While the Dodge Dart was born as a full-size car in 1960, it shifted to a compact platform in 1963. The 1961-62 Dodge Lancer compact wasn’t all that successful (and was strange looking), so perhaps Dodge wanted to use an established name instead. This 1964 wagon may be an older restomod, as it has a V8 engine that wasn’t on the roster until nearly a decade later. We’re told the transport needs cosmetic work, although mechanically it may be fine. Located in Loveland, Colorado, this Mopar wagon is available here on craigslist for $8,000.
The 1964 Darts were little changed from the all-new 1963 editions. The 1964 model year was the last for the push-button automatic transmission in Chrysler products. We wonder if the A904 in this wagon now uses that system since later Dodges had the shifter moved to the steering column, which was the industry standard. The base 1964 Dart was the 170 model, with the 270 having a better level of trim. Dodge produced 60,400 270s overall in ‘64, but only 6,700 had a V8 engine (across all body styles), which would have been a 273 cubic inch motor.
We don’t know if the seller’s wagon was a V8 to begin with (in other words, did it have a Slant-Six as most did?). But a 360 engine with headers and a dual exhaust is on board now. And given the amount of dust and dirt, we suspect the change wasn’t recently. The car has power steering, but the front brakes have been converted to discs. And sway bars have been added fore and aft to improve handling for a more spirited ride.
This wagon had some rust that the seller says has already been taken care of. Paint and interior work are needed, and “more,” which is “too much otherwise to mention.” Really? Why not tell people what else is wrong with it, or you run the risk of unnecessarily scaring off buyers. The odometer quit working at 40,000 miles, so who knows how much real estate this Dart has seen. Tony Primo was the source of yet another good vintage tip.
Probably one of those builds that will turn out to be a labor of love as opposed to a profitable venture.
Actually kind of a cool car, but the seller’s comment about “too many problems to list” is more than a little spooky.
Not to be projecting, but maybe this was a project that got projected until it became an unfinished project. Maybe they lost interest, because it needs too much to finish? So it sat..and sat, and now the owner has given up and wants it to sit somewhere else.. Since we don’t know what it still needs, that $8000 is a steep gamble.
Yes, but there’s probably $8000 worth of Bondo in the car!
Rust being “taken care of” looks, by the right-side view, to have been a case of Bondo being liberally used on the lower body.
Likely the interior is in a bad state; the headliner is seen hanging down through the back window. Speaking of glass, condition of it all is important. Replacements could be tough to source.
Might be a fun project, not necessarily and easy or cheap one, depending on what the end goal is.
The Dart had a 273 V8 offered in 1964.
I really like old Darts and Valiant station wagons. They are so rare now and the rear ends of some were really weird/cool. We had a 61 Valiant 4 door. The wagons were even neater but not that it mattered
The PHILLY winters rusted it out in 8 years. The engergiser bunny slant 6 and manual 3 on the tree was running fine…
I didn’t realize that digital “film” was so expensive that only 5 pictures could be supplied, none of which includes the interior.
What a lazy seller!