Vehicle Description
Sometimes it seems the Mopar guys are so busy chasing Chargers and
Daytonas that they forget about Dodge's equally awesome, and
sometimes more exclusive, Dart GTS. Lightweight, and available with
an array of ground-pounding V8s, the unassuming Dart was the
fratzog brand's reasonably-priced alternative for buyers who wanted
big performance for not a lot of money. And ultimately, when it
comes to modern day collectability, living in the shadows of those
more famous brothers was a great thing for cars like this striking
GTS. One of only five 383/4-speed Dart GTS convertibles built, and
the only Medium Copper Metallic example known to exist, this
square-jawed land rocket is an incredibly rare car that's freshly
restored, highly correct and fully documented. Congratulations to
the car's lucky new owner on picking up his next trophy winner!
Yes, this is a real one-of-one Dart GTS drop-top. And yes, it is
fresh out of a ground-up restoration that was conducted by the pros
at our own RKM Performance Center. As you all probably know, the
guys at RKMPC work with a lot of vintage metal. But, given this
stunning rag-top's exclusivity, they pulled no punches in making it
one of the absolute best Mopar restorations on the planet. Here's
what Chrysler Historical Services has on file for the car's VIN,
delivery information and optional equipment:
VIN: LP27H72XXXXXX
L - Dodge Dart
P - Premium
27 - Convertible
H - 383 cubic inch high performance V8 that's fitted with one
4-barrel carburetor
7 - 1967 model year
2 - Assembled at Chrysler's Hamtramck manufacturing facility
XXXXXX - Production sequence number
DELIVERY INFORMATION:
Region - Kansas City, Missouri
Dealer - Swift Dodge in North Kansas City, Missouri
Shipped date - March 21, 1967
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:
TT1 Medium Copper Metallic paint
Floor-shifted 4-speed manual transmission
3.23 gears
383 cubic inch V8 that's equipped with a 4-barrel carburetor and
dual exhaust
D70x14 Red Streak tires
Transaudio AM radio
Windshield tint
White convertible top
This awe-inspiring convertible rolled into the RKM Performance
Center looking weathered but complete. After 44 years of road time,
you might expect any steel body to be a ball of rust. But, aside
from a thorough sandblasting, the car needed very little metalwork.
Our team's goal was to keep this Dodge as close to 100% Chrysler
Corporation as possible, so they went to work straightening,
flattening and finessing its body into clean, laser-straight
surfaces. Since that body had never been wrinkled, or had any
unfortunate run-ins with a drag strip guard rail, its reassembled
panels displayed stellar gaps. Eventually, weeks of primer and
sanding counted down to a glossy coat of Chrysler code T Medium
Copper Metallic two-stage. And today, this spotless Dart reflects a
finish that's not too light, not too dark and just as sublime as
its rhythmical name suggests.
Widely regarded as one of the most successful compact platforms to
ever roll out of Detroit, the Dart offered buyers the same
excellent combination of performance and style in the '60s as it
does today. At the front of the car, a black, anodized grille
centers blocky "GT" lettering between large parking lamps, large
headlights and a pristine chrome bumper. Above that grille, a
"DODGE" branded hood flows to fresh glass that's cleared by
satin-finished wipers, framed in new stainless trim and capped in
correct White vinyl. Below that glass, faceted body panels are
detailed with traditional door handles, ornate rocker trim and a
correct chrome mirror. At the base of that mirror, a familiar
Chrysler pentastar combines with stylish, fratzog-branded fender
spears to perfectly complement bold "GTS" and "383 FOUR BARREL"
emblems. And at the back of the car, an anodized valence centers
more "GT" lettering between canted tail lights and a second
pristine bumper.
Lift this Mopar's flat hood and you'll find a stalwart, 383 cubic
inch B V8 that, while generally underappreciated, was versatile
enough to serve as Chrysler's big motor backbone for well over a
decade. At the top of the Corporate Blue block, an orange-detailed
Carter 4-barrel funnels wind from an Organisol-dressed air cleaner
to a high performance intake. At the sides of that intake,
attractive chrome valve covers cap correct heads, which hang over
professionally restored exhaust manifolds. At the front of those
manifolds, a traditional points distributor sequences spark through
Chrysler Corporation Electronic Suppression cables. And in front of
that distributor, a beefy Chrysler radiator circulates water
through fresh Chrysler hoses and familiar squeeze clamps. Overall,
the clean engine bay is a nice combination of form and function,
featuring items like a retro yellow cap battery, a reproduction
Certicard and an old school Chrysler washer tank. And everything
from its fenders to its firewall is coated in the same excellent
looking two-stage as the car's glossy exterior panels.
Throw this Dodge on a lift and you'll find a fully restored
undercarriage that, in addition to grilling many Fords and Chevys,
looks clean enough to grille a rib eye steak on. Rock-solid floors,
which are covered in a correct combination of gray primer and
Medium Copper overspray, provide the perfect backdrop for a
completely rebuilt suspension. Behind the motor, a 23-spline A833
4-speed takes care of gear selection while an 8.75-inch rear end
spins power through 3.23 gears and a beefy Sure Grip differential.
Around that drivetrain, an OEM-style chassis retains torsion bars
up front and parallel leafs out back. Cool and confident stops are
provided by a full set of manual drum brakes. Exhaust flows through
traditional turbo mufflers. At the corners of the floor, 14-inch
steel wheels spin D70-14 Firestone Wide Oval Super Sport redlines
around 'Mopar Mag' hub caps. And thorough examination of all this
Dodge's bushings, lines and hoses ensures an excellent mix of
road-ready reliability and red carpet appeal.
According to this Dart's fender tag, that nostalgic White interior
is indeed factory-correct equipment. And, while many muscle car
fans might prefer a traditional 'coal chamber' cockpit, there's no
denying this classic's unique presence. The first thing that
catches your eye is a duo of rebuilt bench seats which are firm to
the touch and feature tightly-pleated covers. At the bottom of
those seats, fade-free carpet flows past "Dart" branded floor mats
to a small chrome shifter. Above that shifter, a warp-free dash
anchors simple gauges and an old school Dart All Transistor radio
in an attractive, C-notched contour. At the sides of that dash,
white door panels hang bright chrome hardware between Flat Black
frames, bold "DART GT" badges and stain-free armrests. The driver
spins a simple black steering wheel around chrome, fratzog-branded
horn hardware. And behind the cockpit, a fully restored trunk hauls
a correct jack and a plaid-patterned mat below a fresh decklid
decal.
The sale of this highly exclusive compact includes:
An original broadcast sheet
An original VIN tag
An original fender tag
Original marketing materials
An original owner's manual
The aforementioned Chrysler Historical Services document
A stack of restoration photos
With collectors' primary focus on other members of Dodge's
incredible family, it's been entirely too easy to ove...for more
information please contact the seller.
