60's Dart Field Find Question

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FastasDart

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Hey all, new to here but not new to cars. As the title says, I've found a '60's Dart two door hardtop in a field and kind of want to bring it home. I know that restoring this would be a project, I'm ok with that and the financial aspect as well, my curiosity lies with what you guys think the underside is going to look like and if it's worth saving; it's been out there for quite some years.

Car is straight except the passenger side front fender and the hood has a tweak in it. Motor and tranny are still there, wish I would've taken more photos but he had a lot to look at in his field and this was the most tempting, (there were two early Dusters, one being a Gold Duster, but both were missing motor/tranny/front crossmember/suspension, among other things). Front suspension is all there, rear suspension is missing sans shocks, all would be replaced anyways.

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Hey all, new to here but not new to cars. As the title says, I've found a '63 Dart two door hardtop in a field and kind of want to bring it home. I know that restoring this would be a project, I'm ok with that and the financial aspect as well, my curiosity lies with what you guys think the underside is going to look like and if it's worth saving; it's been out there for quite some years.

Car is straight except the passenger side front fender and the hood has a tweak in it. Motor and tranny are still there, wish I would've taken more photos but he had a lot to look at in his field and this was the most tempting, (there were two early Dusters, one being a Gold Duster, but both were missing motor/tranny/front crossmember/suspension, among other things). Front suspension is all there, rear suspension is missing sans shocks, all would be replaced anyways.

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Welcome to FABO. That's a 66 it looks like. (or at least front sheet metal. Any photos of the back end?
 
Welcome to FABO. That's a 66 it looks like. (or at least front sheet metal. Any photos of the back end?
Thanks for the correction! Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the backside, was in a bit of a time crunch and he had about 30 or so cars to look at.
 
If the car has sat on the ground like that for a number of years Mother Earth has probably claimed the floors and everything around them. You best bet would be to get it up off the ground and see what it really looks like.
 
Thanks for the correction! Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the backside, was in a bit of a time crunch and he had about 30 or so cars to look at.
Did the rear have single round tail lights or 2 on each side, 2 in the 1/4's and 2 in the deck lid. The 65 and 66's had 4 tail lights. Here's my 66.

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If the car has sat on the ground like that for a number of years Mother Earth has probably claimed the floors and everything around them. You best bet would be to get it up off the ground and see what it really looks like.
Exactly. There are floor pan pieces available as well as quarter panel and rear wheel arch patches. Everything else needs to be fabricated or used.
 
Did the rear have single round taillights or 2 on each side, 2 in the 1/4's and 2 in the deck lid. The 65 and 66's had 4 tail lights. Here's my 66.
Was definitely a 66, found a far away photo of the front end and it doesn't have the round headlight bezels, it has the square ones that are recessed and flush with the grill.
 
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How much are they asking? I bought my 65 dart GT 273 for $700. One small rust hole under the rear driver side quarter panel. The 318 that was in it was locked up so I did have to buy another engine. If you want a car that is a project and that you can look back on and know you did all of the work and the price is right then go ahead and get it. If you have a couple thousand dollars to spend I would look around and find something a little more complete and without the rust.

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Hey all, new to here but not new to cars. A

I can not IMAGINE taking on a project as "needy" as that one. Does that seller seem reasonable, and do any of the later Duster/ Dart stuff look in any better shape? Or are they all fairly extensive projects?
 
How much are they asking? I bought my 65 dart GT 273 for $700. One small rust hole under the rear driver side quarter panel. The 318 that was in it was locked up so I did have to buy another engine. If you want a car that is a project and that you can look back on and know you did all of the work and the price is right then go ahead and get it. If you have a couple thousand dollars to spend I would look around and find something a little more complete and without the rust.

He's asking $400 but I'm sure I could go lower. And holy crap, I wish I could find one like yours for that cheap. Everyone in the area thinks they have gold. Where in Idaho are you located?

I can not IMAGINE taking on a project as "needy" as that one. Does that seller seem reasonable, and do any of the later Duster/ Dart stuff look in any better shape? Or are they all fairly extensive projects?

Seller is reasonable for sure. The 70's Dusters are missing just about everything underneath the cars, suspension, crossmember, engine and tranny, rear end … here's some pictures of the Gold Duster and a picture of the field ...
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Definitely look for a better car. I bought my 65 Dart GT off ebay some years a knowing it had rust in the quarters and floor pans, but it was a 235HP with a 4 speed that supposedly ran. When it got here I discovered that the rust was much worse than I thought, and (too late) that the block was cracked and the motor locked up. So far I’ve replaced the floor pans, trunk floor, lower rear window area, trunk surround, and over half of the driver’s side rear sub frame. I’m also replacing the entire quarter panels from the door jamb back and up into the sail panel. The rear pans are getting changed too. I haven’t even touched the front fenders or doors, but they will all need a least some rust repair. Fortunately I found a pretty good donor car, but even that had some issues once I got into it. I wouldn’t do it again. I’d find a better car. The only reason I continued on this car and didn’t crush it was because it turned out to be a real Dart Go Go like the one I had in high school. Unless you have some real emotional commitment to this car, I’d keep shopping.
 
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He's asking $400 but I'm sure I could go lower. And holy crap, I wish I could find one like yours for that cheap. Everyone in the area thinks they have gold. Where in Idaho are you located?

I’m actually in Southern California. That duster looks like it’s in good shape body wise. Honestly all the Bolt on stuff, while expensive if you buy it part by part, is so much easier to replace and put on then doing a ton of bodywork and rust work. If that shell is solid on the duster and you can get it super cheap I’d buy that and then buy a rusted out donor car to take everything mechanical off of. Believe me, bodywork and rust work is no fun. I have a 69 super bee that is sitting currently because I got so burnt out on replacing all the metal. Finally got the entire rear end done and set it aside for a year until I came back recently to work on the front.



Seller is reasonable for sure. The 70's Dusters are missing just about everything underneath the cars, suspension, crossmember, engine and tranny, rear end … here's some pictures of the Gold Duster and a picture of the field ...View attachment 1715464484 View attachment 1715464485 View attachment 1715464486
 
The cost of bringing a car up a to a better standard is always going to be more than if you had started with a better car to begin with.
 
The cost of bringing a car up a to a better standard is always going to be more than if you had started with a better car to begin with.
And if you tell yourself, well I only have this much money, and you buy the rusted out project, somehow you find ways to come up with thousands more. LOL
 

Oops. was looking at 67Dart273's post when I wrote that. Love the work on the Super Bee! I will agree that the bolt on stuff would be infinitely easier in the long run. I think the allure of the Dart was that it had the engine and manual transmission that I wouldn't need to source. Seems like both will cost about the same, the Duster will just need less time consuming work on it.
 
He's asking $400 but I'm sure I could go lower. And holy crap, I wish I could find one like yours for that cheap. Everyone in the area thinks they have gold. Where in Idaho are you located?



Seller is reasonable for sure. The 70's Dusters are missing just about everything underneath the cars, suspension, crossmember, engine and tranny, rear end … here's some pictures of the Gold Duster and a picture of the field ...View attachment 1715464484 View attachment 1715464485 View attachment 1715464486


Too bad those have been driven down so far.................................
 
You said budget isnt a concern, BUT compare Tads 65 and the one in the field. Even if Tads was $2400, you are still WAAAYYY ahead vs buying the $400 one. $2000 can get eaten up QUICK in body/welding, etc. And $2k is less than 40 hours of shop labor. Unless you can do the welding and LOVE to lol.
Spend the extra $$ on something solid.
Good luck and welcome aboard.
 
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I’m not sure what your budget is. I’d be willing to sell, not give away, my 65 Dart. I mean I bought it for $700 but I’ve put a ton into it. If you’re interested send me a private message. We can discuss it and I can send you details. Here are some current pictures. Currently has a 71 340 in it but I do have a 66 273 that’s all redone as well. Just finished putting an eight and three-quarter 3.22 sure grip in it.
 
I agree with all above.You are on the correct coast as far as finding a super rust free project. Having owned two of these early A's i will also say buy the nicest one you can afford up front unless you are a glutton for punishment. These are probably the cheapest of the mopars so when done you would be hard pressed to get much of the money back you have in it. you will most likely be hunting parts for years ask me how i know....
 
By the way, that is not a hardtop. That is a two-door sedan. The difference being the pillar between the door window and quarter window. Not nearly as desirable as a hardtop. I'd also keep looking...
 
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