The compact Dodge Dart was redesigned in 1967, and the following year Chrysler tested the performance waters in that market segment. While the Dart GT came with either a Slant-Six or a 273 cubic inch V8, the GT Sport (aka GTS) was sold with 340 and 383 engines (plus a few 440s and Hemi’s). The seller’s ’68 GTS 340 has been a one-owner car since 1970 and comes with some paperwork to back up the past five decades. Located in Okanagan, British Columbia, this fairly clean example is available here on craigslist for $44,888 (CDN) or $33,888 (USD).
While the Dart econoboxes sold in large numbers, the GTS market was much smaller at 8,295 units in 1968. More than 70% of them came with Chrysler’s new 340 CI small-block V8 that was rated at 275 hp. That engine saw a healthy run of 217,000 copies through 1973 in both Dodge and Plymouth products. The rest of the ’68 GTS pack got a 383 (for the most part). A 4-speed manual transmission and a TorqueFlite automatic were the two choices, with the latter being in the seller’s car.
This Dodge is finished in triple Forest Green (paint, vinyl roof, interior). The car was resprayed in 2001, and the photos suggest it could be ready again. The Dart comes with a bucket seat interior with a console, and it’s in good, used condition. Should using the little car as just an occasional driver be in the cards for you?
Out of the 5,000+ 1968 GTSs built with a 340, the number surviving today is probably just a few hundred. Like so many muscle cars of the era, they were ridden hard, put up wet, and met an early demise with the crusher. This car was built the year before the Swinger model of the Dart came along (going after the youth market), and the 340 was popular in those models. Thanks for the Mopar tip, “Curvette”!
If a potential buyer is planning on bringing the car into the US, they need to make sure that “same owner since 1970 (paperwork)” means they are actually buying the car from the registered owner and not a flipper. The ad is not written the way you’d expect a long time owner to write an ad, there is a lack of history and it’s not in 1st person.
Steve R
Steve…. I agree.. also only 7 photos. I would done 30. Detail shots of the 340 and chassis gas tank area. Trunk area and interior shots at least 5…etc etc.. how about the story history thats goes with the Dart. Before buying the Dart make sure it can come home to the USA!! I had a friend who had a 68 or 69 Gold Dart GTS 340 Automatic. And it was fast. He tinker with the engine and electrical system for the spark plugs.He had an MSD hooked up to it and thick spark plugs wire. I remember at night you could see them glow from the energy flowing through them to the spark plug. No I would touch them unless I wanted to walk with Jesus!! 😂 This is a beautiful Mopar I would love to have. Well good luck to the next owner. 🇺🇸🐻
Great article and information Mr. Russ Dixon! Wow! What a beautiful car! This seems like a reasonable buy with it being all original! Essentially 1 owner that must be in their 70s or 80s by now. Love the period color combination too! A 4 speed would have been nicer, but it seems that the 4 speeds are generally more beat up! May this be a daily driver for someone? A rare find indeed!
I need to own this car!
There are currently 371 1968 GTS’s in the GTS Registry (one being mine), so that’s the number currently known (by the registry). Obviously, they’re not all in the registry, so the total in existence is somewhere higher than that, but surely far below the original number produced. Looks like a pretty nice car for the limited number of photos provided.
Imagine the price if the seller actually took the time to clean it up!
As usual, this seller likely “knows what he has” and has priced it accordingly.
Not to be pedantic but you could not get a factory 440 or Hemi in a GTS Dart in 1968. The 440s were available through Grand Spaulding Dodge in the GSS model as a dealer swap. The Hemis were only available from Chrysler as the track only Super Stock cars that were built by Hurst.
That said, as much as I love the 340 Swingers, a GTS with a 340 is about as good as it gets for a 68-70 Dart. The only thing that woukd make it better would be a factory 4 speed!
Correct. I decided to give Russ a break this time since I could charitably translate his “440 GTS” comment as being not specific to the year 1968 (M-Code factory 440 was 1969 only). But no Hemi GTS’s in either case.
It’s going to be interesting to see what this dart sells for. It’ll give me a idea of what my 68 GTS H code will go for. Same car as mine except this one is a l code. Glwts
Peace!
68 340 is P code, this one is P code.
Nobody will know the selling price other than the buyer and seller since it’s listed on Craigslist.
Steve R
Sweet!
good looking dart. c/l should put the most pics allowed it can only help
I’m very leery of Craigslist in general.
One of the very few Mopars I’d own. A pal had a swinger (70-71?) 340 and from a dead stop with an auto I swear it’d pull the front wheels if only a half inch. Bad ass fast/quick! Imagine a Hemi Dart ?? Them WERE the days!!
My bad you’re correct the other chris it’s a p code.
Another one I parted with too soon…..in the late 80’s my little 1968 GTS 340/auto in that gold inside and out……good luck to the new owner – it’s on the high side but if the #’s match…..some like my 68 340 Cuda did have the motor and trans stamped with the vin…..
I like green.