Rare 1969 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T Rescued Following 37 Years in Storage

By Brett Foote - March 26, 2024

After sitting in storage for decades, this one-of-45 spec’d 1969 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T is still in pretty darn nice condition.

In the world of Mopar, there are many rare and highly coveted models to choose from, many from the muscle car mecca of the ’60s and ’70s, specifically. But while most gravitate toward the Challenger or Charger from that time period, there are many others that are just as cool, rare, and desirable as those surviving nameplates – a list that includes the Coronet. Recently, the folks behind the YouTube channel Mopars5150 discovered and then brought home a pretty rare example of that particular model – this 1969 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T – after it was sitting in storage for 37 years, and they’ve already managed to get it running again.

This 1969 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T is one of 175,600 Coronets produced in that particular model year, as well as 7,200 that feature the R/T designation. However, only 107 units left the factory packing the optional 426 Hemi V8, and a mere 45 mated it to an automatic transmission, which is the case here. On top of all that, this Hemi Coronet is packing other rare features such as its yellow paint, Air Grabber hood, center console, and rear stripe delete, making it an extra special find, indeed.

As one might imagine, this Hemi Coronet needs some work to make it roadworthy once again after spending nearly four decades in storage, but it’s in remarkably nice condition given that long period of rest, regardless. However, it also isn’t bone stock, as the previous owner seemingly made a few interesting changes to the car that include removing the hood pins and welding those holes shut, adding an aftermarket linkage, and headers, all of which are common mods for this particular car.

The most important thing here is the original, numbers-matching powertrain is still intact, and the car is super clean underneath as well – not what one might expect from a vintage muscle car that’s been sitting around for so long. The team inspecting it believes that it was never driven in the winter – despite spending time in New York and Indiana – as there’s simply no rust or rot to be found. Rather, it was a fun weekend track toy for the previous owner, as we can see from the rolled rear fenders to accommodate larger tires and other mods.

The plan, as one might imagine, is to get this 1969 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T back to its original, perfectly running condition, which is a no-brainer given its rarity and value. Beyond that, well, we’ll just have to see, but this might be one car that can simply be cleaned up and left as-is, rather than treating it to a full-blown restoration.