Dodge entered the compact market in 1961 with the Lancer, a variant of the quirky Plymouth Valiant. It wasn’t very successful, so the car was redesigned and given the Dart name, where it flourished through 1976. A redesign came in 1967, the year the seller’s grocery getter 4-door sedan was built – but with a small V8 rather than the Slant-Six. Located in Vancouver, Washington, this nice running survivor is available here on craigslist for $6,900. Thumbs up to “Curvette” for the Mopar tip.
The A-body Dodge Dart of 1967 was better engineered than its predecessor. The front track was wider and the front end reinforced so the car could accept engines larger than the 273 cubic inch V8 in the seller’s car. The appearance of the cars helped raise sales numbers, so we assume the Valiant/Dart combo came in third behind the Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova and the Ford Falcon. Besides the small-block, the seller’s car has a 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission.
As the story goes, this Dodge was purchased new for a student in Portland, Oregon. After that, it lived on the streets with occasional use, beginning in the 1990s. So, it sounds as though the seller has some degree of history about the car that could be shared. Its overall condition is good, and we’re told it runs well, even with 138,000 miles to its credit. The upholstery and headliner have been redone, so the passenger compartment should be comfy enough.
The body isn’t perfect, with a few little dings and dents. And the blueish-green paint is faded but might respond to some wax and elbow grease. The seller has part of a period-correct A/C system you can install after you source the missing pieces. A new windshield is needed (cracked?), and the dash lights seem to have a mind of their own. If you think this old Dart has plenty of life left, hit up the seller with an offer.
Seems like a nice little driver. Of course, I’d want to know what’s under the dreaded steering wheel cover. (Why do so many people put those things on their cars, and more importantly, why don’t they take them off to take photos???)