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Hashtag Ready: 1965 Dodge Dart 270 Wagon

Maybe it’s just because my weekend included a beat-the-heat trip to the movies to see the unsettling social media satire Ingrid Goes West, but something about the filter-perfect photos in the ad for this ’65 Dodge Dart 270 wagon is throwing me off. Don’t get me wrong; it looks really great, but in the way a too-perfect picture on Instagram makes you wonder about what’s really going on under the surface. Fortunately, the ad text doesn’t skimp on the harsh realities; let’s take a look at this Tacoma, Washington-based looker, offered on craigslist with an $8,000 asking price (archived ad). And, we’ll tag reader Pat L. in this one to give credit for yet another great find!

The golden hour was put to good use by this shutterbug seller. I guess what I’m experiencing with this ad is the tension between the romance conveyed by the photos—I want to double-tap this sun-dappled baby right into my life!—and the kinds of dirty details I want to know about a car and its condition before entertaining the prospect of putting down my hard-earned cash for it. I’ll give the seller style points for salesmanship, while pointing out that the technique probably works better for brand-new cars than it does for 52-year-olds with lots of potential issues that I want to get up close and personal with. This looks like an ad for a lifestyle accessory, but an $8,000 lifestyle accessory that turns out to be a total heap in real life is not going to be hashtag-worthy.

Among the dirty bits that we do get to see is the legendarily durable slant-six, in this case the “Charger” 225-cubic inch version. The engine is said to have been rebuilt less than 15,000 miles ago, and it’s thought that the car has fewer than 100,000 miles total under its belt. It’s been upgraded to front disc brakes—a new factory option for ’65 Darts—and 15-inch wheels all around.

We don’t get to see what the upholstery looks like under the shabby-chic serape seat cover, although we’re told that a bolt of NOS fabric comes with the car. Nor are we shown the tear in the headliner that’s mentioned in the ad, although the rear seat area is shown and looks nice, if not exactly palatially roomy. Your perfectly styled #friends better not be too tall.

We also don’t get any closeups of the rust that’s mentioned on the front doors; nor is any explanation given for the nasty streaks in the paint emanating from the gas cap. I’ll grant you that the pillar-mounted airfoils are cool, but I’d trade (at least) one of the two close-ups of them for more info on any of the issues that might require a further outlay of money beyond the asking price of this wagon. I mean, how many sponsored posts am I gonna have to do to pay for the upkeep on this thing?

There’s no denying that this is a cool wagon, and the seller has only capitalized on that cool with great, stylish photography—usually a savvy sales technique. I have no doubt this Dart will sell, if only on romance alone—plus a good, in-person inspection, of course. I guess the moral for me is to stop going to movies that make me so cynical about the artifice behind social media so that I can better appreciate the #nofilter #beauty of this ad.

Comments

  1. Avatar Fred W.

    Someone is certainly good with a camera. But no amount of photography skill can disguise a real “pig”. This actually looks pretty clean, especially for the price.

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  2. Avatar Curtis

    Fun car to make into a stoplights sleeper I think for any Mopar fan

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  3. Avatar redwagon

    i’m a longroof kind of guy but these early darts leave me uninspired in terms of styling. i see them as a mishmash of styling attempts, the front being quite different from the side treatment and rear end.

    i like the colors on this one and the slightly lowered stance helps (from the front) but the overall appearance of this one screams ‘hipster cool’ and for me ‘hipster cool’ does not equate to the $8,000 asking price.

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  4. Avatar MIkeG

    Amazing old station wagon, I love the styling of these wagons much better than the dart coupe. What a great surf wagon this would make.

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  5. Avatar XMA0891

    When I was young, two customers on my paper-route had ’65 Darts – a two-door blue, and a four-door brown – Both were sedans. I have never seen a Dart of this generation in wagon form! Guess I was always paying attention to the ’64 – ’65 Ramblers which I’ve always felt these cars aped. Love the imprints on the rooftop! Great find!

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  6. Avatar Neal

    I think I’m in love

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  7. Avatar Neal

    Has anyone ever researched what the stock hubcaps would have been? Any suggestions?

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  8. Avatar Dave Member

    Definitely cool, but with what’s been done already, a 340 or even a 360 would be a snappy and necessary upgrade.

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  9. Avatar Troy S.

    With that street savvy look it wears so well, black wheels and kinda hunkered down low, the sound of the six cylinder would basically ruin it for me. Yea, a sweet running small V8 is in order here, plus that seat cover has gotta go.

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  10. Avatar chad

    “…stock hubcaps…?” I had 2 of these (’64 &6 wagons) drove 1/2 doz 4 a cab co. I think they were fattened dog dish w/a lip extended all the way to 1/2 or 3/4 inch from the rim/tire.
    Just the right sz vehicle plus seats go down for haulin.
    If in the NorEast I’d offer $3.5K and see where things went (my inspection) BUT here it’d B dust anyway!

    Just lost a ’82 LTD wagon sale to Burt Reynolds (dwn FLA way). That 1 was not dust. Same thing right sz, room to load But big motor.

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  11. Avatar Doug

    Love every 60’s mopar all the way to 71 when they dropped the power

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  12. Avatar Mark-A

    Absolutely Love it!! I’d have no problem driving on my local roads (Google A75 Euro Route (http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/a75-gretna-stranraer-euro-route-2583781) which was voted the 2nd best road in Scotland by Bikers, that was just the main 100 miles between the Scottish & English Border!) but thankfully I also know all the quiet ones also that might be required to get used to Left Hand Drive!

    Like 0

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