Classic V8 wagons aren’t exactly difficult to find but, a stick shift V8 wagon is a not so common treat like this ’63 Dart wagon. Packing a 360 V8 and a four on the floor, this wagon is ready for cruise-ins, and a little fun out on the open road. Lightly modified with a charming weathered appearance, this zippy wagon is offered for $6,400. Take a look at it here on craigslist out of Rancho Cucamonga, California. Thanks to Rocco B. for supplying us with another cool find!
Originally packing either an inline-six or a 318 V8, this Dart has been given a 360 V8 heart transplant with a 4 speed manual, along with a few other modifications. When adding speed you need to be able to stop, and the seller has added disc brakes on the front of this wagon. An aluminum radiator keeps the V8 cool in the tiny engine bay, and the engine itself appears to have an Edlebrock carb and intake manifold, along with an Msd 6al. As tight as the engine compartment is, I am not surprised that stock exhaust manifolds were used, although an aftermarket dual exhaust has been fitted to allow the engine to breathe. There are a few small areas of surface rust in the engine bay, but overall the bay has an acceptable appearance. Stopping may take some time to get accustomed to with no power brakes, but I am sure the 360/4 speed combo is a riot in this small wagon.
The interior finish matches the exterior quite nicely with its unrestored appearance. The blanket wrapped seats match the factory interior colors rather well, and don’t really detract from the looks of the interior. One thing I am not a fan of is the steering wheel and the dash mounted tachometer. I would have preferred to have seen a more period correct looking items in this wagon. A column mounted tach would have been my choice as well. The dash, door panels, and carpet are all surprisingly very nice making me curious about the condition of the bench seats. The tall shift lever offers grand leverage for banging gears when you are late dropping the kids off for school. I know I would have loved being dropped off at school in this Dodge.
The classic but rugged hot rod like appearance is certainly appealing, and as a whole this wagon is very solid. With little to no rust to be seen, it appears that the only real issue with this wagon is the passenger rear corner. Having suffered a bump at some in its past, the passenger rear corner isn’t the prettiest to look at, but it would seem that it could certainly be worked out, and even closely matched to the factory paint to maintain the weathered original look. The seller is including a passenger rear quarter replacement panel, but in my eyes, it seems to not go high enough to address the dent. Some paint has failed on the passenger fender to where it would appear someone either applied primer, or perhaps a thin skimming of body filler. With a mild shine, the paint is in fair enough condition, but appears to be wearing thin. In solid shape with a great look, and sitting on torque thrusts, this wagon must be a fun drive with its heart transplant and modifications. What changes would you make to this Dart wagon?
Geezzus thats cool–turn key and go..price sure is right, that 360 would haul the groceries nicely!!!
Please forgive me but im only in my early 30s so i have a couple questions! Is this a compact wagon? Similar size lets say to a a corvair wagon? Or nova wagon size?
Could you estimate the (net) hp? I would think it might be higer compression then my late 70 vette so maybe 250? 280? Net hp?
What do you think about the price? To me it Doesnt seem like a super steal. But not delusional either but i have no idea about 60s mopar qagons market
Dont forget how much it cost 2 do a motor upgrade and the work involved doing the disc brake conversion is not cheap I have a 70 Dodge Dart that I’m restoring original 6 cars it is getting a 440 these parts are hard to find lots of work and lots of money that is a very fair price for that car
As they say. Lol. If ya can’t handle the big dogs then stay on the porch. Guys. Help him out…..
Poppapork, this is closest in size to a Nova wagon and is considered a compact. HP would be somewhere around 250 since the pollution controls are gone (assuming it’s not a low compression later engine). Price is not bad considering what you would have to spend on engine, trans and labor to get another one to this point.
Thank you!
awesome wagon… I would leave to body the same but get A bigger, faster engine in it and race it…
1963 no V8 available . 1964 was the first year for V8’s and then only 273 @ 180 horsepower. Nice little Dart.
That is a very cool set up although I agree with the comments on the steering wheel. Perhaps the stocker was all cracked and beat up though hence the change.
The last pic in the CL ad appears to show the cover over the clutch and flywheel missing am I right here? That is kind of not cool?
Is it a missing cover or is the clutch housing just not mated to the motor at all? The flywheel looks like it’s hanging way out in another pic.
Brian: I don’t think the 318 was ever offered in these third-gen Darts, but the 273 V-8 was available starting in ’64…
What Morgan said….looks like a factory 4 speed hump in there….good price….!
Likely started life with a slant IV with a 3speed column shift. In real good shape it would be worth 10 to 12-K
they never had slant IV.
a slant VI for sure!
Classic street machine, straight to the point weathered good looks. I’d leave the upgraded steering wheel and dash mounted tach if I ran this car hard plus it gives it that racer appearance.
Changes? Id paint.it and throw 2 suitcases in the wayback and head out to someplace a little warmer til.spring.
Leave the body alone, make the interior presentable & figure out how to put a hellcat in it. Very tempting if I wasn’t knee deep in two projects.
Just got 2 for $300 ea. 273 V8 . And one 62 Suburban plymouth wagon looks like Dart. But has the “Cats eyes “. like my 61 Valient R with a Fact 4 speed . I oaid $200 for.
Super cool. I would drive the crap out of that.
That is WAY cool wagon! Without knowing the particulars of how the 360 was built it could be anywhere from 180 to easily near 350HP even with the factory heads if they were tweaked. I do recognize that carb as one of the new Street Demons since I have them on my 2 classics and LOVE them!
I love it , wonder if it would make the trip back to PA . It would look great next to my Buick .
Mean looking Buick station wagon, excellent.😎
Love
All the right stuff .
Very cool .
What changes would you make to this Dart wagon?
Thanks 4 askin
leave the discs. Return: copper radiator, the 225 & 3 speed column shift, change the s. wheel, remove tach, under-dash gages AND after selling all that (& purchases) prob have enuff $ for ac & two ele windows for the front…
These wagons are THE Perfect size (had ’64 & 6, loved them).
Luv to figure how to put on a rear window wiper/wash (Cherokee’s?).
I’m with you, Chad. However the three speed manual linkage is the weakest point of the car.
My parent’s 63 Dart Wagon had to be towed from the driveway when the linkage hung up. And the car was only a couple of months old.
And I’ve been fighting the one on my 63 Valiant Signet for 37 years, until finally having a mechanic adapt a z bar from a 67 and later reproduction piece for it.
Great car. Still looks modern.
Shame about the slant six though.
I am drooling. I think someday I might have to subvert my Scout dreams for a Dart.
Cool car the dash mount tach is period correct for mid 60’s look almost every late model and even street rods put their Sun tach on the dash because all the racers did
i luvvvvvvvv this.
Cool, Cool wagon. Love it!
Clutch inspection cover missing is no big deal.
’64 was the first year for a FACTORY 4 speed in a Dart, available with a Slant Six even. That said, I’d swap out that shifter for one those Slapstick shifters out of a ’70 RoadRunner. PS Like the Black California Plates, especially those that start with the letter “J”, always makes me think of the Steve McQueen movie Bullitt . . .
Wow if you don’t know what you’re talking about do your research. 1963 darts didn’t have a v8 at all. No wagons nothing of 63 darts. They all came with the slant 6 engine. 1964 was the first year with a 273 c.i. 180hp engine with a 2 barrel. 65 they had an optional commando 273 with a 4 barrel making 235 hp. In 66 they had limited edition 273 super commando making 275 hp with a 500 lift cam and a 700cfm carb. The 318 wasn’t introduced until 1967. 64 darts had a push button 3 speed or rare 4 speed. This dart wagon isn’t worth the 6500 they are asking. You can find a 360 in a junk yard van and put a cam and intake on it and put it in anything for cheap.
I’m strangely very attracted to this beautiful machine. I keep staring at it and it feels a little creepy. It is just awesome looking and that v8 muscle tucked neatly underneath the hood…whew mama. No rust, solid everywhere. At 54 who doesn’t have some dents and flaws..
I’d just pretty her up, take her out and show her off. Well worth every penny.
For a Dart, that is one sharp car! I do like the V8 and 4 spd combo but not a fan of the Steering wheel and dash mounted tach. These are a rare little wagon, don’t recall seeing many when new. I took my behind wheel driving test in a new ’63 Dodge Dart 4 dr sedan, slant 6 & PB automatic baby blue, nice car back then and so easy to drive! I would like to have this wagon but already have enough projects to keep me busy these days.
My heart melted when this one popped up on here. I had a 63 Dart, same exact color but the body had no dents and the paint was good. Mine was the origonal slant six engine with the push button automatic. I Love that car.
Never seen a Dodge Dart wagon so it’s
quite rare indeed. Would it be possible
to drop a Dodge Demon or Hellcat engine
in there? You’d think that’s specially modified
could somehow squeeze in there. That along
with the original intro MTV theme tune 😏
No mention of the rear end. That would be suspect if the 360 was making good HP and running the dragway routinely. Nice lil screamer – I see the ad has been removed! Chuck in Kansas
If the 360 has even mild cam and head work and decent rear gears this wagon would be in 13′ in 1/4 and with suspension work low 13 to high 12s’.
WAGONS, even these lightweights, had better weight transfer than sedans or coupes.
Some of you can correct me if I am wrong but unlike early Hemi blocks the newer ones have same mounting as do the 318- 340 or 360,