Vehicle Description
Some people probably called it perfection. Others likely cried
"blasphemy!" But one thing's certain, when MoPar dealer Tom Kneer
decided to commemorate the newly minted Cincinnati Bengals football
team with a run of special edition Chargers, it made for a great
story. And when it comes to premium collector cars, appeal is
directly linked to story.
A SPRINKLE OF NFL, A SPLASH OF MDOT AND A DASH OF R/T Even in
today's world of diverse automotive performance and varied
fanbases, sports and muscle cars go hand in hand. Head out to any
NFL game and you're sure to see a large number of Chargers,
Challengers, Mustangs and Camaros posted up at tailgate parties
across the city. Whether it was a flash of brilliant marketing or
simply an enthusiastic fan honoring America's biggest sport, MoPar
dealer Tom Kneer decided he wanted to mix two of his favorite
things. When a longtime friend told Tom he was starting an AFL
franchise for their hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, Kneer decided to
pull a few strings and commemorate the occasion. He secured the
name and colors for the team before they were released to the
public and promptly got on the horn to Chrysler's corporate
offices. See, if Tom was going to pull off his new Bengal Charger,
he needed the cars to be some shade of orange. Chrysler agreed and
generously offered up custom pigment they had created for the
Michigan Department of Transportation's various fleet rigs. There
was only one catch: Chrysler needed an order of at least 50 cars to
justify the expense. Tom quickly agreed and spec-ed up 50 freshly
redesigned 1968 Chargers with "Tiger Orange" paint, Black vinyl
tops and various sets of options. Chrysler had also created a
snazzy new R/T stripe that they thought would be a cool addition,
and Tom went about finding a Cincinnati local to stamp 100 chrome
"Bengal Charger" badges that would be installed at the dealership.
Not surprisingly, Tom Kneer Dodge sold all 50 Charger Bengal
Edition cars before the Cincinnati Bengals ever played their first
game. And today, only three of these exclusive MoPars are known to
still exist.
1968 was a notable year in Western pop culture. Elvis made his
greatest comeback, America enjoyed its first Big Mac, and Dodge
released what is probably the most fabled muscle car of its long
history of performance. Sure, you really can't go wrong driving any
Charger. But when it comes to popularity, few will argue the
incredible significance of a '68 or '69-spec B-Body. At the front
of this cat, a silver-trimmed grille hangs ornate Charger emblems
above a guarded bumper, fratzog-branded parking lamps and a
factory-style tag. A sculpted hood tilts correct turn indicators
opposite stainless wipers, which clear a factory-tint greenhouse
that's reflected in a correct driver's mirror. At the sides of that
glass, a broad-shouldered profile anchors chrome Chrysler door
handles between stainless rockers, small markers and a familiar
Flip-Top Fuel Filler. And out back, a second guarded bumper splits
jet-style taillights, more vivid Charger emblems and rowdy exhaust
tips.
NOT EVERYONE WANTED A BIG BLOCK
Tom Kneer was in the business of selling cars and, despite what the
collector car market might indicate at this point in time, not
everyone wanted a fire-breathing big block. Bengal Chargers varied
in option and displacement, with most examples receiving 318 power
and some even sporting Chrysler's stalwart 225 slant six. This
coupe was one of the lucky few to be equipped with 383 cubic inches
of storied Magnum V8! At the top of that Turquoise mill, an
Organisol-coated air cleaner dumps wind through a familiar Carter
4-barrel, which is propped on a factory, cast iron intake. That
induction works well with factory heads, which tilt painted valve
covers under painted breathers. At the front of those heads, a hot
distributor sequences spark through 7mm Hi-Temp Radio Suppression
Cables. Pliable V-belts spin a factory AC compressor between
factory exhaust manifolds. Cooling comes courtesy of a big MoPar
radiator. And everything, from the car's factory brake booster to
the mill's Turquoise oil pan, looks great inside a clean,
body-matched engine bay.
TIME-TESTED
Behind the smooth 383, a proven A727 3-speed twists torque through
a tough Chrysler 8.75-inch axle. That drivetrain rides a sturdy
factory suspension, which centers a requisite K-member between a
beefy sway bar, familiar torsion bars and smooth Monroe shocks.
Turns are tightened by optional power steering. Stops are greatly
improved by optional power front disc and rear drum brakes. Exhaust
rolls from large-diameter pipes to throaty, dual-chamber mufflers.
And at the corners of this Charger's undercoated floors, chrome
Magnum 500s spin 225/70R14 Hankook Optimos.
THE HIGH SIDE OF HANDSOME
Inside this awesome Dodge, correct Black vinyl hugs correct factory
buckets that are complemented by a standard rear bench. In front of
those thrones, a squared dash hangs correct telemetry, complete
with a Tic-Toc-Tach, next to correct air conditioning and a Dodge
Solid State radio that's correctly outfitted with cool thumbwheels
and an 8-track player. Plush carpet floats exclusive Bengal Charger
floor mats around a correct console that's topped by a handsome
shifter. Fade-free side panels hide correct power windows beneath a
tight headliner. And turns are matched by an attractive Chrysler
Rallye Wheel.
Pedigreed, exclusive and ready to parade, this magazine-featured
Charger is an excellent chance for any serious enthusiast to score
a world class collector car. Only 50 of these legendary coupes
rolled out of Tom Kneer's showroom, and only three survived to
become coveted collectibles. Looking for the ultimate homage to the
'Golden Age' of the automobile industry? Find it now at
https://www.RKMotors.com!
HIGHLIGHTS
Well-optioned Dodge Charger Bengal Edition that's been featured in
Muscle Car Review
1 of only 50 Chargers created by Tom Kneer Dodge to celebrate the
creation of the Cincinnati Bengals
1 of only 3 Dodge Charger Bengal Editions known to still exist
Correct 383 cubic inch Magnum V8
Correct A727 3-speed automatic transmission
Correct Chrysler 8.75-inch rear axle
Correct optional air conditioning
Factory power steering
Correct optional power front disc and rear drum brakes
Correct Black vinyl interior with correct optional bucket seats and
a correct optional console
Correct optional tachometer and a correct optional rear window
defogger
Correct optional 8-track radio with a correct optional rear seat
speaker
Rallye Steering Wheel and correct Charger Bengal Edition floor
mats
Correct optional power windows
Correct Tiger Orange paint that was custom ordered by Tom Kneer
Dodge
Correct Black vinyl top and correct Black R/T stripes
14-inch Magnum 500 wheels
Copy of the car's Broadcast Sheet
Vintage ownership documents
Copy of the car's Muscle Car Review feature
CFL Auto Appraisal Report
All RK Motors vehicles receive a comprehensive, multi-point
inspection
We can ship your new classic anywhere in the world
