It can sometimes be challenging to determine whether a particular classic is desirable, but when a car attracts sixty-two bids in under four days, you know the seller has a winner on their hands. Such is the case with this 1968 Dodge Dart GT. It isn’t perfect or original, but the upgraded V8 under the hood should guarantee neck-snapping performance. Its most pressing need is a new home, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Laguna Hills, California. Bidding currently sits below the reserve at $11,700, but the action so far suggests it will climb significantly before the hammer falls.
Dodge introduced its Fourth Generation Dart in 1967, with the new model featuring crisp and clean styling that bore little resemblance to its predecessor. Our feature car rolled off the line in 1968 and immediately creates a fascinating optical illusion. The seller describes the paint shade as “White,” but it looks closer to Code S Yellow in most exterior shots. However, the prevailing light is to blame because the included documentation and a couple of the photos confirms the color. They describe the appearance as average but presentable. The paint has plenty of minor flaws and imperfections, but nothing demands immediate attention. The winning bidder will probably treat it to a cosmetic refresh, but the lack of urgent problems means they can take their time making that decision. The panels are straight, with no signs of exterior corrosion issues. That doesn’t mean it is rust-free because one underside shot reveals penetrating rust in the front floor. It is repairable without needing total pan replacement, and it is one task I would tackle fairly quickly. The glass is in good order, but some trim pieces require replacement. A couple of exterior upgrades add to this car’s appeal. The original hood has made way for a GTS item, while the Dart rolls on a set of sparkling Rallye wheels.
This Dart’s interior is tidy and serviceable, but some attention could lift the presentation significantly higher. The aftermarket cloth seatcovers exhibit wear, and the headliner is wrinkled on the rear sail panels, but the remaining upholstered surfaces are free from physical damage. Replacement seatcovers in the correct material would leave little change from $1,000, but the improvement from this investment would be profound. The dash and pad are excellent, but the factory radio is missing. The original owner ordered the car with bucket seats, a console, and a floor shifter. These combine to provide a classy appearance that would still turn heads today. The seller mounted some gauges under the dash, which are a worthwhile addition when we examine what hides under the hood.
The original owner ordered this Dart with the 273ci V8, a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, and power steering. That little V8 provided 190hp and 260 ft/lbs of torque, which would have satisfied most owners. However, that wasn’t the case with the seller because the 273 is now a distant memory. The engine bay houses a built 340ci V8 featuring an array of upgrades. The 360 cylinder heads are polished and flow-tested. It inhales deeply through a Holley 770cfm Street Avenger carburetor, with spent gases exiting via headers and a dual exhaust with Flowmasters. The engine has clocked around 10,000 since the build, with the front end receiving a rebuild at the same time. The seller holds receipts for the work and includes the original Broadcast Sheet in the deal. This classic runs and drives perfectly, with this YouTube video confirming the engine sounds sweet and strong.
Due to the modifications, this 1968 Dodge Dart GT wouldn’t appeal to purists, but it has hit a sweet spot with the general market. The bidding has been frantic already, and plenty of time remains on this auction for the action to intensify. This car isn’t perfect, but it could be an ideal candidate for a new owner seeking a hands-on project providing excellent performance. If you fit that description, joining the battle for this Dart could be worth considering.
There was the green 67 Dart with the 360 here on BF. That was a cool ride. Now this 68 Dart 273-2 gone.. 340-4 installed. Another cool ride. I like the engine compartment. The red paint was for 273. 340 should be orange. Maybe the seller like the color red. I do hope that’s a 340 block. The next buyer should look at the block for numbers to make sure what engine is sitting there. The 273/318/340/360 are inter changeable parts. That said… . I wonder what rear gears are in the rear? Personally I would put in 3.91 posi. Small blocks love to rev. This is a fun Mopar so good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
3.91 ? Ever travel on a highway without ear plugs? Probably not. I once asked a smug Harley driver with open pipes how he heard anything at all. He smiled and said he used ear plugs. I said the rest of us didn’t have those so it was wrong to have such a loud machine. He said loud pipes save lives and I reminded him, not his, if i ran him over out of despair. Getting back on topic, son, 3.23 was standard for sticks for many years because it was the best compromise. I used to run a 318 Plymouth with a 2.74 on the freeways at 90+, and it was comfortable enough to hear Mozart on the stereo inside while running the air.
Grant, The part of your comment I can apprciate is listening to Mozart at 90 on the freeway. Yes. Other than that you sound a bit self important which is just unfortunate.
3.91’s are a really nice road gear compromise if you also want performance. 4:10’s are a bit much. The loud pipes idea has been soundly disproved as a life saver, but continues to be an excuse.
A pretty nice car in what was considered white but was more of a cream color.
340s were red in ’68. I think orange started in 1970.
I have a 69′ 340 4-speed and it came, Hemi orange. The automatics were blue. 360 heads? They had 4 and 2 bbl heads. Enlarging the intake valves to 2.02 would make the 4 bbl heads, as in a “J” head. There were later 360 4 bbl heads, as in the Little Red Express or cop cars. What 360 heads are we referring about? Looks like a “FUN” car.
Grant .. thanks for calling me son. It put a smile on my face. I am 65 😊. I know about the hi-way gears . Driven my buddy 73 Cuda 340 which was not stock and 3:91gears. It didn’t bother us because it sounded cool. Also drove my my 70 Challenger RT with 4:30 gears for a while than pop in 3:55. The reason for the 3:91 on the 340 it hits the sweet spot on the rpm’s. But I understand where you are coming from. It all depends how you use the ride. Thanks.. 🐻🇺🇸
Forgive Grant his favorite car is a Honda Civic do he really isn’t a car guy.
Do tell us mark, what exactly IS a real car guy?
Grant may be a car guy, but he hates performance Mopars ; he doesn’t gripe about any other brands performance cars that get posted.
I’m a few weeks shy of 68. I had a ’66 Valiant with a 340, 4-speed, and 4.30 gears from ’72 until ’78, when I put the 340 in my ’65 Barracuda, along with the 8-3/4 rear end and 4.30 gears. I drove the Barracuda with that combination until 2015, and it was a blast around town. Not so much on the highway, but that wasn’t why I built it.
Okay, I am older than you, but perhaps not old enough to call you son. My friend, at our age, I don’t think it would sound “cool” anymore, at least not in the long run. I guess if you just drive to lay rubber strips and dual Toyotas at street lights, then the 3.91 is for you. To each his own, but I like to actually use transportation to transport me someplace, usually a fair distance from where I started from. Maybe it comes from me coming from someplace where cars were not for the common people. I learned to drive in this country in my 20s. I didn’t grown up with the car culture. I didn’t listen to the Beach Boys singing about it. In London, we heard all those California songs, but didn’t really understand them I guess.
Different horses for different courses, my man. Not everyone wants – or needs – a highway flier.
Just because your use case is different than somebody else’s doesn’t mean that yours is automatically correct and theirs is silly. And following “To each his own” then condescendingly running down the interests as not YOUR own doesn’t dilute your Smug BS.
In short, your provincialism is showing Clive …
I normally love seeing Rallye wheels on 67-70 Darts. But on this car I think I’d go back to dog dishes for the full sleeper effect. This thing is effectively a hopped up 340 Swinger. It’s going to surprise anyone who thinks it’s a typical Dart GT with a 225-6 or 273. Whoever buys this thing is going to have fun with it!
Grant: “…and dual Toyotas …” is that proper King’s English? Perhaps you meant DUEL?
I’m afraid Grant is going senile. Should have kept on working, then maybe the old noggin wouldn’t have shank so much. Better hurry up and finish that great American novel before I really off the deep end. You guys should pick up a copy when it comes out. Still title less but it is about a cantankerous old man who seeks vengeance on the cars of those who correct him online. It is going to be a hoot!
I hear you Grant . I was born and raised in the Bronx NY. Car culture all around. I was lucky to understand at age 11 about muscle cars. I watching a 68 GTO pop the clutch and smoking the tires…I was into cars and getting different magazines to understand what was done to muscle cars to make them fast. Today I drive a 2016 Jeep G.C Hemi and love it. I modify the Jeep the exhaust and updated the electronics and intake and it makes me feel like I’m 18 again. My wife is still waiting for me to grow up! 😂I just told my wife when I die just bury me with the Jeep! 😂
Either way, it’s a nice car which is the reason we are here. Hopefully it goes to a nice home no matter what rear it has.
Keep the gears and swap out the 3-speed automatic for a modern 4-speed automatic with Overdrive. Acceleration around town and comfortable cruising on a trip. Best of both worlds.
Interesting car… but the wheels body color look like WWll military “artillery wheels” in body color. Paint them back to Argent or the original color, and I’d see about removing the side trim when it came time for body or paint work. 340 was a great little engine! Fun car!
In today’s episode, the part of Howard is being played by Grant. And those of you that feel the need to criticize and twist much of what he is saying as you typically do in either case… well you know who you are, don’t you?
My first new car was a 71 DEMON 340 auto. It had 3.91 gears and it was great! That car was a graduation gift to myself back in 71. Today I own a 71 Demon 340 4speed, and I change the gears around every so often. 4.10, 3.91, 3.23 and 2.76. Take your pick. Yeah I’m over 70 and I’ve never grown up! Life is short so have fun while you can. This Dart is a great starting point for a fun time! Screw Biden and his EV crap!
Personally I think it’s at about top dollar for anything like this. Yeah it’s nice, nice work but it’s got the no no’s. No numbers no money. We let USED CARS from scrap parts piles lumped together into the premium price bracket. Time for a reality check on painted junkyard dog prices.
had a 67 dart, factory 273 solid lift 4sp bench (the bench had a relief in it for the 4sp)
had a broken timing chain when I got it, think I was 17 yrs
out goes the 273, 340 goes in, mopar purple cam, XX heads, think it was cyclone headers
had to replace the rearend, this car came with something weak
8 3/4 3.91 posi, what a difference
the only thing that bothered me was using a dual point distributer that had chevy points
the dwell was easy to set, but choking the word chevy, ha!