Auctions Are Over...'68 GS400 vs '68 Charger 383

Every once and a while you observe something that gets your attention. Such was the case with these two auctions, both of which just ended within the last several days. The GS400 is said to be running, while the Charger is immobile. Advantage Gran Sport! That is the only real fundamental difference. The condition of both cars is similar and both are no option vehicles. A slight advantage goes to the Charger for no vinyl top and optional bucket seats but the auto is still on the column. Still, how can we account for the major difference in value here? After 38 years of use and abuse, this GS is less than half of what it originally cost [$1,380], while the 383" Charger is worth a good bit more than it originally cost [$5,100]. This is such a wide margin that it makes me think that perhaps even Buick people would rather have the Charger. While potentially embarrassing for us as Buick people, I want to do a poll, and honestly find out what the preference is among us. The poll may surprise a good many folks! I'll give the Charger's picture and eBay link in the first reply.

Here is the GS400 link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...=4600341393&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

 

Charger link - BTW both cars are located in the southeast making the comparison even better...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...=4600782885&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

 

Sorry... I had to vote for the Charger. I've just never been a huge fan of the Buick body styles after 67.
In my opinion....they lost something after 67 and never got it back.... until about 87 with the GN.
And after my preference for Buick/Olds/Pontiac, I think Mopars are next on the list.

I know I'm a minority here because I prefer the 67's over the newer styles (68-72) .... but I'm not ashamed. p :laugh:
:beer

 

Charger all the way :3gears: !!

 

Quite frankly, I can't understand why Chrysler products bring such big dollars. o No: I grew up in that era and had friends with a wide variety of cars. Every manufacturer built some very fast cars, but there was a difference in build quality, and finished appearance between Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Even the road tests of the time mentioned things like screws coming loose and falling out during the test on Dodge and Plymouth cars. The 'mighty Hemi' was only fast after a lot of tuning and fiddling. Most of them rode like the trucks of the time. The dashboards on most would look at home on lawn tractors.
Early on I figured out that I could have a fast car, with a nice ride, and a dash that I'd enjoy looking at by buying GM. GM did build some spartan rides, as did Ford, but most of them were cars you could live with.
Daytonas and Superbirds could still be bought new with no miles, up to 3 years after the model year, with big discounts. Now, people bow down and worship them.
I think the legend has overtaken the cars.
That's not going to stop me from looking for one though. If I find one laying around neglected that I can buy for a good price, you can bet I'll milk it for all it's worth. Then I'll find a car I want. :TU:

John C

 

I voted for the Charger too, and I wonder if seeing so many Buicks so often, here and other places, had jaded me a little. To test this imperically, it would be neat to run the same poll on a Mopar Board and see what happens.

Frank

 

The 68 Buick GS just isn't a popular body style. Besides, the Charger was in Bullet right? It's more of an icon. If we could go back in time and have more Buick GSs in the chase scenes of the 70s movies they'd be worth more from a nostalgic standpoint.

Then there was the Dukes of Hazard which also popularized them, right?

Even though I've got a 68GS, I recognize the Charger as a more generally popular car. Like it or not, the images planted in most of our heads is of Mopar cars racing all around in the movies and TV. Chrysler did a great marketing job at that time on this, although I totally agree with you that at the time the Chrysler cars were rattling and squeaking like tractors compared to GM. Ford, well aside from the Boss Mustangs they were crap too.

 

charger would sell better but the buick is in better shape but parts will be easier to find for the charger too

id rather have the buick sick of seeing dodges

 

I had a few 68 Skylarks and a 68GS Cal.. Also had a 70 GTX. I think the Mopar B bodies were built cheaply and weren't engineered as well as the GM A bodies of the same era. I have 3 freinds that have B & E body Mopars that say the same thing and can't understand why prices for them are so high.
You could get anything for that Charger to restore it. But alot of the repro. stuff for them is junk. You could get a decent 68 Skylark to restore the GS for a fair price if you shop around. There not nearly as popular. I vote for the GS.
Ray

 

the real sad thing is the 68 gs is or was only about a half hour away, and only brought to my att. yesterday and if i had the extra coin i would be going to get it today but ilike most of you have way to many projects. i'm glad they made a few of those cars. i thought it would be a cool addtion to my little stable.

 

Well personally I think that the 68 Dodge Charger is the, hands down the best looking car to come out of any auto maker during the 60s/70s. Going by what the Charger sold for I don't think I'll ever be able to afford one. Now the 68 GS I like and could have afforded to by. The way the muscle car market is going I'm glad the Buicks don't get the recognition they deserve because if they did I'd have to get out of the old car market altogeather. Even the price of the parts for Buicks is getting pretty high already!

Dave B

 

What Dave said..

 

I have a 69 GS, but I would still have to go for the Charger on this one. I love the hide-away lights and the body style. Reminds me of the movie with Steve McQueen, can't remember the name. o No:

 

That was Bullet right? He was in a Mustang and outran the black Charger on the streets of San Francisco. The Charger eventually crashed into some gas station pumps and blew up. Probably one of the greatest chase scenes ever filmed. The one in French Connection was pretty good too, but they started to get silly with too many accidents, hub caps flying off, missing doors, etc. The one in Bullet was really believable, that's what made it so great.

 

Yes, but the character's name (detective Frank Bullit), and the name of the movie was spelled as Bullit

 

Dave,

If you thought the Charger was high, check out this 318" Dodge Challenger. It needed a complete restoration and went for pennies shy of $18,000!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...&rd=1&item=4600748514&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Ken, You wrote:

"I have a 69 GS, but I would still have to go for the Charger on this one." -I am with you once again my friend...

Here is the beat up Challenger. Poor Pony, or should I say Poor Pony owner after this auction?

 

While we all love the Bullitt Charger, I think it shares the show equally with the Mustang in the movie. Crazy Larry, Dirty Mary has only one star car!

 

There's no doubt that the Charger is a good looking car, and is probably one of the better Mopars, quality wise. I just can't fathom the market.
That Challenger is a convertible, and has a factory 4 speed, but judging by the high bidders name (426yank), it's going to be a Hemi clone car, and therefore he doesn't care what it costs.
The really irritating thing about all this, is that everyone is going to think their old heap in the back 40 is worth a mint.
I have to be honest about the 68-69 Skylarks though, they weren't my favorite body style, but if I stumble across one at the right price, I'll buy it.
Growing up, my Dad liked Mopar stuff. I got my license on a 68 Fury III with a 383. It was a 4 door sedan, but had a very nice interior. When the time came to buy my own car, it was a GM, as there was a couple of neigbors who had GTO's and 396 Camaros. One of my Dads friends had a 69 Wildcat, and another had a 62 Olds Starfire, so there were my influences.

John C

 

Mopar has the image...and the mass appeal. Therefore it gets the $$
If you do a direct comparison:
Buick has a better build quality and quality of materials/trim.
Styling....the Mopars are more aggressive, but are several years behind GM: The 68-70 Chargers look more like a '66-67 GS. In '71-74 Mopar looks like a '68-72 GS.
Powertrains....probably pretty equall.
Mopars are for the masses, Buicks are for the Classes :TU:

Personally, I like owning an 'underdog'!

 

the black one from cannonball looks better than any imo

bullitt looks real because mcqueen did all of his on driving

the best chase is the 1973 gone in 60 seconds its insane