1965 Dart GT "Charger 273"

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65dartcharger said:
Your car is either a Dartcharger "kitcar" or an early Dart go/go package car. It's in my register and the last owner what I know of was named Nate.
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Actually going through the fendertag your car is a Dartcharger "kit car" Any owners manual with info on the dealer?
 
Ive recently acquired a 1965 Dart GT with the "Charger" air cleaner and valve covers. How can I find out if this is a Charger kit original? I don't believe the car to be a real Charger Dart as it is black in color and by fender tag it is the correct color. The vin is L452545943

@65dartcharger
 
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I believe 6000 were v8 cars less than half were HO 273 4-barrel cars with the Charger 273 V8. The other V8 cars were the 180hp 2-bbl cars red air cleaner and valve covers. Chargers were yellow with black or gold interior (gold never saw one) some had the black top. I read most were not exactly a GT but 270 cars with the trim down the side of the car.. and there are a few convertibles. All built at the LA plant from October 1964 to March 1965. The hard top had flex issues so the post top was the idea and later used as the D-Dart 273 in 1966. The Charger was the 273, 4-speed and had a 8.75 rear end. The Go-Go Dart was a 904 and 7.25 rear end. There are rumors of /6 Go-Go Darts.
The Charger 273 motor was in all the Chargers because it was the 4-bbl and came with black finned valve covers and Chrome air cleaner.
Kits were put in all colors.. they were added to the GT cars and the Auto 904 cars were called Go-Go Darts.
 
bhwm1972 said:
I believe 6000 were v8 cars less than half were HO 273 4-barrel cars with the Charger 273 V8. The other V8 cars were the 180hp 2-bbl cars red air cleaner and valve covers. Chargers were yellow with black or gold interior (gold never saw one) some had the black top. I read most were not exactly a GT but 270 cars with the trim down the side of the car.. and there are a few convertibles. All built at the LA plant from October 1964 to March 1965. The hard top had flex issues so the post top was the idea and later used as the D-Dart 273 in 1966. The Charger was the 273, 4-speed and had a 8.75 rear end. The Go-Go Dart was a 904 and 7.25 rear end. There are rumors of /6 Go-Go Darts.
The Charger 273 motor was in all the Chargers because it was the 4-bbl and came with black finned valve covers and Chrome air cleaner.
Kits were put in all colors.. they were added to the GT cars and the Auto 904 cars were called Go-Go Darts.
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bhwm1972 said:
Both Plymouth and Dodge made a HO 273 V8. The Dodge was a Charger 273 and Plymouth was a Commando 273
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The "Charger" name for the 273's was for Dodge's version. The "Commando" was Plymouth's version for the same engine. They were the 235 hp. version, 10.5/1 compression pistons, slightly hotter cam than the 2 barrel engines, dual point distributor, 4 barrel intake and Carter carb with a chrome unsilenced air cleaner and black wrinkle finished finned valve covers. I have never known the factory valve covers to be painted engine color. They also had a larger single exhaust system. If you ordered the 4 barrel engine that's what you got. In 1966 when they had the D Dart program, they took the 4 barrel engine and modified it to produce 275 hp. along with other modifications for the program. ddartdude can fiil you in more on those cars.
 
Chuck Henckel said:
Ive recently acquired a 1965 Dart GT with the "Charger" air cleaner and valve covers. How can I find out if this is a Charger kit original? I don't believe the car to be a real Charger Dart as it is black in color and by fender tag it is the correct color. The vin is L452545943

@65dartcharger
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Factory Dart Chargers were only manufactured at the LA plant and the order number starts with 70xxx. Kit cars from LA, St Louis and Detroit order numbers starts with 06xxx but the Vin starts with L452(Detroit), L455(Los Angeles) and L457 (St Louis).
All factory 273 4 barrel cars had a special cut our on the left side on the rear valence.

Re the production figures for 1965 Darts with 273x4 was 7560 cars. Of those cars 4157 was automatic, 3247 were 4-speeds and 156 cars were 3-speed on the column.

If a Dart was equipped with a 273x4 it has 31 stamped under AB in the middle row of the fender tag.
 
65dartcharger said:
Factory Dart Chargers were only manufactured at the LA plant and the order number starts with 70xxx. Kit cars from LA, St Louis and Detroit order numbers starts with 06xxx but the Vin starts with L452(Detroit), L455(Los Angeles) and L457 (St Louis).
All factory 273 4 barrel cars had a special cut our on the left side on the rear valence.

Re the production figures for 1965 Darts with 273x4 was 7560 cars. Of those cars 4157 was automatic, 3247 were 4-speeds and 156 cars were 3-speed on the column.

If a Dart was equipped with a 273x4 it has 31 stamped under AB in the middle row of the fender tag.
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I was lucky enough to have one of those 273 3 speed cars. Mine had a Charger 273 under the hood. One of just a few I understand.
 
toolmanmike said:
I was lucky enough to have one of those 273 3 speed cars. Mine had a Charger 273 under the hood. One of just a few I understand.
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65dartcharger said:
Factory Dart Chargers were only manufactured at the LA plant and the order number starts with 70xxx. Kit cars from LA, St Louis and Detroit order numbers starts with 06xxx but the Vin starts with L452(Detroit), L455(Los Angeles) and L457 (St Louis).
All factory 273 4 barrel cars had a special cut our on the left side on the rear valence.

Re the production figures for 1965 Darts with 273x4 was 7560 cars. Of those cars 4157 was automatic, 3247 were 4-speeds and 156 cars were 3-speed on the column.

If a Dart was equipped with a 273x4 it has 31 stamped under AB in the middle row of the fender tag.
Click to expand...
My car is a 4 barrel/ 4 speed car . It’s definitely a survivor car. From what I understand this car spent its first 42 years in California, then the last 10 in Joplin Missouri.
 
65dartcharger said:
Pictures please??
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0C0ACA92-616C-4BB9-A053-223A9FAC006D.jpeg


4B3EA294-5A2E-44D5-AA42-D21D83E1B0AE.jpeg


8D0EF78D-9E12-4F32-BB03-88D3D75FCD0E.jpeg
 
Chuck Henckel said:
Is this tag readable enough?
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It should be. If not you can unscrew it and take a photo of the backside which is usually really clean but backwards. I can invert it for you.
 
Here you go!

VIN tag


Vin# L452545943

L = Dart series V8
4 = Premium series
5 = 1965
2 = Assembly plant Hamtramck
Number= 545943

Fendertag

1234567890
2 9 5
ABCDEFGHJKLMNQRSTVWXYZ
31 35 3 2
SO NUMBER BDY TRM PAINT
917 06066 L42 P4Y BB1 A

First row
1=2 left remote o/s mirror
3=9 variable wiper w/washer
8=5 stone shields

Second row
AB=31 273x4 bbl
D = 3 4-speed manual transmission
E = 5 heater w/defroster
V = 3 back up lights
Z = 2 Front bucket seats and console

Third row
SO = 917 Produced September 17, 1964
Number = 06066 Production number
B = L, Dart V8
D = 4, premium
Y = 2, 2 dr hardtop
TRM = P premium front buckets
4 vinyl bucket seats
Y white seats + headlining + gold carpet
P = B upper body/roof color black
A = B body color black
I = 1 paint style mono style
N
T = A upper door frame Gold metallic
 
65dartcharger said:
Here you go!

VIN tag


Vin# L452545943

L = Dart series V8
4 = Premium series
5 = 1965
2 = Assembly plant Hamtramck
Number= 545943

Fendertag

1234567890
2 9 5
ABCDEFGHJKLMNQRSTVWXYZ
31 35 3 2
SO NUMBER BDY TRM PAINT
917 06066 L42 P4Y BB1 A

First row
1=2 left remote o/s mirror
3=9 variable wiper w/washer
8=5 stone shields

Second row
AB=31 273x4 bbl
D = 3 4-speed manual transmission
E = 5 heater w/defroster
V = 3 back up lights
Z = 2 Front bucket seats and console

Third row
SO = 917 Produced September 17, 1964
Number = 06066 Production number
B = L, Dart V8
D = 4, premium
Y = 2, 2 dr hardtop
TRM = P premium front buckets
4 vinyl bucket seats
Y white seats + headlining + gold carpet
P = B upper body/roof color black
A = B body color black
I = 1 paint style mono style
N
T = A upper door frame Gold metallic
Click to expand...
 
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