1968 Dodge Charger Is Dressed To Impress, Flexes Rare Color

Some Mopars, on the other hand, are more subdued in appearance. This 1968 Dodge Charger, for instance, is far from flashy, sporting a color you're more likely to see on a four-door sedan from the era. This hue is called Light Gold (code HH1), one of 23 colors available that year. And because it wasn't very popular at the time, it's a paint we rarely see on 1968 Chargers nowadays.

Spotted at what appears to be a public auction event, this coupe is a finely restored Mopar flexing all the goodies you want to see on a golden-era classic. It has shiny paint, a pristine vinyl top, and spotless chrome trim. The interior looks just as pretty, with no noticeable wear and tear. It's safe to say the seats were reupholstered at some point.

Granted, the all-black cabin may seem a little boring compared to other options available at the time, but it works well with the Light Gold exterior and the black top. If anything, this Charger is more of a stylish cruiser rather than a muscle car. And the engine choice confirms this rig wasn't ordered for straight-line performance.

The long hood hides a 318-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) V8. This two-barrel unit was the standard powerplant through mid-1968 before it was replaced by the 225-cubic-inch (3.7-liter) inline-six. Rated at 230 horsepower and 340 pound-feet (461 Nm) of torque, it was somewhat underpowered for a midsize tipping the scales at nearly 3,500 pounds (1,588 kg). However, it was a solid highway cruiser thanks to a top speed of around 120 mph (193 kph).

It's the kind of rig that reminds us not all Dodge Chargers need to have a powerful big-block V8 under the hood. Likewise, it's proof that Dodge designed it as sporty-looking midsize that would also deliver decent mileage. Sure, 13 mpg is far from decent by modern standards, but it was a notable improvement compared to the big-block units that usually achieved less than ten.

Speaking of design, this Charger is a first-year second-generation model. The second-gen Charger was a notable departure from its predecessor. While the original Charger was introduced as a premium-oriented fastback with individual rear seats, the second-gen model adopted a more traditional design and a more mundane cabin.

The heavily revised Charger was an instant hit. Following sales of only 15,788 units in 1967, Dodge was preparing to move about 35,000 examples in 1968. But demand exceeded expectations, and the company sold a whopping 96,100 units.

Yes, the Charger you see here is anything but rare by overall production numbers, but the HH1 Light Gold paint makes it a rare sight. Check it out in the video below, and let me know if you'd drive one like this or if you prefer a big-block, High-Impact version.