Classic Recollections: 1969 Dodge Charger R/T
It should come as no surprise that when Blake Dankovich decided upon what muscle car he wanted, he opted to go with a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T. The Chicago resident is more than familiar with the Chrysler family of vehicles — both classic and modern — having a father who works in downtown Detroit at the company's global headquarters.
From the time he passed his driver's license test, Dankovich has owned ten Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles. Quite naturally, his classic muscle was going to be bearing one of those logos.
“I spent months searching for either a Road Runner, Challenger or Coronet, but focused most of my time looking for a Charger,” he said.
Dankovich was drawn to the elongated body style that “screams Detroit muscle” and is recognized by everyone thanks to TV shows and films like the “Dukes of Hazzard” and “Bullitt.”
“Plus,” he says, “it's gotta be ‘Mopar — or no car!' ”
Dankovich's Turquoise Metallic '69 Charger R/T clone hasn't traveled far from the birthplace of muscle. He located the brawny coupe just outside of Detroit. “I found the ad in a grocery store classified and was shocked the owner lived only six short blocks away from my dad.”
Dankovich enlisted the help of his Mopar-savvy father, who walked over and checked out the rolling classic and even made the deal on the rust-free ride. Blake jumped on the next train out to the D, excited at the prospect of “getting familiar with the vehicle on the five-hour drive back to Chicago.”
A brief scare on the expressway while quickly exiting to refuel quickly taught Dankovich how different 50-year old brakes can be compared to our modern daily drivers. “It definitely sent a jolt of adrenaline through me, keeping me wide-awake for the rest of the trip!”
Once he got home, Dankovich's first upgrade was immediately replacing the antiquated stock drum brakes with modern discs, followed by a Holley 650 carburetor and a positraction 3.23 rear-end differential. Underhood is the stalwart 383-cubic-inch V-8, generating a healthy 335 horsepower and 425 foot-pounds of torque. Inside the spacious cabin you'll find exterior-matching blue metallic upholstery covering the front bucket seats and blue carpeting.
“There's nothing like driving a classic muscle car,” he said. “My biggest enjoyment is the thunderous sound the vehicle makes compared to the typical humming noise of today's bland cars, which are sounding more and more like microwaves.”
Unfortunately, thanks to some electrical gremlins, Dankovich didn't have too much of a chance to get his R/T out and about last show season, but has active plans to keep it far from his garage this summer.
“I didn't buy it to stare at it parked. Once the warm weather hits, I'll head out two to three times a week to cruises, shows and local drives.”
Blake's biggest planned event? Heading back to Detroit in August for the famed Woodward Dream car cruise. There is no doubt when Blake's dad hears news that his son is cruising back to the Motor City in his classic '69 Charger, he'll be doing nothing but beaming with family — and Chrysler — pride.