Description
This Dart is ready to drive and is not a project car. I bought it to clean it up and do some minor restoration, but life has gotten in the way, and this is no longer feasible for me. I have only had it one year and have only put a few hundred miles on it.
It has had 4 owners to my knowledge. It comes with a full reprint shop manual, an original set of spare keys, original pamphlet, and a full can of oil. Also included are the original jack and tire iron.
It is MOT/ road tax exempt but I have had it checked out by a commercial classic garage and a private mechanic, both this year.
The car has been used as a car and not a collector's item. It has some bumps and rust.
For specifics, condition is as follows.
Pros:
- excellent driving experience around town. I try to avoid motorways with it as it is a classic. But she likes to roll at 30mph and 60mph.
- Very unique, featuring an automatic push-button transmission
- Cold starts after a couple of weeks take 10-15 seconds, warm starts when driving around are 1-2 seconds
- she has never failed to start
- Visually the car appears mostly original. The alternator may be newer.
- Exterior is mostly in great shape, sans some rust spots and a couple of dents (see photos)
- Interior in excellent condition with only two major tears in seating.
- Electrics work great, everything is largely functional (sans temperature control, original radio)
- beautiful glowing green backlight on dash and buttons
- interior and exterior lights work, turning signal, etc.
- coating underneath is in good shape
- the horn sounds genuinely remarkable!
Cons (see photos):
- there is minor rust on the body, and a lot of surface rust in the boot. This is due to the poor weather stripping on the boot door when in the rain, which I was planning to replace myself
- a couple of dents, mainly one on boot door and one near left headlight
- Brake wise there is some minor warping and the drums are a bit worn. I was planning a disc conversion probably in 2028. They function fine and they've been inspected, but I wouldn't leave it go for another 5 or 10 years if you plan on regular/ distance driving
- the temperature control does not work, but was not actually something I was planning on fixing
- the radio only picks up one station
- the rubber on the gaskets could use replaced within the next few years as well, again depending on how often you drive
- missing a bezel on brakelight
All in all, she is not a show model, she is an honest, solid car (with a ton of potential if you wish to go down that route). My plans were simple restorations and touch ups. She will work as a daily, a grocery getter or a weekend getaway car as it stands now. The slant six is legendary for its dependability and is considered one of the best engines ever made. It was not made for incredible power, though the engine can be modified if that is your plan
It is a wonderful and unique piece of Mopar history with the venerable slant six engine, and the perfect width for driving on UK roads. "There is more character in this car than half in the garage put together" is a rough quote from the first inspection I took her to.
I have driven the car on the back roads here in Ayrshire and never had a single issue with spacing. She is far more suited to the smaller UK streets than some of her other American siblings and cousins.
I love this car and am a little heartbroken, but life is life. She will make the perfect starter classic or low-maintenance addition; she runs fine but there are still some things to do if you want to.
