The Lancer was Dodge’s first compact car from 1961 to 1962. And buyers didn’t take to it even though it was a warmed-over Plymouth Valiant, which sold better. A redesign came in 1963, and Dodge repositioned the Dart nameplate, hoping that the car would finally catch on. It did – and was a Dodge staple through 1976. The seller has a 1965 2-door sedan in project state, needing at least an interior and paint. But it’s priced as Cheap Wheels at $1,000 in Des Moines, Iowa, and here on craigslist. Mopar tip finder “Curvette” turned us on to this one.
Darts for 1965 were little changed from the 1963-64 editions. A 170 cubic inch Slant-Six was still standard, but a 225 version dubbed the “Dart Charger” was optional (a nod to the mid-size Charger automobile that would arrive the following year). Bigger wheels were now available, as was factory air conditioning (even though it hung under the dash). The 1966 Dart got a styling refresh ahead of the 1967 redesign that would carry the car until the Aspen eventually replaced it.
We don’t know if this Dart runs as the ignition key is MIA. But it looks to be complete, at least where it counts. Since the odometer is said to have rolled over, this Dodge may have 158,000 miles, a lot for 1960s automobiles. Besides the larger Slant-Six, the original owner also opted for an automatic transmission, no longer offered with push buttons. The engine turns by hand, so there’s reason for optimism.
The paint was once red, and the body has rust in the rear quarters and floor pans. If your goal is to have a cheap set of weekend wheels, you could get it running, redo the seats, and maybe sell it again down the road for more than you’d have in it. The seller will even provide delivery, though there are bound to be limitations.
Gone!
Good deals don’t last.
Steve R
This would be good to make an oldschool super stocker!!!!
Just fyi the ’65 factory AC was not an under dash unit. Only the vents were placed at the bottom of the dash. Also in 1970 the Dart received a major front and rear end update. It was revised again in 1973 and 74 to accommodate 5mph bumpers. Just some Dart trivia.
New owner probably saw the Yugo for sale at $1500 and realized what a steal this was at $1000.
You beat me to it! Similar color with much less rot and a legendary engine.
exactly if it turns it will run. used to fine cars with froze slant 6 s and with wd40 in all cylinders about 1h hour of back and fourth on the harmonic balancer Walla with new plugs And points These babies would run.
Yup, a very well priced project. As noted, gone!
You can go so many different directions with something a piece like this. Personally I’d go daily driver with mild performance upgrades.
We need more bfs like these please!
much better score than the POS Yugo no surprise its gone.
Sold
This is what i learned to drive on, two door, three on the tree, smaller engine. The first car my parents bought new. Took my first cross country trip with a buddy in this, too, at age 17. Lucky to survive/not get arrested given the silly things we did!
The car lasted only until about 1976, when the rear floors rotted through and you had a flintstone mobile.
Sharp looking car. My aunt had a ’65 that was replaced with a ’66 after a wreck. Fortunately she was alright. I like the ’65s front end better but that’s just a personal preference.
They can’t start it because they don’t have a key?! As easy as this car would be to hot wire?! Hmmmmm.
And the head gasket on the front seat…..hmmmmmm
If that is all it takes, maybe okay.
158K miles was nothing to a Slant Six. That was one of the best engines ever made.
I replied up above. me and my brother made a good living going to West Texas and buying these slant 6. we found some fords with 300 strait 6s. left to rought. but unlike the slant the 300 would brake down on the way back to Dallas. they all had major junk yard parts repairs once back in Dallas. Remarkably all smoked like hell once started and for 10 miles seemed like. but by the time back in Dallas all ran good motor wise. v8 mostly loosing proposition.I think because of people racing them.
My Mom bought one like this. Same color but with an additional 2 doors. Ran great. We decided that as a family (myself and the next sister down were grown and living on our own) we would all drive down together the 400 miles to grandma’s for Christmas very early Christmas morning. It was decided that instead of our usual 2 lane route. We would take the newly completed interstate south and then head east from there. So we figured that traffic would be very light and we could make good time. I drove first and ran about 80-85 most of the time. And we were correct about the traffic, as it was non-existent. When it came time to bail off the interstate I got to the top of the off ramp and there was the Illinois State Police sitting on the other side. (The on ramp) I quickly made my left and fled the scene. I don’t know if they were watching for me or not. Coming home my sister was driving about the same speed I had been driving and she got pulled over for excessive speed. I turned the rear view mirror to watch as back then you sat in the patrol car while they wrote you up. She was a very shapely red head with green eyes and I watched her bat her eyes a couple of times and sure enough she got away with a warning. 2 weeks later it rained and froze and rained some more and froze. Mom’s Dart was leaning on the left side down to the dump stops. It was approximately 12″ deep in ice on the left side and only a little on the right side. (Run off from the apartment roof) After about an hour I was able to chip through the ice on the right side to get the passenger front door open. Luckily, the car had a full tank of gas. As I started the car and turned the defrost (de-ice?) Up full blast and let it sit for 8 hours. After that amount of time, the exhaust had somewhat melted the ice on the left rear corner. So I used a sledgehammer to break the rest of the ice between the ground and the side of the car. Luckily, at the time, I worked at a dealership 1/2 block away. So I drove the car (which was a short but precarious drive because the car was still on the bump stops on the left side, the tires were virtually flat from all the weight, AND I was having to look out the right side of the windshield.) It was after servce hours so I pulled right into the shop and into the wash bay. After running hot water on the car for 4 hours I was able to slide large chunks of ice off the car. The car appeared to have not suffered abit. But the detail guys and several of the techs were puzzled in the morning by several large 200 pound chunks of ice still the wash bay!
Something like this Dart with proper TLC, maintenance will be running long after some New car? and priced out the universe will still be running all the needed parts are on shelves somewhere don’t need a PHD in electrical & mechanical engineering to repair.
Something like this Dart with proper TLC, maintenance will be running long after some New car? and priced out the universe will still be running all the needed parts are on shelves somewhere don’t need a PHD in electrical & mechanical engineering to repair.
Something like this Dart with proper TLC, maintenance will be running long after some New car? and priced out the universe will still be running all the needed parts are on shelves somewhere don’t need a PHD in electrical & mechanical engineering to repair.
I really like that body style and wish there were more around. Good Ole Mopar. 👍
1965 Dart Charger came with the 273″ V-8. Rare to see one today.
Wow Bill Hall you made your point 3 times over
Unusual to see a car from this location having rusted out floors. I have always liked this body style (second to the Baracuda ) A non-rusty manual transmission would be very tough to pass up if it presented itself to me.
I’m a 65 barracuda man my self. these were very relatable cars a body s.