We've spoken to many classic car owners over the years who drive their restored vehicles frequently, rain or shine. But it takes a special kind of owner to hop behind the wheel of a 50-year-old muscle car with a 500ci V8 and manual transmission and embark on a 2,600-mile road trip just for fun. It also takes a special vehicle to remain reliable and comfortable on such a journey. Jasper Thomas, of Pitt Meadows, BC, Canada is that kind of owner. His 1968 Dodge Charger is that kind of car.

When someone mentions the Dodge Charger, many classic car enthusiasts will think of the iconic 1968-70 models immortalized in Hollywood productions such as The Dukes of Hazzard, Vanishing Point, and even The Fast and the Furious. While there's certainly no denying the importance and beauty of these second-gen B-body Mopars, we feel just as strongly about their predecessor: the 1966-67 Charger.

Every classic car has a story, and one of the best parts of our jobs here at Classic Industries is to hear these stories firsthand. This allows us to see the stunning end result of a project that was many years (or sometimes decades) in the making. It also serves as a reminder of all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into completing a difficult project, or realizing a lifelong dream.

In the early 1970s, the American muscle car had entered a dark time. The Clean Air Act of 1970 caused manufacturers to add smog controls to their vehicles, leading to reduced horsepower and a move toward smaller-displacement engines. Then, in 1973, the OPEC oil embargo caused fuel prices to skyrocket, and made supplying thirsty big-blocks a difficult task.

R/T--two letters that will instantly put a smile on the face of any classic Mopar enthusiast. Representing "Road/Track", the R/T package bridged the gap between an ordinary street car and a hardcore track machine. In the case of the 1970 Charger seen here, the R/T badges mean it came standard with a 440ci Magnum V8 that produced 375hp and a whopping 480lb-ft of torque. The R/T model also included heavy-duty suspension components, simulated scoops on the doors, sleek one-piece tail lamp trim, and a longitudinal rear "bumblebee" stripe. In 1970, the Charger R/T replaced the Charger 500 at the top of the model's three-level performance hierarchy (aside from the race-ready Daytona model).

The United States Postal Service Releases New Hot Rods Forever Stamps

For a little over a year, the USPS has been offering the Muscle Cars forever stamps featuring five iconic automobiles: the 1966 Pontiac GTO, the 1967 Shelby GT-500, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, the 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, and the 1970 Chevelle SS. As of this writing, they are still available, so get them while they last.

One Last Stop in Surf City for Menacing 1968 Dodge Charger

A Mopar enthusiast from Austria is the proud new owner of this black beauty. However, before this 1968 Charger set off for its new European home, it found its way to the Classic Industries showroom in Huntington Beach, California.

The new owner was on a tight schedule, but fortunately for all of us, he did have enough time for the Classic Industries photography team to get a few shots of this immaculate Mopar icon.