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Do you recognize the 1969 Dodge Charger R/T in this photo? This Charger was located in the Long Island, NY region when I bought it in 1987. There was at least one other earlier owner also from Long Island. However, the car may have originally been from Connecticut. Extensive engine work done by Bob Sharp Racing indicates that this Charger was used for racing. I’m seeking contact information for any past owners. Personal recollections of encounters with this Charger on the street, drag strip, or elsewhere will be both welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Please contact Bob D.
Thank you.
1969 Dodge Charger R/T
426 cu. in. HEMI Engine
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Dana 60 Axle with 4.10 Ratio
Red Exterior with Black Interior
VIN: XS29J9B318606
My Charger History Research Project
Welcome. I am researching the history of this specific 1969 Dodge Charger R/T from 1969 up until 1986. I bought the car in 1987 from the previous owner who had purchased the Charger himself in 1986. I have almost no information about this Charger prior to 1986. I checked with the DMV for both New York and Connecticut, but their records from before 1986 have been purged years ago. I have gathered what information I do have to present it here in the hope that I can provide some clues that may be helpful to someone who has knowledge and/or memories of this Charger.
So, please scroll all the way down this page to view more photos and find additional information unique to the identification of this particular 1969 Dodge Charger R/T. All of the Charger photos posted on this site were taken in November of 1987, shortly after I purchased the car. Please contact me if you have any information at all about this car, because I can succeed only with your help. I will greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thank you, Bob D.
Charger Photos
About This Charger
I purchased this Charger in 1987 from Dave Schwarz in Massapequa, NY. Dave had purchased the car in 1986 from Ed (last name unknown) in Bay Shore, NY. Dave made no changes to the car during the short time he owned it. Therefore, the photos show the Charger as it had been modified and changed up to 1986. (See Photo #1).
This Charger may also have a past connection with a person by the name of Joe Garity (Garrity?). More about this later.
I was fortunate to find two original factory Production Broadcast sheets still in the car. The original steel trim tag, or “Fender Tag” was also still in place. So, I have full documentation of exactly how the car was built and optioned from the factory.
Original factory equipment includes:
426 HEMI engine with dual breaker distributor.
4-Speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter.
A34 code “Super Track Pak” which includes the Dana 60 rear axle with 4.10 gear ratio and Sure Grip differential, heavy duty cooling 26” radiator and 7-blade torque drive fan with shroud, and power front disc brakes.
Other than a Remote Control Driver side view mirror, there are no other factory options on this car.
Even a Radio was deleted.
The Charger is also coded on the Production Broadcast sheet as Y14 “Sold Car”, meaning that the original owner ordered the car this way. I believe this indicates that this Charger was ordered specifically to be raced, void of all unnecessary options that would add weight to the car.
Further evidence of the car’s racing past is seen in the various engine bay modifications which are also documented on a hand-written sheet which I received from previous owner Dave when I purchased the Charger (See Photo # ). Dave had received this list from previous owner Ed when he bought the car. The list was most likely written by some previous owner. Included on this sheet is listed a complete high performance rebuild of the engine done by Bob Sharp Racing. Also, on this list is where the name Joe Garity appears, but with no other indication of how Joe might be connected to the Charger. (See Photo #19).
A Possible Connecticut Connection
Because the Charger had engine work performed by Bob Sharp Racing, which was located in Danbury, CT, it makes me wonder if the car was also owned by a Connecticut resident when that work was done. I can only speculate, but Danbury and NYC are less than 75 miles apart.
For more evidence of possible Connecticut ownership, I found an old Connecticut license plate in the Charger under the back seat cushion. The license plate number is “GY•9952”. Affixed to the plate is a renewal sticker dated JUL 71, which would be a sticker issued in 1970 that expired in 1971. That JUL 71 renewal sticker is placed over another previous renewal sticker which is not fully visible, but is probably dated 1970 that would have been issued in 1969 and expired in 1970. See (Photo #18).
Could this possibly be the first license plate issued to the Charger when it was brand new? And, because the renewal stickers do not go beyond 1971, that further leads me to speculate that the car may possibly have been sold to a second owner sometime in 1971 or later. I can only hope that I find someone out there who does know.
Modifications Made To This Charger
When I initially went to inspect the Charger back in 1987 prior to making the purchase, I discovered that a number of modifications had been made to the car. Some of the modifications were obvious, some less so. However, these changes each provide unique indicators that can help to identify the car by the modifications made during its first seventeen years. Hopefully, knowing what changes were made, may help someone recognize the car.
On the day I first looked at the Charger, it was wearing a set of aftermarket Mag wheels. But, previous owner Dave wanted to keep the Mag wheels, and I agreed. Before I received the car, he replaced the Mags with the set of standard Chrysler stamped steel wheels as seen in the photos. See (Photo #2). However, there is a picture of the Charger with those Mag wheels that came from Dave. Although I can't identify the brand. See (Photo #20).
The exterior of the car had been completely repainted in Red. However, Red was also the original factory body paint color.
The Charger originally had a factory installed white “R/T” tail stripe. But the stripe was removed before the car was repainted. Remnants of the white tail stripe still remained on the inside edge of the trunk lip and on the underside of the trunk lid.
The car received some extensive high- performance modifications, the details of which were recorded by another previous owner in a hand-written list that was passed down each time the car changed owners. The engine received a complete high performance upgrade that was done by Bob Sharp Racing. I don’t know when this engine work was done.
The engine modifications, as performed by Bob Sharp Racing, included: Balanced, Bearing Clearance, Blueprinted, Ported, and Polished. New 12.5:1 Pistons, Crank Shaft, Rods, Bearings, Crower Cam Shaft, Valves, Valve Springs, Retainers, and Valve Job. See (Photo #19).
The original dual breaker distributor was upgraded to a Mallory electronic ignition and spark plug wires.
The original Carter AFB carburetors were replaced with a set of Carter Competition Series 750 CFM carburetors. See (Photo #10).
The original cast iron exhaust manifolds were replaced with a set of aftermarket Hooker Headers. The original Chrysler starter motor was replaced, most likely to accommodate installation of the headers. A separate Ford starter solenoid can be seen mounted to the driver side inner fender. See (Photo #11).
The transmission was upgraded with Fairbanks performance components.
It seems obvious that someone was quite serious about racing this Charger. The investment made in speed equipment upgrades was significant, I’m sure. If you know anything about this Charger, its past owner(s), or its racing history, then please contact me about any and all details that you remember.
Details Unique To This Charger
Here are a few additional details about the Charger that may help with identification.
The two “HEMI” emblems were removed from both doors. See (Photo #3).
The two front bumper guards were removed. See (Photo #5).
At some point, likely when the car was repainted, the chrome trim pieces for the tail light panel were removed, but never reinstalled. See (Photo #8).
Either a misalignment, or damage to the driver side hood hinge impaired the smooth operation of the hinge. The result was that the hood had to be forced open and closed. The leverage from forcing the hood eventually caused a stress crack in the hood sub frame adjacent to the hinge mounting point. The damage was repaired by welding a small metal patch over the cracked area. See (Photo #11).
The brake master cylinder was replaced with an incorrect unit that is intended for a power front drum brake application, not for power front disc brakes.
See (Photo #12).
The two front seat head rests were removed. See (Photo #13).
The Charger came from the factory without a radio (Radio Delete). A Chrysler AM radio was later installed, but the radio dashboard face plate was for a 1968 Charger. An antenna was installed in the correct location at the top trailing edge of the passenger side front fender, but the antenna mast was broken off at the antenna base. See (Photo #14).
The original wood-grained knob for the Hurst shifter was replaced with an aftermarket Hurst “T” handle. See (Photo #15).
The steering column was noticeably scratched up just below the base of the dashboard. It appears as if an aftermarket tachometer may have been installed on the steering column, then later removed. The car did not come from the factory with the available combination clock/tachometer option (the so-called “Tic-Toc-Tac”).
See (Photo #16).
The rear bumper had signs of minor damage, apparently due to the installation of a bumper mounted towing hitch. There were splices in the tail light wiring harness, probably where connections were made for trailer tail lights. Also, the trim panel that normally covers the tail light housings on the inside of the trunk was removed. See (Photo #17).
There was collision damage repair work done to the passenger side quarter panel at rear corner.
There was collision damage repair work done to the passenger side front fender.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have about the information, descriptions, and photos that I have provided here. I welcome all inquiries. I would be glad to answer your questions as best as I can.
About My Charger Research Project
After having long contemplated researching my Charger’s early history, but failing to take any prior action, I finally decided to do so before the passing of time, memories, and people makes any hope of that discovery all but impossible. I may be too late already, but I am certainly willing to try. If you know, or even think you may know, something about this Charger, please do not hesitate to contact me. I need to hear from you, because anything at all that you might know is more than I know right now. And who knows, you may provide a small, but key piece of information that leads me to other greater revelations about the history of this classic Mopar Muscle Car.
I wish to sincerely thank you for taking your time to visit my website.
Best regards,
Bob D.