Coronet R/T Pro Touring 451 Street Wedge 550 HP 5 Speed

While a lot of guys are busy chasing Chargers and Daytonas, they're quick to overlook the Dodge Coronet. Available with the same ground-pounding big blocks as its brothers, the Coronet R/T was a reasonably-priced alternative for the guy who wanted serious performance for not a lot of money. This stunning pro-tourer is indeed a real deal Coronet R/T that's been restored to factory specifications with the exception of two things: 1) a killer Indy 451 Street Wedge and 2) an unbreakable Tremec TKO600 5-speed. If you're in the market for some awesome Chrysler muscle you can drive, enjoy and watch appreciate, you've found your next car!

So, why did we take a cool otherwise factory-accurate B-Body and upgrade its drivetrain? Well, first off: why not? And secondly, because the car's original 440, which IS included with our sale, developed a fatal crack. That meant a replacement was in order -- after all, what fun is a Mopar muscle car without the ability to scorch stoplights and hammer through gears? And when the last bolt was turned, the pros at our own RKM Performance Center had created one cool combination of modern driving characteristics and classic good looks. Here's a fender tag breakdown to verify the rest of this Dodge's current specifications:

* CAR: Dodge Coronet R/T 2-door hardtop
* ENGINE: 440 cubic inch V8 that's equipped with one 4-barrel carburetor
* TRANSMISSION: 3-speed automatic
* TIRES: F70x14 steel belted redlines
* MODEL YEAR: 1968
* BUILD DATE: October 24th
* AXLE: Sure Grip rear end that's equipped with 3.23 gears
* INTERIOR: Black, Sport Trim grade vinyl interior
* PAINT: Monotone Bright Blue Metallic
* OTHER:
* --- Black upper door frames
* --- White Bumble Bee sport stripe
* MOULDINGS:
* --- Wide sill mouldings
* --- Drip rail mouldings
* --- Wheel lip mouldings
* ABC OPTIONS:
* --- AM radio
* --- Tachometer
* --- Tinted windshield
* abc OPTIONS:
* --- Center front seat
* --- Bucket seats

A lot of shops get Chrysler's QQ1 Bright Blue Metallic wrong, but the guys who sprayed this coat absolutely nailed it. Not too light, not too dark, the car's pigment is indeed vivid, as its name implies. And there's just enough metallic to authenticate a glow that, on poor quality restorations, seems like it escaped from a mid-70s AutoRama. The photos accompanying this coupe show a solid, original fuselage that was in surprisingly good shape before its reboot. A thorough examination of that fuselage reveals first rate workmanship and good panel fitment. And correct white Bumble-Bee stripes serve as exceptionally aligned detailing.

Dodge's Coronet was a little plainer than its Charger sibling, but a lot of people like that contrast and dig the model's super clean looks. At the front of the car, a body-width, stainless-trimmed grille hangs a bright “R/T” emblem and four clear headlights above a pristine chrome bumper and clear, round parking lamps. Above that grille, a smooth blue hood, which wears a traditional Mopar power bulge, flows to like-new glass that's sandwiched between fresh stainless trim, satin stainless wipers and straight chrome drip rails. Below that hood, subtly sculpted panels hang familiar chrome door handles and strategically placed “R/T” emblems between new stainless wheel trim, dent-free rocker mouldings and a traditional chrome driver's mirror. And at the back of those panels, a satin black valence frames factory-fresh tail lights and a fourth “R/T” emblem above a bright “DODGE” script, a second pristine bumper, and small, rectangular exhaust tips.

What do you do when you have a sweet Mopar muscle car that needs a heart transplant? You call the fine folks at Indy Cylinder Head and order something akin to this Coronet's killer 451 Street Wedge! Thanks to its balanced rotating assembly, Eagle 4340 crank, Eagle H-beam rods, Comp hydraulic cam and Wiseco 10.25 to 1 pistons, this Dodge now moves to the tune of 550 horsepower and 500 lb./ft. of torque. At the top of that brand new block, a “440 INDY” branded cleaner forces wind into a giant Holley carburetor that's cinched to a dual-plane Indy intake and fresh, braided fuel lines. At the sides of that intake, Indy 440-EZ heads hang cast aluminum valve covers over slick TTI long-tube headers. At the front of those headers, an MSD Pro-Billet distributor sequences spark through black Taylor plug wires. At the front of those wires, a 4-row Be Cool radiator rides between a satin-finished overflow tank, two electric puller fans and an onslaught of Chrysler-branded hoses. And aesthetically, the Hemi Orange engine provides an excellent contrast to the car's sleek QQ1 fenders, with details like a traditional Mopar battery, a Milodon oil pan, a familiar Chrysler washer tank and a dual-diaphragm brake booster cementing its status as a well-blended piece of timeless mechanical art.

Like its slick exterior and clean engine bay, the bottom of this Dodge is a great combination of both past and present. The powerful Indy engine sends thrust through a new Tremec TKO600 5-speed to a 3.5-inch, race-balanced driveshaft that spins a rugged Dana 60 posi and stout 3.54 gears. Naturally, that auto-to-stick conversion was correctly done, with a modified transmission tunnel which accommodates the transmission's billet White Lightning shifter mechanism. That awesome drivetrain rides on a torsion bar front and rear leaf suspension that's complete with fresh shocks, new bushings and modern power steering. Stops come courtesy of a Master Power brake system that utilizes fresh calipers to squeeze four 11-inch rotors. Exhaust is handled by big TTI pipes that employ an X-shaped crossover and great sounding Dynomax mufflers. And power flows to the ground through gorgeous Circle Racing Magnums which spin 225/45ZR17 BF Goodrich G-Force Super Sports in front of 275/35ZR18 BF Goodrich G-Force Super Sports. This coupe's frame and floors are solid and display no signs of major rust or serious weathering. Yes, in typical Mopar fashion, those floors are over-restored to match the car's body. And everything from their powder-coated crossmember to their fresh stainless fuel tank is fully sorted and ready to pound the pavement!

This B-Body's correct black interior has been finished to the same brilliant standards as both its drivetrain and body. There's a pliable bench and bucket combo that utilizes an unusual a5 center seat to create a true 6-passenger automobile. All the cockpit's soft parts, including door panels, carpets, dash pad and headliner, are new and correct in every way. The gauges, including a cool tic-toc-tachometer, have all been restored with sharply detailed faces. As I mentioned, the transmission tunnel was correctly modified for the 5-speed's shifter, which is a Hurst unit that's topped by a familiar pistol grip handle. An original Dodge Solid State radio, which features funky, roller-style knobs, remains seated in the aforementioned dash. Fresh “Coronet” branded floor mats have been recently installed to protect the carpets because, let's face it, this is a car you're not going to be able to resist driving. And last but certainly not least, the car's trunk features a new mat, a full-sized spare tire and a correct jack assembly.

The sale of this awesome Dodge includes an original owner's manual, an original warranty booklet, an album of restoration photos, paperwork for its new Indy engine, and, as previously mentioned, its original Chrysler 440.

With the market focused on famous Chargers and big money 'Cudas, it's easy to overlook cars like this striking Coronet R/T. But that also means this super clean hardtop is an underappreciated rarity that offers all those models' performance with increased exclusivity. Expertly finished in every way, this is one Mopar that shows well and is an absolute blast to drive. So, what are you waiting for? Take this pro-tourer home and kick the cruising season off right!