Street and Strip (October 1967)
Street and Strip Magazine tests the 1968 Charger R/T '440 Magnum'
We were supposed to receive a new 1968 Charger R/T with a '426 Hemi', but when we got to the
Dodge Storage Facility on the West 51st Street in Manhattan, we were given a 'Bronze Metallic'
Charger R/T with a '440 Magnum' as our 'Test Car'.
The new stylish Charger was equipped with a Torque-Flite Automatic Transmission, and a
3.23 Sure-Grip rear-end. The Charger R/T was also equipped with - an upgraded interior with
Bucket seats, Console, Dashboard Rallye Guage Package with an 8000 RPM Dash-mounted
Tachometer. The black Vinyl-Top and rear deck Bumble-Bee black-stripe added nice exterior
appointments to the 117" Wheelbase and 208" elongated car.
Other added options included; Front Disc-Brakes, Power-Steering, 26" Radiator and Fan-Shroud,
Tinted-Glass, Exterior Decor-Trim and the 'stylish' 14" x 5.5" Chromed Road Wheels with
F-70 x 14" 'red-line' Goodyear tires.
Though we were disappointed in not getting the '426 Hemi' we were still pleased with getting a '440'
instead of the slug-383.
A quick look at the 'Dealer Price Book', we found that a 4-Speed Transmission is 'standard' with the
Charger R/T
(Base Price; $3506), and that the Automatic Transmission is an additional
$186
Our Charger R/T had a sticker price of
$4317
Our 3-Week long 'performance test' will include, Elapsed-Time tests performed at WestHampton Raceway
on Eastern, Long Island and follow-up perfomance upgrades at Rockville Centre Dodge on Sunrise Highway.
The Charger R/T '440 Magnum' with a shipping weight of #3737 lbs, rates at 375 Horsepower, and as per the
1967 Drag Rules, the Charger would fit into the the NHRA 'B/SA' Class, and the AHRA 'C/SA' Class.
Performance Test
Running in 'delivered' condition, a series of 'break-in runs' were performed first, to get the feel of how the 3700+ lb.
Charger R/T would handle down the track and through the traps.
After we got the feel of the Charger, we were able to run several 1/4 Mile 'accelerated elapsed time tests' - with the car
performing between 14.62 and 14.88, with speeds between 94 and 96.4 MPH.
Our best run was - 14.62 @ 96.4 MPH
Our tests were run, by keeping the Torque-Flite Transmission in 'Drive', and leaving the starting line at idle (1100 RPM's),
as the Charger R/T had to be feathered off the line, to help prevent the F-70 X 14 tires (6.55" wide and 26.45" diameter)
from spinning into oblivion.
Once we were able to get a steady traction-load, we dropped the gas-pedal to the floor and the Goodyears still broke loose
while the Charger accelerated steadily. We found the 440/375 HP pulled very strong, and the Torque-Flite had shifts points of
4000 RPM between 1st-and-2nd, and 4600 RPM between 2nd-and-3rd.
The Dash-mounted Tachometer has a 5000 'red-line', but the 440 pulled into the 5200 RPM range without a problem, and
there were no valve-float problems with the Hydraulic-tappet Camshaft and High-Rate Valve Springs.
We will follow up, with a visit to Rockville Centre Dodge for our 'check-up' and recommended performance up-grade before
returning to the West Hampton Raceway.
