My 1968 Coronet 500 Convertible

I purchased my car in April of 2003 and will be restoring it in stages over the next few years.

I've owned a number of Mopar cars over the years and the 1968 R/T and Coronet 500 have always been my favorites. I began searching nationwide for this automobile early in 2003 in the Classic AutoTrader, Hemming's Motor News and online. There were many 1967 and 1969 models but no 1968 models that hadn't been fully restored. I was getting pretty frustrated until I went to the local Mopar restoration shop, Rocket Restorations in Olympia, WA and told the owner exactly what I wanted. A 1968 Coronet 500 convertible, preferably dark racing green with the optional 383HP 4bbl engine, automatic with center console and bucket seats. I told him I new the odds of finding this exact model with those exact options was rare but would work with whatever he found. He said he might know of a black one in Seattle that the owner might part with. Within two weeks he found "MY" car and said in all the years he's hooked people up with cars he's never had that happen! It was like walking into a dealer and custom ordering a car. My project will remain as original as possible, but I do plan to upgrade a few things such as drum to disc brakes, a sure-grip posi, magnum 500 wheels, BF Goodrich Radial TAs, R/T powerbulge hood and white tail strip.
The convertible pictured below mine is the same model only with a black interior and is the inspiration for this project, the fellow who owns that car has owned it since 1968.