Next month, one of the most important aero-era Mopars ever built will cross the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee—a genuine 1969 Dodge Charger 500 powered by the legendary 426 HEMI® V8. With an estimate of $275,000 to $325,000, this car sits firmly in blue-chip territory, and for good reason.
The Charger 500 exists because Dodge had a problem in NASCAR. The standard 1968 Charger R/T looked aggressive on the street, but wind tunnel testing showed its recessed rear window created lift at high speed, while the deep grille opening added drag. Ford had already solved the aero puzzle with the Torino Talladega and Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II, so Dodge went back to the drawing board.
The solution was the Charger 500. Engineers flush-mounted the rear glass to smooth airflow and fitted a Coronet-style grille up front. The changes weren’t dramatic visually, but on the high banks, they mattered. This was Dodge’s first true step toward serious aerodynamic warfare—paving the way for the Daytona that followed.
What makes this particular Charger 500 special is its HEMI and four-speed combination. Out of 392 Charger 500s built, only 67 left the factory with the 426 HEMI, and just 27 were equipped with a four-speed manual transmission. That alone puts this car in extremely rare company.
Under the hood sits its original, matching-numbers 7.0-liter (426 cubic-inch) HEMI V8, factory rated at 425 horsepower and topped with dual four-barrel carburetors. Power is sent through its original matching-numbers four-speed manual to a heavy-duty Dana rear axle, exactly as Dodge intended. Power steering and power brakes make it far more usable than many hardcore muscle cars of the era, especially one with NASCAR roots.
Condition-wise, this Charger 500 strikes a balance that serious collectors appreciate. It retains its original body panelsand has received one professional repaint in its original Dark Bronze Metallic (T5). The interior is described as preserved rather than restored, which adds to the car’s authenticity. The odometer shows 50,841 miles, consistent with a car that has been carefully enjoyed rather than over-restored.
Historically, the Charger 500 often gets overshadowed by the Daytona, but insiders know better. This was the car that proved Dodge could play the aero game—and it was the last stop before winged warfare began. The original prototype was a 1968 Charger R/T HEMI painted B5 Blue with a white stripe, but production cars like this one tell the real story of Dodge’s rapid engineering response.
Scheduled to cross the block on Thursday, January 15, 2026, this HEMI-powered Charger 500 represents the perfect mix of rarity, racing history, and muscle car muscle. For collectors who value significance as much as horsepower, this is the kind of Mopar that doesn’t come around often—and when it does, the market pays attention.
1969 Dodge HEMI® Charger 500 Image Gallery:
