This 1968 Dodge Dart GTS was owned by the same person for 51-years, but due to the aging process, he has been unable to use the car much in recent times. It has now been brought out of hiding and returned to the point where the engine runs once again. There is still some work to be done, but this is a classic survivor that should be well worth the effort. The GTS is located in Holden, Louisiana, and is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $14,300 in what is a No Reserve auction. There are also 110 people who are currently watching the listing.
The Dart is said to be completely original, finished in White with a Black vinyl top and Black Bumblebee Stripes. The car looks to be quite solid, although the owner does indicate that there is some rust in the front floors. The rest of the car is really solid, with only some surface corrosion visible in a few spots. There are plenty of chips and small marks visible around the car, and these are really obvious in the bottoms of the quarter panels on both sides. Even if I were leaving the Dart original, I would probably do something about those to prevent any further deterioration.
The interior of the Dart generally looks quite good, although we don’t get a look at the condition of the front seats under the aftermarket seat covers. The headliner and remaining upholstered surfaces are in good condition, and I suspect that the carpet would respond well to a clean. There is a tachometer mounted on the steering column, and I actually don’t mind that. In reality, there doesn’t look like there is much to be done to have the interior looking really nice. The Dart also comes with a pretty extensive list of documentation, including the original Window Sticker, two Build Sheets, the original Bill of Sale, and a host of different receipts.
Lifting the hood reveals what makes this GTS a little bit special. What you get is a 383ci V8, backed by a TorqueFlite transmission, and a Sure Grip rear end. With 300hp to play with, the performance was pretty impressive. This must have seemed doubly so for the original owner, who traded a 1963 Dart sedan on this car. The great news here is that this one is a full, numbers-matching car. The owner has fitted a new carburetor, but the original is included in the sale. The car now runs and drives, but given its recent lack of activity, it will require tires, work on the brakes, and a thorough check before it is ready to take to the roads again. Still, it should certainly be worth it once the new owner has a chance to give the gas pedal a decent push.
The next owner of this Dodge Dart GTS is going to be faced with the decision of either leaving it as an original survivor, addressing the rust in the floors to minimize the chances of further deterioration, or to undertake some form of restoration. The relative rarity of the ’68 GTS makes all of these options seem to be viable propositions, and all could easily be justified. The popularity of the GTS is growing, and that has seen values pushed up by nearly 30% in the last 3-years alone. That means that apart from being a very nice car, this Dart GTS could potentially represent a pretty sound long-term investment.
The 68-69 dart is one of my favorite mopars. Looks good in white. I like it.
This is such a unique opportunity for someone to have not only one of most desirable Darts, but also retrieve all kinds of info surrounding this specific vehicle, down to mechanical history and also amusing stories!
Of all the big three ‘compacts’ in the late 60s, the Dart is hands down the best-looking of the lot. I’d advice the buyer to snoop up any information and possible back-in-the-days pics of the car from the original owner
Not a big fan of Darts, but if I was going to own one, this would be it ! The 383 is a great engine in one of these lite cars, I’ll take it !
This dart 🎯 hits the target bullseye.
The only item i would contemplate possibly would be converting to a four speed and keeping the original parts in storage.
Its good to see the Dart getting more desirable each year👍👀
If this had a 440, it could be a Mr. Norms GSS Dart. I think only 50 of those were made. THAT would add some zing to this posting!
Thanks for that completely irrelevant contribution Rube! Truth is, it was Mr. Norm who, in 1967, fitted a Dart with a 383 and pitched the idea to the Chrysler brass. Which they agreed leading to production models like the featured car.
So…which model Dart is more desirable…The 383 or 340? Don’t forget that this was the first year for the 340.
So what’s your freakin problem? Can’t I make a Mr. Norms reference without someone jumping all over me? I consider that a personal attack, so much for Barny Finds. You won’t hear from me anymore, you happy?
Dave from a performance standpoint the 340 was the better option.
Car looks like it has aged better than the original dealership. https://www.google.com/maps/place/710+S+Broadway+St,+McComb,+MS+39648/@31.2352369,-90.4514403,3a,75y,286.69h,91.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJWyLwD2Qd-GaP2nwFZ1VNw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8627b78a448c4a49:0xc354382d0b46539d!8m2!3d31.2352426!4d-90.4517478?hl=en&authuser=1#
Listing is gone
Yes Rube. And if grasshoppers had machine guns, the birds wouldn’t mess with them. “if”
You too, creep.
Oh Ruby, lighten up! Don’t be so sensitive lol
I bet this one’s gone by the weekend. It hits all the right buttons option-wise, and can’t get much more original. Some parts are being reproduced for the `67-`69 Darts now, and I bet floor pans are too, so I would correct that.
Cool car! The tach position makes me wonder if the passenger is in charge of the shift commands.
Dream of the day:
I have enough cash to buy it and send it directly to Mark Worman and tell him: call me when it’s ready and looks like brand new.
This is a real Cutie. I’d clean it up and fix the floors but leave it all as pictured. Like you guys said, this one would really haul the groceries. Being an ol grey hair, I’d put on a neck brace and nail it on a regular basis. It’s a case of a rare unmolested beautiful example of American muscle. Good luck to the new owner!
Cheers
GPC
Awesome car. I would have saved the $75.10 from the vinyl top option, and got power steering instead.
Power stearing wasn’t available on the big block cars
Cool Dart, even still has the factory wheel covers, and redlines. This car deserves a good cleaning/preservation. I like the fact it is a 383, but at the same time, the Dart 340 was a heck of a performer. I don’t remember the GTS being as quick as expected. Graduating high school in 1970, in the suburbs just outside Chicago, we saw a ton of street racing. Mr Norm and Nickey cars were everywhere. Great times, great cars!
My dad had one identical but unfortunately traded it for a 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Estate station wagon in 1976 the wagon was a lemon and he regrets trading his Dart
But you got to admit the rear tailgate and window operation was way cool!
Great car!! Chrysler must have produced millions of darts!! You use to see them everywhere!! This one sure does make getting the groceries a lot more fun than the one I had with a slant six and two extra doors!!! It’s a great looking car it should be interesting to see what it brings!!!!
Just drooling!
Always loved the 340 4 speeds but this one’s super cool too! There’s something about the wheels, stripes, grill, and roof line that is soooo perfect! Maybe it’s because a Hot Rod comic book I had as a kid. For some reason I fixated on the GTS over all the other cartoon cars. Kinda like the whole Betty vs Veronica thing. ;^)
BTW – Veronica!
I had a ’68 Dart for a short time, but unfortunately was slant six powered. Still, loved the car, and wish I could have held on to that one. This one looks amazing and the big block makes it even better!
My cousin came home from Vietnam in 68 and bought a red one just like this first thing. His had the pistol grip shifter 4 speed. Black inside. We took it out to Bremerton Raceway and ran E.T’s with it. Ran low 14’s. boiled the polyglass GT’s bald. When we left we had slicks We laughed so hard he could barely drive.These cars are rare compared to dart GT’s. This ones worth a resto. …………….later…………………JIMMY
Miss my 68 340 GTS like every day….gold with white bee stripe and white.gold interior. Sold it to soon as prices were going up………
Spark plugs must have been fun to change, I don’t know off hand really. Cool muscular Dart that still remains a popular car to fiddle with….see more Darts around hopped than early Camaros nowadays, at least on the road.
Figure a good match up would have been against an SS 396 Nova, battle of the compacts!
Troy s – there were also the Fairlane GT/GTAs of ’66 & ’67, like the one I had. All of these had the same basic equipment…engines, trans, rear ends & tires. Options could “sort of” individualize your ride. And the manufacturers all lied re: horsepower numbers. I actually saw (and raced) more Chevelles and mid-sized Chrysler Corp cars than these. What a time to hot rod !
@ bog,Too young to have experienced those when new, but my first episode behind the wheel of real power was a ’67 Fairlane, had GTA badges, 427 call outs which the owner had put on, and a 428 block with a boat load of high performance parts, very hard shifting C6, and streetish 3.5′ s in the rear. I’ll never forget the hard tire screaming jolt on the 1-2 shift! That car left a huge impression on my then 18 year old self but I thought 2300 bucks and the jitters about smog tests kept me from buying. Can’t win em all I guess.
Troy s – thanks for the reply & share re: that Fairlane. My ’67 GTA was purchased new off a dealers’ lot outside Fort Knox. Where many young guys about to be commissioned as Tank Officers bought their “hot rods”. Mine was light yellow with black stripes, black interior with buckets & console. I travelled from KY to Chicago after graduation, then drove East to Bayonne NJ, shipped it to Germany and spent a bit over 2 years driving all over Europe. Few cars passed me on Autobahn or Autostrada. Some of the fancier ones/sport cars “tailed” me until I had to stop for gas (all to frequently) just to talk about it and see the engine. They were all astounded at the size (I always had to convert to liters for them) and amount of chrome ! ps – I was and continue to be astounded at how much premium gas costs in Europe.
These always command a good price.
Regardless of the condition
Back in the 70’s I knew a couple of guys with a Dart like this with a 413 in it and a Torqueflite. I forget what they were turning in the quarter but it ran the strip as regular as clockwork, run after run within a couple tenths at most.
I love this car but really would prefer a 340. The 383’s torque must make it a real launch vehicle at stoplights though!
The 383’s were tough to launch without serious tires and some suspension mods… spinnin’ ain’t winnin! The 340 was a better balanced car for sure, but truth be told I would rather have the GTS due to the rarity and bragging rights.
really like all the 60s (early, mid. late) down szed cars’n wagons (nova, dart, falcon, stang) as we came outta the ‘bulbos era’ of the 50s – were still roomy, but could B optioned (muscle cars). The two BIG GMs (toranado, riveriera) knocked me out, even tho a ford guy.
So – light vehicles, nice straight lines (B4 the ‘bumps’ over the wheels), perfect for rest0mods (modern suspension/breaks/steering). Often don’t need touched for DD/show/track. Next up? (guys who like em R passin by) the Fox platform…
I had 2 of the dart wagons (170ci got 300K mi) & moved to an area I drove the K cars for livery (still slant 6s).
I purchased my 68 340 GTS in 71 or 72. I lost all my paperwork and the title in 1981 and had to apply for a new one and on it they put the purchase date at 09-22-1981. Anyway I still own it. Back then Chrysler had a 5 year 50,000 mile warranty. Mine had 32,000 on it. It’s med green metallic with the green bore vinyl top. Black bucket seats interior with the 3 speed auto in floor console. Back in the day I surprised a lot of people with this little sleeper. It was a first year Scat Pack car along with the Coronet R/T and Charger R/T. Later on that year they added the Coronet Super Bee. Anyway I absolutely love this car and it ain’t for sale. Lots and lots of memories in the baby.
I just. Purchased a 1968 gts with a vin numberls23h8b83720 complete except radiator