The Dodge Charger underwent its first redesign for the 1968 model year, and because to its newly acquired muscle car looks, it quickly found great success. Dodge sold 96,100 cars in that year, and 104,978 cars in total the next year.
Why was the second-generation Charger so well-liked? Well, it had everything. It had the most potent V8 engines Chrysler had at the time, looked sleek and aggressive, and came in a variety of stunning colors. I’m referring to the range-topping 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI and the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB in four- and six-barrel variants.
And even though it’s far from rare in 2023, the 1969 Charger remains highly desirable and quite expensive when fitted with the right options. The HEMI cars are obviously the rarest, but some Chargers feature scarce options few people remember. The B7 Blue example you see here is one of those cars.
What makes it special, you ask? Well, this Mopar left the assembly line with the White Hat Special, a package Dodge offered on various cars in the late 1960s. Part of the “Dodge Fever” marketing campaign, it was a selection of design options bundled at a discounted price and available on nameplates like the Coronet, Dart, and Polara.
White-wall tires, deep-dish wheels, the Light Group, hood-mounted turn signals, and a steering wheel with wood grain were all part of the White Hat Special package for the Charger. All of these vehicles were available with vinyl tops in your choice of black, white, tan, or green. This Charger has a white top that complements the interior’s white bucket seats.
Unknown quantities of 1969 Chargers with the White Hat Special were ordered, however these vehicles rarely come up for auction. Since the beginning of 2022, I’ve only seen two, and one of them was this same car. It was sold in December 2022, and as of now, it appears to be searching for a buyer once more.
The muscle car is unchanged from its last appearance on eBay. It sports the same slightly weathered B7 Blue paint with some scratches and rust in the quarter panels. But the white vinyl top still looks fantastic, which is a rare feat on a vehicle this old.
The gorgeous white and black inside exhibits wear and tear as well as minor discoloration on the seats and door panels, which you would expect to see in a 54-year-old classic. It certainly needs a lot of repair, but nothing a new, reasonably priced batch of vinyl can’t remedy.
The car still has the 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) big-block V8 that matches the specs. Given that it has four barrels, once it has been tuned and refurbished, it should produce 335 horsepower. All things considered, it’s a strong survivor that won’t cost a fortune to become a charming classic.