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Survivor or Restoration? 1970 Dodge Dart GT

The fourth generation of the Dodge Dart (1967-76) would be its most successful in terms in sales. The two and four-door sedans would appeal to families seeking inexpensive transportation, while the hardtops and convertibles targeted those who wanted sporty looks and speed. That was until the Dodge Challenger came along in 1970 as well as the Duster-based Demon fastback in 1971. This ‘70 Dart GT connects with the youth side of the equation, but with Chrysler’s smallest V8. Located in Abington, Pennsylvania, this Dodge is available here on eBay where the bidding is up to $8,700 with the reserve still out there.

As Dodge tried to provide a more common look across products lines, the styling of the Dart was mildly refreshed for 1970, primarily with the front clip and taillight section. Most Darts destined for the U.S. market were built in Canada (Windsor, Ontario) with just a few thousand coming out of the plant in Los Angeles. The line-up was reduced by one body style as the Dart convertible was discontinued after 1969.

The seller’s Dart GT looks like a Swinger 340 with the rear stripe and Rallye wheels, but without the 340 motor and hood scoops. This nicely maintained Dart came well equipped when new, including factory air conditioning, tinted glass, buckets seats with a console for the TorqueFlite shifter, power steering, fender mounted turn signals and a headlight/key buzzer (we’re told this rare add-on informs the driver if the headlights are left on or the key is in the ignition).

Under the hood is a “factory” 318 V8 engine, but we’re not sure if that means numbers-matching or a crate motor. But the seller has the original build sheet and fender tag the car had when new. It’s said to be a good performing machine and the A/C will run you out of there. Besides dual exhaust, the rear end is an 8 ¾ with 323 gears. A new set of tires and rims can be found on all four corners, along with the trim rings and center caps.

The body on this Dart looks straight and the green finish beautiful, but it looks like a repaint. One giveaway is that the moldings are still there that separated a two-tone paint job or a vinyl top, neither of which is there now. The chrome bumpers are new and look quite good. The two-tone interior looks great and really pops in this car but looks too new not to be a re-do. With 78,000 miles on the odometer, it would be hard to keep the original stuff on this Dodge looking so good. We wish there were some history to go along with this automobile, but the listing reads as though the car is being offered by a dealer, who wouldn’t necessarily be privy to those details.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo Moparman Member

    Very nice looking, except for that (incorrect) stripe across the rear end. Also, it seems that it previously had a vinyl top, as the chrome trim is still there. No power brakes/ (possibly)steering. IIRC, by 1970, the Dart GT had turned into the Dart Swinger, and Swinger 340, which had hood scoops and a 340. I believe this is just a nice everyday Dodge Dart, correct me if I’m wrong. GLWTA!! :-)

    Like 9
    • Avatar photo Oldog4tz

      With lipstick. Nice car, but unnecessary gussied up

      Like 1
    • Avatar photo Stanley

      A 70-71 dart gt was just a dress up package. There used to be a registy internet page now long gone the guy who started it had a 70 with a /6 looked very similar to this one

      Like 0
    • Avatar photo Jay McCarthy

      Best choice the owner could have made was to lose the vinyl top

      Like 0
  2. Avatar photo Boatman Member

    Seriously questioning if this is a GT.

    Like 6
  3. Avatar photo Bob C.

    The 318 was blue beginning in 1970, so this could very well be numbers matching.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar photo Lance Platt

    Nice sized compact car in good cosmetic condition. Valiants and Darts had a great reputation for dependability back in the 1960s and 1970s. The combination of a 318 with bucket seats and floor mounted automatic transmission is appealing. Power steering and working air conditioning is definitely a plus. The odometer could have turned over without proper documentation. I would invest in power disc brakes but leave it unmolested. Bidding might drive the price way up but it would be a fun car for car shows.

    Like 1
    • Avatar photo Curt Lemay

      Air, yes. Power steering, no. That was awful. These were easy with manual steering, cheaper too, great road feel. This is a great car, the 318 was a nice improvement over the six, but didn’t have the many problems of the 340 or 383. A great car then and now. Remember, most of us drove sixes and standard V8s. Muscle cars were rare in the day. I never regret having never owned one.

      Like 1
  5. Avatar photo Jcs

    She’s gone.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar photo George Louis

    1970 Dart GT featured bucket seats. Body side molding for this car is incorrect. 1970 Body Side Molding was metal with stud retainers and plastic clips not the glue on type on this car. Outside rearview mirrors are some “CHEAP” pieces nowhere close to factory offerings. 1970 318 V8’s did not come with dual exhaust from the factory. That PHONEY rear stripe comes NOWHERE CLOSE to the correct factory stripe for a genuine 340 car. I do not know where you get your vehicle build information but the Hamtramck Assembly Plant, 7900 Joseph Campau. Hamtramck, Mi plant code 04030 was the major Assembly Plant Source for Dodge Dart Swingers in 1970. They were built on Line Number Two the small line. In 1970 Line Number One the Big Line assembled the Dodge Challenger, Plymouth Barracuda, and Plymouth Duster.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar photo Sam

    I’m trying to research to find out if there was a Dart GT in 1970. So far, it seems there was but it was an option package. Still looking for more info.
    P.S. A lot of Darts were built in the Windsor, Ontario, Canada plant, especially 340 Swingers!

    Like 0

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