Dodge redesigned its compact Dart in 1967 (as did Plymouth with its Valiant). The cars would go on to have a successful 10-year run before being retired in favor of the ill-fated Aspen and Volare. The GT was introduced as the sporty hardtop and convertible, and the GTS was for those who wanted some serious muscle under the hood. The seller bought this GT as a father and son project, but life gets in the way and a restoration won’t happen on their watch. It’s a mostly solid-running machine that needs cosmetic help.
The GT came with either a 225 cubic inch Slant-Six or a 273 V8. On the other hand, the GTS was treated to a 340 small block as standard, and others were equipped with even more, even up to the 426 Hemi. This Dart was built in California and has stayed there ever since, even though it’s had three owners. It left the factory with a 273 engine, but someone decided to upgrade to a 383 at some point (one of the options in the GTS). We’re told it needs no work and the intake manifold looks to have been raised.
Both the paint and interior on this Dodge are original. And it once had a vinyl top, but that’s been peeled off because it was old and cracked from the Sun. From what we can tell, the bucket seat interior has held up well and may not need any attention though we don’t know what the headliner and carpeting look like. Some work has been done underneath, beginning with the rear brakes and leaf springs. Besides appearance items, the buyer will need to replace the fuel pump and the master cylinder and put in a new battery.
The 383 is a much heavier engine than the 273 and no mention is made of anything done to beef up the front suspension. The indicated mileage is 28,000, but surely the odometer has already turned over. From Lake Forest, California, this potentially hot Mopar is available here on eBay. The asking price is $15,500 and it may be negotiable.
A 340 swap would have made more sense and been a lot easier. Here, they turned a pig into a nose-heavy pig. Drop a zero off the asking price.
Based on the corrosion on the coil and other components on the engine, this swap was started a long time ago. At one point in time, the 383 was the go to swap for A-bodies like this. Nowadays, a small block either 340 or 360 would be the natural choice.
Steve R
Or, if you insist on a big block swap, why not go “whole hog” and put a 440 into it? The 440 block has the same exterior dimensions as a 383, and with a six-pack intake available, will make significantly more power than the 383 ever will. “Nothing exceeds like excess!”
I had a ’69 GTS with a four speed one time and it was a pig…..a 340 would eat it alive. The 383 they installed at the factory was not the same engine that a Roadrunner had, it didn’t have the magnum heads and only rated 300 horse, wish it had dawned on me back then if a 383 fit, then a 440 would do….oh well….
I went to high school with a guy that had a ’69 GTS with a factory 383 Magnum mit der Torqueflite. It was a little rocket.
Mr. Norm had something to do with this, I bet.
Nothing on Mr. Norm, eh? Guess I feel a bit dated, Mr. Norm was the owner of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago, and in late ’67, started putting 383s in Dodge Darts. Chrysler liked it so much, they began their own production, leading to the 440 Dart in ’69(?). So much great history being forgotten, makes me want to puke.
A lot of full size cars moved pretty good with a 383, I imagine this one could spin a tire.
Way over price for the condition as the seller will so find out.
Minor detail correction to the writeup (but thank you for continuing to cover all the Dart variations): There were no Hemi GTS’s. Only 383 in ’67, 340 and 383 in ’68, then those two plus 440 in ’69 for the M-Code.
The Hemi Darts were a completely different animal, pretty much the opposite of the GTS, in the sense that the GTS level, in addition to performance, had some of the visual luxuries, like more trim, center console, buckets, etc. The Hemi was of course being stripped down specifically for racing.
The path forward on this would have been to drop in a build small block 360. Looks like it is missing the heater blower, heater hoses and other things given the holes in the firewall. The 383 does not really make this a $15K car
No, but a rust free 68 GT in very good condition inside and out is still going to sell for a pretty penny `!
It is what it is! I’ve owned a 68 GTS a 69 swinger 340 and a 69 340 GTS 4 SPD convertible it’s body looks pretty good from the pictures I see remove the chrome side trim give it a cheap paint job air shocks tti exhaust and have fun with your little bomb! You could do all that for under 10 grand!
I somehow had the impression that this was $8500! Not $15 +; sorry!
I somehow was under the impression this was $8500? Sorry $15+ is too much!