WIW Original Owner '69 Dodge Dart GTS 340 triple black

[67since67]

I hadn't seen this Dart that Mike ordered in February 1969 since he parked it in 1985 because the fender-well Hooker headers rusted through at 77,000 miles. He recently asked my opinion of value.

'69 GTS 340 A/T. The Original 340 block, intake and exhaust manifolds are present but not in car. 70's vintage Day 2 parts. Original Torqflite is in car with reverse pattern manual valve body.

One repaint more than forty years ago. Under forty years of grime the paint, trim and interior are excellent. I didn't find any soft spots under the vinyl top. One rust spot on lower RF fender. Not undercoated, the floors are excellent.

Envelope of paperwork including window sticker and warranty book. Note that he specified bumble bee stripe delete and "Fast Manual Steering"

I'm hoping Mopar experts here can give me some idea of value to pass along to Mike. TYIA! - Bill W

[A12pilot]

Cool find, Bill! Darts are a funny breed. They are all over the place with price. Your buddy’s car has a few good things going for it with being triple black, papers, and numbers along with a few good options on the sticker. But the flip side is a repaint, wear, not overly rare, and despite the affection for Day 2 parts on this site, it just means bastardized originality to others that needs removal/replacement. Especially the fenderwell headers. That’s a big whack since I’m pretty sure there was a lot of cutting on those inner fenders.

A buddy of mine just sold his driver quality restored 69 GTS, albeit triple green, but with a lot of cool options for $30k. A solid, need nothing car with originality and correctness. So a price for your friend’s? :confused2: Depends on what he wants like a quick sale or does he think he’ll fund his retirement from the sale? I think a realistic price would be be close to the $20k mark, plus or minus a little. A triple black Dart? Go find another…..and you probably won’t so the higher price would be warranted. But at the end of the day it’s a project Dart no matter how you slice it.

But don’t take my advice. I’m lousy with money since I’m a pilot. If I retired today, I’d be good until about 2:30 tomorrow afternoon!:dunno:

But if he’ll take $10k, I’m in!:3gears::headbang::naughty: Remember I’m a pilot, which means I’m also cheap!

Cheers
Dave

[Bill Pritchard]

Unless someone gets it running and driveable, I'd say $12 - $15K as is. And being a former owner of a 69 Dart 340, I think the car is very cool! Like Dave says, find another triple black 69 Dart. Love the under-dash 'Arthur Fulmer' FM-8 track :cool:

[dustinm]

Is he looking to sell? I have a very good friend that would be an excellent caretaker of this Dart for its next venture

[67since67]

Thank you gentlemen!
With your input we were able to establish an asking price. Once word got out in the last couple days there is strong local interest. I'll keep you in mind Chad. - Bill W

[A12pilot]

Excellent, Bill. Glad to see he’s priced it right!

Cheers
Dave

[Bill Pritchard]

Yes, hope it finds the right new owner who will show it some love, whether they leave the Day-2 mods in place or restore it back to original.

[67since67]

Well, Mike had decided to wait till spring to actively market the Dart. Then I was contacted by member here Brent396, and with contact info exchanged a deal was immediately struck. Brent told me he has been looking for this exact car for two years.

Today Brent's friend Adam arrived, the Dart and all accompanying parts were loaded, and it's on the road to MD.

Pix of original owner Mike with Adam before the send off.

[67since67]

These headers are so cool!! They were installed when the car was new. You also get a glimpse of the Direct Connection oil pan with the pass through tube for the center link.

Brent plans on keeping all the Day 2 parts intact.

[67Ss4spd]

Really cool car

[Hawkeye]

Wow. What a cool car and cool Day 2 parts. Brent is a great guy and will definitely treat this car well.
Congrats to all.

Cheers,
Marty

[Mr70]

Glad to see this..

[RALLY]

Nice car. These 340 Darts were quick.

[Lynn]

Glad that worked out for everyone concerned. Cool car.

[jer]

Awesome choice in Mopars! I remember picking up my chevelle in Iowa about this time of year, icicles dripping down the entire front of the car......long drive.

[Bill Pritchard]

Glad that worked out for everyone concerned. Cool car.

x2! :biggthumpup:

[GrumpyJeff]

Very Cool ! The New Owner Adam is a Good Dude ! I know Him from the Vintage Harley Davidson World .

[turbo69bird]

Very cool car and cool story. Hopefully we get to see
More of this car in the future

[jl8z28]

I was wondering how Brent found it i had a 69 340 swinger back in 71

[67since67]

The saga continues...
Adam called me last evening from North GA. He caught the tail end of a storm from here and was determined to be South of the latest storm/freezing line, plus with the I-40 closure in NC, he is looping through Atlanta, then up I-85 and going to hole up at his parents place in NC until the storm passes.

Here are pix of the Dart in Mike's parent's front yard when it was new.

[67since67]

Next up pix from 1970, that's Mike's Dad Earl in the second pic.

Also when it was in the March 1978 issue of Car Craft magazine.
That flamed hood was included in the sale and will make Great Wall art!

[67since67]

Brent asked that I include these pix from the one car garage where the Dart sat for forty years.

When the roof collapsed the flamed hood on edge prevented the rafters from falling on the car. Within four inches.

I'm quite sure that without the roof collapse the Dart would still be parked there as Mike has always firmly stated the he would never sell it.

Side note, that Suzuki snowmobile went to a local snowmobile collector. I could tell you stories...

[scuncio]

This car is just killer.

[Mr70]

Never thought I'd be happy to hear about a roof collapse.

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

Awesome car also very cool whenever anything can change hands within the circle here.
Love to hear the Sled stories, is the Suzy FreeAir a ‘77?
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[JRSully]

Looks like beer drinking saved some more of the structure, keg appears to be holding up all of the shelving on the left, lol. Very cool car

[Bill Pritchard]

I had similar wheels on my 69 Dart back in the day....

[Pro Stock John]

Cool car! Is that a Hurst Promatic shifter?

[Rfish]

It needs to go back to the magazine article appearance with that hood and flames!

[turbo69bird]

My car was raced in 69 and the inside of the trunk looks a bit like that. Must have been a common thing at the time

I also remember reading that particular magazine back in the day. I bet I still have it. I keep everything. So cool to see this car as in that magazine. I’d put it back to as it was in the magazine. Vs a stock car . So many stock cars already

But. Hey I’m a guy who wishes more corvette summer type cars had been saved intact too. Very little representation left of how it really was back then vs how the factory pushed them out the door

When we were kids we didn’t wanna see some stock camaro, firebird , GTO, vette , olds 442 ,etc we poured over magazines to see how people were modifying their cars to suit the times. It’s honestly what made these cars so special I hated reading as a kid but I’d pour over car magazines like crazy reading every article for every tid bit I could.

[67since67]

Dart update! Brent has been busy, buffed the paint, deep cleaning interior and all over. Gone through the brakes and carb. It fires right up and idles well, runs and drives great. Next up is paint touch up and more buffing, pulling the engine to detail the engine compartment.

Looks awesome Brent!!

[Bill Pritchard]

Congrats Brent, doing Mike and the car proud! :worship:

[Mr70]

Amazing,what did you use to clean the vinyl top?

[67since67]

Amazing,what did you use to clean the vinyl top?

Brent says just soap and water. Will apply a conditioner later. I knew this car would clean up well!

Build sheet....

[60sStuff]

Well I need to chime in on this Barn Find.

I absolutely love seeing any car, especially a muscle car that has been stashed for years in an old dilapidated barn / shed.

Those rafters look to be an honest (2 inch x 4 inch) from way back.

Thanks for sharing this awesome story!

[67since67]

Posting upon a few more for Brent, from a half century ago....

[SS427]

I was hoping those would get posted. Saw them the other day on Facebook. Thanks for posting them Bill.

[Bill Pritchard]

Looks like Mike must have taken the car to one of the early Car Craft Street Machine Nationals shows in Indianapolis, and had the car out for a drive on the Indy 500 track. I was fortunate enough to have that same experience with my former 73 Camaro....fun stuff!