I always think of the old TV show Mannix when I see a Dodge Dart GT Convertible, although that was a 1968 model, the first full year for the GT. This 1967 Dodge Dart GT Convertible can be found listed here on eBay right between a couple of my favorite cities in America: Huntsville and Birmingham, specifically in Cullman, Alabama. The seller is asking $8,400, or you can make an offer. Thanks to Curvette for the top-down tip!
I’m a bit bummed that this car has been modified from its original spec. Finding a 1967 Dart GT is pretty rare, as they didn’t offer them for the full year. They don’t even show up in some brochures as being an option. I’m not sure what exactly has been changed on this example, other than it doesn’t have its original 273 V8 (according to the VIN); it has a replacement 318. The 318 is a fine engine, and it’s loaded with power brakes ($32) and power steering ($65), making it a nice driver. You can see that the power top has seen better days, but it won’t be hard to get a new one fitted. It’s just money, right? As long as I was spending money, I wouldn’t be able to sleep before I got a set of these wheel covers and got redline tires.
I’d cut back those exhaust pipes and turn them down, and would restore this car back to 100% bone-stock original spec if it were mine and I had the money, which I don’t. The seller says it’s a solid car with very little rust on the body. They show a bunch of good photos, nice job on that, seller! There are two photos showing inside the trunk compartment, including one showing it filled with the trim that has been taken off, presumably to finish the body. They say only the front bumper is missing; otherwise, all the trim is there. The seller provided a video here on YouTube showing this car in action, at least around their yard.
Dodge made the fourth-generation Dart from 1966 for the 1967 model year until the end of 1976 for North America. This paint should be “Bright Red”, even if it’s a bit faded. The Dart GT was available with engines ranging from a 170 to a 225 slant-six, and also a 273 V8, which this car came with from the factory. The Mannix GTS came with a 383 340 V8, which is what private eye Joe Mannix drove after his infamous George Barris custom Toronado convertible. The seats look good, other than the small flaws in the front seats, but the back seat looks like new.
The seller knocks a grand slam by showing a photo with the seats removed so we can see the floor pans. In trying to decode the somewhat hard-to-read data plate, it appears that this car came with front bucket seats (the 4 under letter b), and a premium bucket seat interior in black, which is shown here. The rear end was a 3.23:1 without “sure grip,” the 4_ under AX on the date plate. No designation under X means no sure grip. The paint is PP1, which is Bright Red Metallic.
Here’s the 318-cu.in. OHV V8, although we don’t know the year it was installed or what its ratings would have been when it was new. The original engine (according to the VIN) was the top 273, a “high-performance” model with a four-barrel carb and 235 horsepower. The current 318 is said to have 360 heads, and you can see the high-rise intake and four-barrel carb. It’s backed by an automatic, presumably a TorqueFlite, which would have been a $147 option. They haven’t cleaned out the gas tank, so they’re running it on a couple of gas cans in the trunk, and there’s a pinhole leak in the radiator. Also, the brakes need work, but those things are pretty typical for a project vehicle. The dual-circuit master cylinder was new for ’67. Hagerty doesn’t list a value for a convertible, but they’re at $8,400 for a two-door sedan version in #4 fair condition, exactly what the seller is asking for this car. How much is this car worth as it sits now?
“New sized Dodge Dart” advertising song immediately ran through my brain as I saw this…
Pass. Though the more I look at it the more I like it.
A much closer inspection would be needed for any buyer to ascertain value at the price asked, of course, but it would be a fun project. A neighbor has just finished a 68 model hardtop and it turned out well. He paid under $3,000 for a roller w/o much rust. So there’s some real value in these.
I expect someone will make a nice restoration of this.
I can,t remember Mannix driving any kind of Tornado.I only remember his dart GT and a 70 black cuda,which has been my dream car since 1970
He only drove the Toronado droptop in the first (1st) season, when he was working for Intertech. After that, when Mike Connors was on his own, it was all Chrysler products! Here’s a link to photo of the Toronado on IMDB:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061277/mediaviewer/rm3626844417/
Good job. I had no recollection of him driving anything but the Dart GT.
Mannix’s Dart was a ’68 340 GTS convertible, not a GT or a 383 GTS as the article states.
The Other Chris, thanks for the info on the Mannix Dart. I read that the GTS came with a 383, but now I see other articles saying the famous green Mannix Dart was one of 271 made with a 340. Nice catch, thanks!
https://www.motortrend.com/features/mannix-1968-dodge-dart-george-barris-barn-find-motor-trend-classic
TC, dang, I put a link to his Toronado in the fourth paragraph.
Nice.
A classic case of a project car where the owner either lost interest or life got in the way, LOL! It wouldn’t take much to bring this bad boy across the finish line. As a bonus, the replacement engine could become a 340 or a 360, with some machine work and the right parts. The engine is already wearing 360 heads, so that’s a good start! As a 340, it could become a Dart 340 GT clone! A console between those bucket seats would be a nice finishing touch! Hello, Mr. Worman? Your A-Body is waiting!
I like your thinking!
Check the production figures…..this car isn’t bad but you’ll need some skills to put it all back together or fix the normal couple of things and enjoy it for the summer…..be the only Dart convert amoung the Rustangs and Evryamero’s out there…..
Amen to more Darts!
It’s Mopar, or it’s no car, LOL!
The asking price has already been reduced to $7800, so it looks like a motivated seller here.
Just 2.5 hours away from me, but I don’t think the HOA would like to see this sitting in my driveway, under a blue tarp.
You could use another project!
I agree, I’ve been here 2 years and already want to move to somewhere with more land and freedom.
Same here. I grew up in a house with two acres, trails, and a gravel road. I don’t miss the gravel road so much (vehicles were always dirty and everything was dusty), but man, do I miss living on some land to be able to ride around in the woods.
Before I put new carpets in, I’d stick some sound deadener to the floor, to quiet down the interior a bit. Door cards, carpets and a convertible top are all easy to get. The driver’s seat could be taken care of as time and money permit. Bodywork/paint prep and paint will be a big ticket item, as will restoring that dashboard, which is a bit rough, and the dash needs a new radio, which is an easy fix. Any driveline work, including converting that column shifter to a floor shifter, again could be tended to as time and money permit.
You’re a mind-reader, sir.
And you Sir, are a steely-eyed missile man, LOL!