The Dart nameplate was repositioned as Dodge’s compact car beginning in 1963. That would become its role until the product line was replaced in 1976 by the Aspen. A redesign came along in 1967 that would carry the car for the balance of its run, improving sales numbers. The seller’s Dodge is rare because it’s both a GT and a convertible, representing less than five percent of Dart sales in 1968. But it’s a mess and incomplete but surprisingly will run with help. Possibly just a parts car now, the Dart’s in Melbourne, Florida, and available here on craigslist for $1,000.
There is some seller doubt whether this is a 1968 or 1967 Dart. But its VIN decodes as a 1968 GT, one of only two ways to get a Dart convertible that year, the other being as a Dart GTS. The former was a sporty version of the Dart while the latter was a muscle car. Another sign the car is a ’68 is the small holes in the fenders where side marker lights once were (the ‘67s did not yet have that federal safety mandate).
Though it’s not photographed, this car should have a 225 cubic inch Slant-Six engine, also per the VIN. Dodge built 174,405 Darts in 1968 of which just 10,900 were Dart GTs with an I-6 (another 26,705 had a V8). No known breakdown is available for hardtop vs. droptop sales, but it’s reasonable to assume more of the cars were sold with a steel roof.
We don’t know the history of this car, but it looks like it’s one step away from the crusher. The front end is damaged and seriously rusty, as is the rear clip. The driver’s door is MIA, and the convertible top is in tatters, leading to a ruined interior. Besides having an automatic transmission, the only thing else the seller can tell us is that it “runs on starter.” I assume that means starter fluid shot into the carburetor. So, maybe the venerable Slant-Six can be saved, but can anything else be used from what once was a lower-production vehicle? BTW, thanks for the tip, Henry Reining.
Scrap.
That’s some serious rust. I might suggest, a half-step away from the crusher.
It has interesting neighbors… a Porsche, a mid-60’s Ford product (?), ….
Great Caeser’s ghost, coming from the Rust Belt, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one this bad. Granted, it’s well known Florida cars rust from the top down, but this car had to be submerged in salt water for a spell. It really is remarkable someone would think this is worth anything at all, shoot it already,,,
Not enough car to reattach the anchor chain to.
Stick a fork in this one it’s done
But hey, it supposedly runs.
Goes to truly show you. A Chrysler product car will literally completely rot away around a slant 6 and yet that slant 6 will still run. Even if it is only on a snort of ether. You can’t kill a slant 6. Unfortunately the rest of the car looks like its well beyond its life expectancy and is now just trying to peacefully return back to the earth.
It has small bolt pattern rallies on the front and appears to have bucket seats, it could also have a floor shift column. If those a serviceable as cores and there are enough salvageable convertible specific parts it might be worth it for someone needing parts for their restoration.
Steve R
Agree with Steve……those convert parts would be worth the money as well as the wheels although everyone seems to be going to those big chrome ugly wheels.
Crumble it up like a piece of aluminum foil off of your BBQ grill and throw it away…..Junk!
This makes it official, the new class of car show is the RUSTORAMA!
This must be rustic week. (Camaro, Stang and another Mopar )
Florida salt 🧂 did its damage here..
Any bets on breaking in half if attempting to load it ? But…..
Florida scrap metal cars was around $6.50 per pound to remedy..
I agree the top mechanism might have some valuable parts …
I have never seen a hood that rusty. Did it get parked behind a breakwall? You’ve gotta try and make that kind of rust happen.
Vin tag for sale. Is that a strap holding the car together?
That is the rustiest Dart hood I’ve ever seen and I’ve been visiting junkyards in the Northeast for MoPar parts for more than 50 years. But the Dutchman panel…it’s gone!
Runs on starter? Not sure exactly what they mean maybe starter fluid? Otherwise the only way it runs is down hill in a hurricane. Hurry up and scrap it when you still have metal left
Wow, I’m really proud of the two owners selling their junk Mopar’s here today. Recent history made me imagine this car being something around $10,000. Bravo.
If you really need it for parts, offer up $10 over scrap INCLUDING delivery at least to a spot for a hauler. Its pretty well buried in situ.
Run it through Mecum, it will bring at least 50K with the right two inebriated bidders
Has a good Cooper Cobra Tire.
Uni-body or u-need-body?
That car has rust in locations that I’ve never seen them rust out. WOW.
They say nature eventually reclaims metal. Well, she’s taken a big bite out of that front end. I’ll give the seller credit. They are only asking $1000, not $30k others would ask for rust bucket Mopars.
This one is a tragedy — maybe save the engine and some parts — but I don’t see any way to put Humpty-Dumpty back together again. As for that Tyre being “good” — I rather doubt it, probably grotesquely dry-rotted. I agree with the comment about paying $10 above scrap value, pulling anything salvageable out of or off from this one — then sell what cannot be saved back to the scrap man. Of dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.
1 thousand? How about $1.00
I feel sorry for it, somehow. The missing door nags at me, somehow. It appears that this one was in a front-end collision, and the owner did not want to pay to get it fixed. And so, the car wound-up in a salvage yard, where someone needed a driver’s side door (and who knows what else?); then the car simply sat there to slowly rot away. Then, someone decided to see if they could get it to run. Since the engine was free to turn-over, they used starter fluid and found that it WOULD run, and then decided to try and sell it. And here it sits, now being ridiculed.
Harry. That thing is way too far gone for me.
That thing is an organ donor.
If what you can see is bad, what you can’t see is even worse.
Strip it for the drivetrain, convertible parts, possibly the console and bucket seats, then scrap the rest. They might not even have to crush the body shell, it looks like it will crumble into dust if you attempt to move it, LOL!