The white vinyl interior is by Legendary and they live up to their name with the reproduction seat covers. With button-tufted seat cushions, the Charger 500 has an upscale look, although the 4-speed manual shifter sticking out of the console suggests this is no luxo barge. The car has a fairly lengthy options list, including that center console, a full set of gauges including a tick-tock-tach (it works!), and an AM/8-track radio with dual speakers on top of the dash. The radio isn’t working (we have not tested the 8-track player) but everything else is in virtually as-new condition and all the courtesy lights work including the back-up indicator under the dash. Accessory floor mats are embroidered with ‘Charger 500’ but it also comes with a set of period floor protectors from the dealer which have been laminated so they’ll last forever. The headliner is in excellent shape, and yes, it looks a little odd the way the rear window is finished, but you have to remember that these were hand-built and modified, so it’s not going to look like a regular Charger. There’s also a good-sized trunk that’s properly detailed with a full-sized spare and jack assembly. An aftermarket black carpet mat keeps things looking tidy, but a reproduction plaid vinyl mat is underneath and under that there are excellent original floors painted to match the bodywork. The car is right.

The base motor in the Charger 500 was the 440 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor making 375 horsepower. This one is coded as an E440, which is correct for an early Charger 500 and the build date is 9-27-68, two days before the car was assembled. The stamping pad down near the oil pan has thick paint and the numbers are not visible, so its numbers-matching status is inconclusive. The engine was fully rebuilt during the restoration and features a balanced rotating assembly, stainless valves, and a Six-Pack cam for a bit of a lope in the idle. It’s correctly detailed with Hemi Orange paint, a factory air cleaner, and it carries its original radiator and carburetor, both of which have been rebuilt. Underneath, there’s the numbers-matching 18-spline 4-speed manual transmission feeding a Dana 60 rear end with 3.54 gears inside, which were part of the A33 Track Pack option. Both the front and rear suspensions have been rebuilt, as have the power drum brakes, and it offers power steering to make it easy to handle. Staggered leaf springs were correct for the Track Pack cars, with 7 leaves on the right and 6 on the left to help control axle hop. A new exhaust system features Hemi mufflers for an awesome soundtrack and everything was detailed for show. 15-inch Magnum 500 wheels look awesome and carry 225/70/15 redline radials for a modern ride with vintage looks.

Documentation is extensive, including an original Operator’s Manual, Galen Govier report, restoration photo album, receipts (including for the engine rebuild), show board, and other papers. There are a bunch of spare parts with the car, including a spare tick-tock-tach, touch-up paint, and more. A fitted car cover is also part of the deal.

Beautiful, rare, and fun, the Charger 500 is an awesome footnote in Mopar history. In NASCAR, evolution happens quickly and by the time this car hit the tracks, the Daytona was already in development, making it an interesting experiment that simply didn’t go far enough. Today it stands out anywhere it goes because of that unique part it played in history and there can’t be many Charger 500s nicer than this. It looks great, drives right, and has lots of documentation to back it up. For Mopar fans, this is a fantastic find. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.