I’ll admit it, I have a “thing” for fourth-generation Dodge Darts, but not all of them, just the ones produced in the first three years (’67-’69). A convertible body style? So much better! Today’s example, is just such a car, a 1968 GT model to be exact, and it has spent several years in a dealership’s showroom. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this Dodge drop-top is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $12,700 with the reserve not yet met.
Digging into the ’68 Dodge Dart line-up, we discover four trim levels were available, the Dart, Dart 270, Dart GT, and Dart GTS. As for the convertible body style, it was available on both the performance-oriented GTS and the “sporty” GT. Total ’68 Dart production was about 60K units with the GT equaling around 35K copies. How many were convertibles? I’m having a tough time determining that – my usual production source claims 403 for the GTS but the GT’s count has so far, proved to be elusive.
The first thing that I noticed about this 70K mile example is the GTS tail stripe, you can see where it has been cut out around the “DART” quarter panel lettering. OK, so it’s not correct but so what, right? The Bright Blue Metallic finish still shows quite well, though the black folding convertible top needs some attention as the rear window trim portion is starting to degrade. If you look at the images of the trunk, you can see a bit of surface rust that has started but that’s normal, “standard stuff” that happens to a 55-year-old car – especially a convertible. I have no nits to pick other than the complete lack of any passenger-side images included in the listing.
The engine room is harboring a 145 gross HP, 225 CI, in-line “slant” six-cylinder engine, which in turn spins a TorqueFlite, three-speed automatic transmission. The seller states, “This survivor has the original legendary 225 Slant-6 and is ready for a summer drive… This Dart’s mechanical systems operate as factory designed“. My limited experience with this drivetrain tells me that with just 70K miles of experience, it’s barely broken in.
Inside is a standard blue, vinyl-clad, bench seat interior. Noted is some trim deterioration and paint discoloration but the upholstery is fine, with no signs of rips or sun-induced degradation. Always nice to find, and becoming a rarer facet, is the original radio, and of course, Mopar’s standard-equipment array of engine gauges.
OK, so it’s what to do with its time. I enjoy finding original survivors like this Dart GT, especially an example that is not common, or a bit different, as in this case being a convertible variant. I hope that the next owner has the foresight to leave it as it is and just enjoy it the way Dodge intended it to be enjoyed so many years ago. But I know, being a ’68 Dodge, and everyone seemingly entranced by “performance”, this one may end up pursuing a modification route. Anyway, if you were to be this convertible’s next owner, what would you do with it?
Can’t beat a slant 6 with a ball pen hammer for durability.Cool car.I’d make sure it’s road worthy safe and it would make cool summer cruiser.I’d leave it as is.All I would do is put some tunes in it.
Jim.. after seeing the pictures on this I hope who ever buys this keeps it as is. True survivor and it’s a Convertible! My Cousin had a gold GT hardtop with the 225 auto. That GT would go anywhere. The strips I think was factory I remember my Cousin GT had the same strip but in black. The problem today is people want to yank out the 225 and put in a V8. But the torsion bars are for 6cly set up ….Shocks also. Well good luck to the next owner.. 🐻🇺🇸
Survivor? I don’t think it’s anywhere close to a “survivor”-status car. The stripe looks ridiculous (stripe…not “strip”).
Simply because of the stripe?
JO
I would keep it just the way it is ,and maintain it.
I love A body Mopars, but that stripe has got to go – it looks foolish with the cutouts and the moldings over it. It may be a trick of the lighting, but the outside paint looks a different shade of blue than whats under the trunk and hood
Bone, my 68 Barracuda is all original maroon color. The color differential between the exterior and the engine compartment on mine is the same as this Dart. Almost like a flat, or non-glossy version of the exterior paint. But, the underside of my trunk lid is very glossy. I would think that with it in the dealer showroom, they should have cleaned and detailed that to the max. Apparently not.
Stripes if it had a 340 6pak. Mopar ruled Nascar until ’69 then Holman moody designed the torino talladaga.. game over
My first car was a 68 GTS convertible, 383 auto,yellow with black top and stripe and the mag hubcaps that weighed 40 lbs each lol, paid 300 bucks for it in 1974 sure wish I had it back
Leave it as is and drive it. Nice car for the wifey for the summer. It would look great in the garage next to my 68 Barracuda 318 with 56,000 actual miles. But then she would have to park her 98 Plymouth Breeze with 80,000 actual miles outside.
To bad about the “mock” stripe.
It’s only original once.
And this one isn’t “original”.
Years ago I bought a black 69 gt convertible in a local junkyard with the slant for $100 and drove it for 5 yrs. Lifters were so noisy, I adjusted them up and loved her for our time together. Had a few various slants over a period back then. Great cars and drivetrains… Would love to have another in a hearbeat
It’s great just the way it is. Just fill the
tank and enjoy.
I agree and it’s fine. The only ones that would notice the ‘stripe’ is a old school car enthusiast. Reminds of the one I had but, not convertible. Originally purchased a 68 GTS 383 with no motor or trans. 1st motor I put in was a 426 Wedge. Then 2 440’s (10 1/2 to 1 and a 12 to 1). Sold it with a HP 383. Had it from late 70’s to 1990. Wish I’d kept it but, Old School HP Mopars were plentiful back then.
I had a red 68 GT, with the 318, buckets, and a floor shift. Paid 400 in 73, got 375 when I traded it in 18 months later on a 70 Chevelle SS 427. The Chevelle was a lot more fun to drive, but the Dart’s back seat got used a lot more. Flying over Southeast Asia didn’t kill me, but a little blonde from West Sacramento sure tried to. 😎😎
Leave it alone! seems like everybody wants a “Monster Motor” in a 60s’ car. There is nothing bad about the car just the way it sits. Bidding was up to a little over $14K, no telling where it will top out at, as it is a reserve auction. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it hit $30K, just because somebody had more money than brains.
I had a 340 4 speed a body i bought nrw i worked for a dodge dealer in Henderson navada in 1969
My friend had the same car but green with white top and interior. He bought it used in 1970 and kept it until 2003. I rode and drove it quite a bit. Nice. Can’t beat top down cruising. We had a side of the road party when the odometer rolled over. Slant Six is one of the best engines ever IMO. I hope whoever buys it keeps it intact.
Just because Dodge screwed up the first time doesn’t mean you have to the second time. Make that 6 cylinder a boat anchor and transplant a mild small block in it with an OD trans, now you have a fantastic driver that can actually get out of its own way. Torsion bars and k frames are easy to swap out too. There’s too much weight on originality, I feel like it sucks the life out of the hobby, and original cars get boring after a while. I have an original 340 4 spd 1969 Swinger that has seen a host of upgrades, and all of them have improved and made the car so much more fun to drive. Jus sayin.
The problem is everyone wants to rip these good ol’ girls apart nowadays. Before long we won’t have any original examples to show people what the past really looked like. Not everybody had a V8 back then.
I wonder what is up with the passenger side since there are no pictures other than an open passenger door.
Dad had a Dart GT. Those puppy’s came with 273 4bbl and his had the torqueflight. No stripe. Light yellow exterior and I forget the interior colors.
Clean it up, keep it all stock.
I had a yellow 69 gt hardtop. Had the 273 commando v8 with buckets and a center console with the floor shift. Cool part was the vacuum activated tach on the center console. To young to know any better, I traded it for a Honda 450. The bike WAS cool but the cool factor didn’t last long and I realized what I did wrong. At least it went to the right person and got a complete nut and bolt restoration. The only part I didn’t like was the guy painted it very red instead of the original yellow. Everything else was on the money. Ah the one I let get away. Miss Davey’s Dart to this day.
Seems I remember that there were some performance parts for the slant 6, like a dual carb intake manifold. I had a Duster, and looked into it ages ago.
I bought brand new 68 GTS with super bee pkg 340 auto stripe was an option mine was med grn met grn top blk int early 340 would outrun just about any thing
Leave it alone. I may put some nice rims on it but leave it as is.