96-Year-Old Reunites with His 1968 Dodge Charger After Decades of Storage
For nearly 30 years, a 1968 Dodge Charger sat forgotten in a storage unit, collecting dust. Now, at the age of 96, its original owner, Peter, has seen his beloved muscle car restored to its former glory—and it’s ready to drive again.
Peter bought the Charger brand new and enjoyed driving the powerful V8 engine, even though it was a little too loud for his wife’s liking. “It was a little louder than necessary,” he chuckles. Over time, he parked the car and forgot about it. He later realized the car had been sitting for around 30 years—he wasn’t far off.
When the Charger was rediscovered, it was covered in grime, and its original burgundy paint was barely visible. But surprisingly, the tires still had air in them, and the body was in good shape. Under the hood was a 440-cubic-inch V8 engine, upgraded with a six-pack carburetor—an upgrade that wasn’t even available for the 1968 model, making it even rarer.
The car was handed over to AMMO NYC, a high-end detailing studio, to bring it back to life. The first challenge was getting it out of storage, as the brakes were stuck. Peter, with his old-school knowledge, suggested placing cardboard under the wheels, and it worked.
The team gave the Charger a complete makeover. They power-washed it, hand-brushed it, and polished the exterior to reveal the beautiful burgundy paint. They also restored the leather interior. Despite some signs of a mouse family in the trunk, nothing could stop the car’s revival.
The V8 engine, however, wouldn’t start. The team replaced the ignition wires and spark plugs, fixed the low compression issues, and worked hard to get the engine running. They rebuilt the valvetrain, replaced the master cylinder, and upgraded the braking system. After a lot of work, the Charger went from being a forgotten car to a running machine.
Five weeks later, Peter came to see the restored Charger. Hearing the engine roar back to life was an emotional moment for him. Although Peter no longer drives, he sat in the passenger seat with a huge smile on his face. “They don’t make them like this anymore,” he said, enjoying the sound of the engine—and the memories that came with it.
FAQs
1. How long had the 1968 Dodge Charger been in storage?
It had been sitting in storage for almost 30 years, untouched and forgotten.
2. Why was the Charger’s engine so hard to start?
The engine had low compression and needed new ignition wires and spark plugs. The team also rebuilt the valvetrain and replaced the master cylinder.
3. How was the car restored?
The restoration included power-washing, hand-brushing, polishing, and interior cleaning. They also rebuilt the mechanical parts, including the engine and braking system.
4. Is the car still in running condition?
Yes, after the restoration, the car is fully functional and ready to drive. It was even started up and taken for a ride after 30 years of sitting idle.
