The 1968 Dodge Charger is unquestionably one of the most powerful muscle cars in the history of the automotive world but for some – enough is never enough. A fine example is the heavily built Charger in the video below.
Little is known about this 1968 Dodge Charger but from what we can see in the video, this hoodless Charger packs a 572 cubic inch Hemi and – unfortunately – a set of low profile tires wrapped around massive wheels. This wheel and tire combo might look great cruising down the road or sitting at a car show but when the lights come down, we see why real drag cars don’t wear wheels or tires like this.
The driver attempts to ease the ’68 Charger off of the line but even with a nice, gentle, launch – traction is but a myth. After working to get traction back, the driver tries to climb back into the throttle around half track only to kick the back end out as the big Hemi once again overpowers the tires. The result of this 8th mile run is an ET of 8.73 seconds and a trap speed of 77.78 miles per hour but based on his struggles, I would guess that this Charger is very capable of significantly better times with some tires meant to put power to the road.
Even with a slower-than-expected 8th mile time, this 1968 Dodge Charger looks great and sounds even better! So it’s a fitting addition to the DodgeForum.com Mopar Muscle Thursdays segment. Crank up your speakers, sit back and enjoy watching this Charger show why tires and rims like the ones on this car are better fitted for a late model V6 Charger than a classic Charger with a Hemi crate engine.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
