Installing a HEMI in a Numbers-Matching 4-Speed ’69 Charger 500

In she goes....from underneath! Image: RK Motors

We saw this picture from RK Motors up on Facebook and knew you’d want to see it yourself. In it you see the crew from RK Motors putting in the original freshly rebuilt 426 HEMI into a B5 blue 1969 Charger 500. Seeing the elephant head up into the Charger truly shows how massive it really is, and from this shot alone it almost looks like it won’t even fit! It turns out that this Charger had been sold previously by RK Motors which is a high end classic car dealer and restorer based in Charlotte, NC. The new owner wanted a fresh rebuild of the HEMI, and RK Motors was happy to oblige. After a little checking it turns out that this particular Charger has an incredible story, and we’re not even talking about the fact that an all original number-matching HEMI 4-Speed Charger 500 must be about as rare as a one eyed unicorn.

This Charger was built in late 1968 and was purchased by an owner that returned it because they did not care to drive a manual transmission. We know, we know, that person was a moron. Moving on. It’s second owner was David “Radar” Roark who had just returned from a couple of tours flying combat missions over Vietnam in the summer of 1970, and ended up in Jacksonville, Florida. They say fighter pilots never lose the need for speed, and David was no exception. He bought this one used and then proceeded to use it as his daily driver until 1985!

He stored it for another 15 years before deciding to restore it. His initial inclination was to modify it and make it more drivable with a 6-speed transmission, but he was talked out of it by Pure Muscle Restorations due to the rarity of the car. David had no desire to keep a car he couldn’t enjoy as a driver, so he sold the car to Pure Muscle. Unfortunately David was killed shortly thereafter while flying a T-39, but the Charger was restored to it’s full glory in his honor.

Today the Charger is as beautiful as ever and we can only imagine it’s worth a small fortune. This is one of those rare times when we’re happy it wasn’t modified and hot-rodded, because Chargers like these only come along once in a lifetime!

About the author

Robert Kibbe

Robert Kibbe is the owner of TheMuscleCarPlace.com and host of the weekly Muscle Car Place podcast show. He's based in Ames, IA, is married with 3 kids, and still thinks the General Lee is cool.
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