Photos from the Cohort by Hyperpack.
About ten days ago I shared some photos from the Cohort with a bunch of junked ’63-’64 Dodge Darts on a field. What I didn’t say on that occasion was that I was saving the best for last. You know the trick; whet the appetite and get folks ready for the main course. Said main course is finally here, a remarkably well-preserved 1964 Dart GT convertible.
This Dart GT convertible is actually in the same location as our previously featured junky ones. It’s the G.O. Auto Sales dealership in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. A family business that at the time of the photos was closing down and getting rid of the inventory. Some were to be sold, some scrapped.
Of course, the Darts from last time sat in the surrounding lots for spare parts. Today’s was in the sales area.
We’ve covered these Dodge Darts of ’63-’64 before at CC, and you can find the links below to get our take on the model. Still, for those not familiar with the subject our Chief Editor had this short take on them recently:
The Dart GT was a minor hit, and one of the precursors to the Mustang. There was a surprisingly (to Detroit) large segment of the market that wanted a smaller but nicely trimmed sporty sedan/coupe. Single persons, younger couples, two-car families, etc.. They had seen (and possibly bought) what nicely trimmed European imports were like, and they were sick of big cars. These offered a much nicer experience in terms of interior, handling and image than a comparably priced big, heavy mid-trim car, especially the sixes.
The Mustang sucked all these sporty compact buyers up in one irresistible package.
As usual, the Darts came in various states of trim and tune. Entry level was the 170, followed by the better-trimmed 270. You could go above both with the GT, offering better fittings and sportiness. Today’s is a GT and carries the 273 CID V8 with 2bbl. carburation. And in convertible form, Mopar forums claim 2130 GT units with 273s were built for ’64.
Let’s move on to the interior, all rather well preserved. And let’s take a closer look at that push-button Torqueflite automatic.
If you enjoyed these push-button wonders, ’64 was the last year to have them. By ’65, these were going to the ash heap of history.
Rear seats and convertible top look in pretty good condition too.
A few more detail photos. And looks like the GT’s last inspection was in 1997?
As can be seen, the car hadn’t moved much until recently. There’s no mention of the car’s fate in the Cohort post, but considering its condition, it’s most likely in a new loving home by now (Update: It has yet to find a home. See comments below).
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1964 Dodge Dart 270 – The Valiant Brougham
Vintage Car Life Road Test: 1963 Dodge Dart – “An Entirely New Dart”
This car is still on the showroom floor as of June 2024; it has not left yet. It’s in good shape and would need a top as the one on the car would crack if it were to be lowered. It has had one repaint before Dad acquired it in about 1989 or so. I have not been under the car for some 30 years but I suspect that it is all pretty solid as I believe it spent most of it’s time in California before making it back east. I moved it around to preserve indoor storage for about 15 years up at my grandparents’ empty garage in about 2003 or so.
We brought it back to the dealer showroom sometime before the covid pandemic began.
It would need the typical service of any car that has been sitting for 25+ years. Fresh fluids, carburetor rebuild, brake system service, Check all the seals and a new battery and fresh tires.
I used to take this dart to local car cruises with Dad from ~1994-2002. The stock 9″ brakes and single pot master cylinder were not the best for hilly suburban Pittsburgh but we never had any real problems with it., just had to be mindful of the fact that it had stock 9″ drums all around!
The 273 is not powerful or high revving as it is the 2 Bbl version. Some previous owner had installed a Glasspak muffler and it has a nice lopey rumble at adle which is probably only at about 550 RPM. This engine has the mechanical camshaft, lifters, and valvetrain. Chrysler would soon switch the LA engine series over to full Hydraulic lifter in the next 2-3 years.
Here is a picture of a car cruise nite when Dad and I took the ’68 and ’64 GT convertibles to a local show:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149826863@N07/51322165346/in/album-72157719561095418/
and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/149826863@N07/51355662911/in/album-72157719561095418/
Enjoy!
Can’t believe no one in “tri state, area” is interested! Too hard to get parts?
Nice to read some history from the post above. Nice car, desirable year and with a 273. Wish I had room!
Flagship of the Fleet!
These will never not make me think of Tom Magliozzi, RIP.
Click and Clack, and also in the Cars movie.
Yes, I miss my weekend mornings wrenching at the home garage with the NPR Car talk show on the radio. Those guys with (I think)their Boston accents are indelibly recorded in my brain’s soundtrack.
These Darts are cool. I have always appreciated that they were significantly differentiated from the Variants on which they were based. I’m glad that Slant Six chimes in with specifics, and I hope this one goes to an appreciative m, new owner.
It’s a looker for sure!
Love 64 273 Darts, my buddy and I had a 270 series 2 door sedan with a 273/ 4 speed combo. We built it up for pro-rally use.I remember we scored a recently rebuilt 273 4 barrel hipo motor out of wrecked 65 Dart.That car would haul butt! Boy, I miss that car.
Wow this car is nice ! is that 130,000 miles ? .
My first thought was “? does it have the solid lifter 273?” .
I cannot imagine this car not selling now in the Spring of 2024, what’s the asking price ? .
-Nate
It’s well known that Dodge dealers were upset when the decision was made that the Mustang-competitor Barracuda A-body would be a Plymouth exclusive. So, they would get the 1966 Charger specialty car as compensation.
Regardless, the Dart GT wasn’t a bad alternative to the Plymouth ponycar, and it would be that way until the E-body Challenger arrived for 1970. 1967-69, in particular, would see some quite sporty versions, including the GTS and Swinger hardtops and convertibles which, honestly, were more attractive than the Barracuda coupe and convertible of the same years. Then, too, the Darts always got the same powertrains as the Barracuda. One of the more well-known was Mannix’ custom Dart that included an in-car telephone.
The high-point might have been the 1968 Hurst-built, Super Stock special Hemi-Dart. While technically street-legal, you’d have to be a real masochist to try that with extreme measures taken to make them as purpose-built as possible. They were real terrors on the strip, and could easily have been seen as the impetus for the Ford Mustang 428CJ and COPO Camaro 427, both of which were relatviely tame compared to the brutal Hemi-Dart.
Likewise, Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago created dealer special big-block 383 and 440 GSS Darts, both of which resulted in Chrysler offering their own factory versions.
The final performance dealer special from Mr. Norm’s would be the Demon GSS which was just a stock Demon 340 with an added supercharger.
I remember a yellow 65 dart gt, hipo 273 commando with one big rear exhaust outlet, but dauls to the outlet, 4spd and it was quick small 13 inch wheels, it was a terror off stop lights. Would embarass big v8 sleds that were slower out of the gate. That 273 was the precursor to the hot 340 later on.
It’s still there.
For $22,000 it can be yours.
I see that car every day.
He has a beautiful 1970 Sport Fury in the back of the garage.
I can’t remember what the price of it is.
But it’s orange with black interior and a 440 under the hood.