1966 Dodge Dart

GT -

8 - Cyl.

Manual

LP27D62507599

Gasoline

I'm relisting this car. I ran it 2 weeks ago and the bidding got fast and furious at the end, but ended at $15,200, just $2300 shy of my reserve. I have lowered my reserve to $17,000 and set a Buy it Now price at my original reserve of $17,500, so everybody knows the score. I have seen a number of Darts of this vintage lately, but very few if any have this drivetrain combo, let alone the color. Up for auction here is this absolutely beautiful 1966 Dodge Dart GT convertible. This is an original "D" code V8 car, not a 6 cylinder converted to a V8.It is equipped with the 273/235 horsepower, 4 bbl engine and rare 4 speed transmission, and finished in a breathtaking one year only 1966 factory color called Mauve Poly. I know very little of the history of this car. There is no fender tag, nor any paperwork. The extensive work that was done was probably done a few years ago, but is still beautiful to behold. I purchased the car from a friend who bought it from the previous owner a few months ago and passed along verbal info to me from that owner. I do have that person's contact info. He knows much more about the car and did much of the work. I have not tried to contact him, as I felt funny since I had decided to sell the car so soon, but will pass the info along to the winning bidder. I will try to describe the car in sections as follows. WHY AM I SELLING? - Good question. When I first laid my eyes on this car after my friend had purchased it not long ago, it was LOVE. I was simply dazzled by the color, equipment and condition. I still am. A 4 speed V8 ragtop, very cool! But after going through alot of trouble to purchase the car and trailer it to my home in Vermont, personally, I realized I really want a car that I can modify and terrorize the streets in. This car is just too nice to do all that to and I should have realized that from the start. I begged my friend to sell it to me and he agreed. When I recently told him I was going to sell the car, I think he thought I was nuts. I probably am. He ended up buying another car, otherwise said he would buy it back, such is life. So I offer it to you in hopes that you will find it as alluring as I did, but want to keep it basically stock. Without a fender tag, to document, I was first going to contact Chrysler Archives and get the build card for it. From there I was going to contact Galen Govier and get him to thoroughly research and document the car. From that info, I was going to have a fender tag made. I think this type of unique car deserves to have that done. BODY/UNDERSIDE - Being involved in the autobody business as a car painter for almost 30 years, I hope I can say I have a pretty good eye for collector cars that have not only been done to certain level of quality, but cars that also started out as nice, solid and rust-free. And living in Southern California for 25 years helped me. So when I look at the body and underside of this Dart GT I see a car that spent much of it's life in the dry southwest according to what I was told. I see no evidence of panel replacement or obvious repairs. I have looked extensively to find evidence of a color change, and DO believe this car was originally Mauve Poly. I have climbed inside the trunk, looked deep down in the convertible top well, under the carpet and more and see nothing to make me think this car was ever another color. If it was, great pains were taken to change it. The paintwork is no doubt a modern base/clear 2 stage system, wetsanded and buffed to a deep, beautiful luster. There are no real chips or scratches to speak of. It has been well cared for. The body is very straight when sighting down the sides. It is NOT perfect, no car ever is. I would consider the finish work to be of a very high driver level. Also as a car painter, I do not throw around the term "restoration" as so many do. A restoration is a process that truly involves re-doing every nut and bolt on a car, putting the body on a rotisserie and make it far better then when it was new. In essence making the car so nice as to be almost not driven for fear of ruining it. While those cars are stunning to look at, I like to drive my cars. This car is NOT a true restoration. It is a combination on mostly original chrome and trim and refurbished mechanicals and cosmetics. It looks to have been done perhaps a few years ago, but nicely maintained. I have made no attempt ot clean the underside, but with a little time spent on a Saturday, it would look even better. Much detailing was done to the car, including under the hood, in the trunk and door jambs. CHROME/TRIM - Much of the lower trim, wheel opening moldings, rocker moldings, etc, look mint. For the most part the chrome is quite nice. The bumpers have some light "aging" in the chrome that show up more with my camera flash, but are there, more in the front than the rear. In other words, looks like a dry southwest 44 year old bumpers that have had good care, but is not going to look brand new. They are straight and dent-free and very presentable. I guess I would be torn as to rechrome them or not. I like the fact that they are nice originals. I guess the new owner can make that choice. A few pits here and there on the trim, but the remainder of the trim is at least as good as the bumpers or better. INTERIOR - The interior of this Dart GT is quite nice. The first thing I noticed when I sat in it is how "new" the car smelled, no musty or mothball odor. It's wonderful. From what I was told, the interior is mostly new Legendary parts. Seats are firm and rebuilt and re-covered with correct upholstery front and back, orig style carpet replaced, mint dash pad, convertible top and pads were replaced and are very nice. The plastic window is clear, with just some slight scuffs from being in the down position. The top bows and frame have been completely removed, refurbished and repainted. Door panels are beautiful as well. Overall a very striking bucket seat interior. About the only "weakspots" are the top of the console should probably be resprayed silver and the "chrome" plastic on the dash bezel is a little worn, pretty minor stuff and there is a small tezar in the shift boot which is very hard to see unless you really look down into the boot. It also features the optional 3 spoke "wood" wheel. The wheel really looks great in there, especially sitting next to that original inland 4 speed shifter, great combo! With the top in the down position, snap the tonneau cover in place and it finishes off the interior very nicely as shown in the last two pics. DRIVETRAIN/MECHANICAL - From what I know, the 273/235 hp "D" code engine was rebuilt. The transmission according to my friend was also rebuilt. New clutch and pressure plate were installed. Engine compartment is nicely detailed with correct valve covers, and chrome unsilenced air cleaner. In looking closely, again clearly much work went into re-doing this area. The car also features power steering which performs flawlessly, no squaly noises when cranked all the way, just very smooth. Brakes are manual drums, which actually do a good job of stopping the car, not by todays standards of course, but compared to cars of it's era. I am told both brakes and front end were rebuilt and it feels like it. The exhaust system is the proper single exhaust system as these cars were with an NOS resonator and correct chrome tip to the tune of $700 just for the res and tip. The exhaust is quiet, with just a hint of V8 rumble, so you know there is not a 6 banger under the hood. TIRES/WHEELS - INCLUDED WITH THE CAR ARE TWO COMPLETE SETS OF TIRES AND WHEELS. The car is pictured with era correct repro Goodyear Blue Streak bias ply tires, mounted on Cragar S/S wheels in the proper small Mopar 5 on 4" lug pattern setting the previous owner back about $2300. Check it out as these tires go for $350 each! They look awesome on there. But if you prefer more of a stock look and perhaps the added safefy and driveablity of radials tires, INCLUDED are a complete set of 4 Michelin radial whitewalls in near-new condition, mounted on the orignal steel wheels with the correct mint full Dodge hubcaps. It makes the car look painfully original! So you have a choice on the look you want, with just the changing of wheels and tires in minutes. Also included are the proper lug nuts for each set of wheels. PERFORMANCE/DRIVEABLITY - I have only driven this little Dart GT a few miles. I believe it drives and performs exactly as it was intended to. The 273 4 bbl engine was never designed to compete with the big block or hemi cars of the day. That being said it accelerates very strong all the way through the power band, with no hesitation, smoke, funny noises or anything else, just 235 very willing horsepower, similar in feel to the "A" code 289 4 bbl Mustangs of the day. It idles silky smooth. The transmission shifts smoothly and with no fuss through all 4 gears, plus the reverse lockout works smoothly as do the back-up lights. Gearing feels proper for the car, no popping out of gear, not grinding of syncros, nothing, does it's job very well, also clutch feels very nice too. The rear end is quiet and again performs as you would expect. In driving the car it has a very tight feeling that could only come from rebuilding the front end and making sure the suspension components were gone through. It is truly a pleasure to drive, an absolutely remarkable cruiser that will bring a smile to you face every time you fire it up and hit the backroads. All accessories work, lights, reverse lights, signals, horn, wipers, radio etc. just as it should, no excuses. FINAL THOUGHTS - I certainly have a lot of good things to say about this car and rightly so. It is really a turn-key car that is ready to be enjoyed without spending a dime on it. Anything I have mentioned that might be considered "weak" are merely cosmetic items that could be improved on if the owner felt it worth the trouble and cost. But make no mistake, this car will turn heads and spark comments and admiring stares wherever you go, and probably pick up a couple of trophies in the process if you like the car show thing. It is truly unique with it's combination of one year only Mauve Poly paint, offered only in 1966, 273/235 4bbl hp engine, 4 speed transmission and of course the fact that it is a convertible. Please check my feedback and bid with confidence. You are welcome to inspect the car. Feel free to ask any questions. If you need pics of something specific, just ask, but will need you e-mail address to send them. Transport is buyer's responsiblity. And payment in full is expected with 7 days. You can call to discuss details of the car by phone at 802 485-7411 between 9 am and 10pm EDT. I'm happy to talk about the car. If you like it, bid to where you are comfortable. Depending on the progress of the auction, I may remove the reserve if bidding gets close, you never know. Happy Bidding, Brent On Apr-12-10 at 03:44:32 PDT, seller added the following information: MONDAY MORNING FOLKS. THE AUCTION STARTED LAST NIGHT AND I HAVE DECIDED TO REMOVE THE BUY IT NOW AND THE RESERVE IS NOW SET AT $101. SO THE NEXT BID WILL REMOVE THE RESERVE AND THEN HIGH BIDDER WINS THE CAR THIS COMING SUNDAY NIGHT AT 5PM PDT/8PM EDT. GOOD LUCK!!!!!