1966 Dart Convertible 273 HiPo Very Rare Mauve Color Garage Find

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challengersteve

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I just found and bought a fairly unusual early A Body. It is a 1966 Dart 270 Convertible with the 273 4 barrel HP. The color is code 661 which I believe is called "Mauve"
I have only seen this color in person at the Mopar Nationals on b bodies but I imagine it was available across the lines.
This is truly a garage find and has been sitting in this little garage for quite a long time.
The car runs and was driving fine when it was parked for a restoration that never got started "thankfully!"
I jumped the battery and it turns over fine but I will pull the tank and clean it out fluid service everything before starting or driving.
It has to be pretty rare with this combination of mauve, convertible and 273 hp.
I cannot wait to get it cleaned up, repaired, serviced and running.

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Great find indeed! I’d like to hear more about this car as you progress. Rare to see the 235hp in a 270. You could restore it or drive it as a survivor. It’s a great start either way.
 
challengersteve said:
I just found and bought a fairly unusual early A Body. It is a 1966 Dart 270 Convertible with the 273 4 barrel HP. The color is code 661 which I believe is called "Mauve"
I have only seen this color in person at the Mopar Nationals on b bodies but I imagine it was available across the lines.
This is truly a garage find and has been sitting in this little garage for quite a long time.
The car runs and was driving fine when it was parked for a restoration that never got started "thankfully!"
I jumped the battery and it turns over fine but I will pull the tank and clean it out fluid service everything before starting or driving.
It has to be pretty rare with this combination of mauve, convertible and 273 hp.
I cannot wait to get it cleaned up, repaired, serviced and running.

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Nice find! Not so many survivors left!
 
Nizzze! 2066 model 270 convertibles. Only 431 270's with a HP273. 215 were 4 speeds and 216 were auto's. There are no production numbers to separate convertibles and hardtops Unless Ulf has more information there. I haven't seen any production number breakdown for colors.
 
toolmanmike said:
Nizzze! 2066 model 270 convertibles. Only 431 270's with a HP273. 215 were 4 speeds and 216 were auto's. There are no production numbers to separate convertibles and hardtops Unless Ulf has more information there. I haven't seen any production number breakdown for colors.
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Thank you for some info on production numbers. I looked and could not find data that broke anything out.
Were there only 431 model 270 convertibles with the hp 273 or was the number of 431 for all 270 models (hardtop and convertible) with the 273 hp?
I would love to see if there is any break down as far as color and convertible. This has to be a pretty rare combination.
Thanks again for your help
 
challengersteve said:
Thank you for some info on production numbers. I looked and could not find data that broke anything out.
Were there only 431 model 270 convertibles with the hp 273 or was the number of 431 for all 270 models (hardtop and convertible) with the 273 hp?
I would love to see if there is any break down as far as color and convertible. This has to be a pretty rare combination.
Thanks again for your help
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431 with the HP273. Hartops and convertibles are in one group with no further breakdown. Same with color. No further breakdown. I got that information in a written report on my 66 Dart from Galen Govier.
 
67 dart convertible number. For percentage of sales reference.

IIRC they had a fire or the like that destroyed the detailed records pre 68

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BTW great find.

I bet that paint will buff out perfect.
 
My 1966 Valiant convertible is that same color. It is also a " survivor" with 59,000 miles, a slant 6, and no rust. Keep it as it is and enjoy it.There are very few original surviving A body convertibles left . You have something special .
 
Wow that’s awesome, nice find! What state/area did you find that in? Looks solid so probably not from Minnesota!
 
Thank you for all the replies. Here are some pictures of the car after a couple hours with the pressure washer. It has one old repaint but I think it will buff out enough to be presentable. The original interior is nice with no rips in the seats but will need some floor pan work. I also confirmed it is the correct engine and it also has an 8 3/4 which may be original? I will post more pictures as I continue cleaning and getting it running.
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toolmanmike said:
431 with the HP273. Hartops and convertibles are in one group with no further breakdown. Same with color. No further breakdown. I got that information in a written report on my 66 Dart from Galen Govier.
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I did not realize the 273 hp was that rare. I know that the vast majority of 64 - 67 273 cars I have seen over the 40 years I have been into mopars have been 2 barrel cars but I had no idea they were that rare. With 431 total there sure cant be too many convertibles made like this.
 
Jim Lusk said:
Figure something less than 10% convertibles
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In 67 it was 2.41%
In 66 it was probably similarly
So conservative estimate would be less than 5% convertible.

According to Allpar only 83,626 darts were made in 66.

Based on 67 percentages that puts a 66 dart convertible at around 2018 built!
 
My guess is that they made maybe 10-15 270 verts with a 273 4bbl and an automatic. How many have survived is anyone's guess. In that color, probably 1 of 1 or 2. I used to have a '66 Valiant convertible parts car in mauve with a black interior, slant 6 auto. Back 30+ years ago, it wasn't worth anything in the condition it was in. I should have saved that car though. Nice find and deserving a good home. It's a shame they swapped out the original carb, breathers, air cleaner, and distributor. I'd ask them if they per chance saved the originals. The 8 3/4 is a nice option available that year. Sometimes even the Formula S Barracudas with a 4 speed didn't get one. The fender tag shows it came with a remote driver's side mirror, but, it looks like the control is missing out of the door.
 
cudamark said:
My guess is that they made maybe 10-15 270 verts with a 273 4bbl and an automatic. How many have survived is anyone's guess. In that color, probably 1 of 1 or 2. I used to have a '66 Valiant convertible parts car in mauve with a black interior, slant 6 auto. Back 30+ years ago, it wasn't worth anything in the condition it was in. I should have saved that car though. Nice find and deserving a good home. It's a shame they swapped out the original carb, breathers, air cleaner, and distributor. I'd ask them if they per chance saved the originals. The 8 3/4 is a nice option available that year. Sometimes even the Formula S Barracudas with a 4 speed didn't get one. The fender tag shows it came with a remote driver's side mirror, but, it looks like the control is missing out of the door.
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Thank you for the input as far as production. The original remote mirror is there and works fine. I asked about the missing items you mentioned and they are long gone.
I plan to keep this car and get it running and roadworthy, buff out this old paint job, install a new top canvas (I ran the top up and down and it works fine) and just drive it like this for a while. Possibly restore it later.
Thanks for the reply
 
66340SEDAN said:
Wow that’s awesome, nice find! What state/area did you find that in? Looks solid so probably not from Minnesota!
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I bought the car out of Missouri but the car came from Colorado so super solid underneath. The guy in Mo only drove the car for about a year and parked it in his garage where is sat. It will need foot well patches but that is pretty much the only rust issues
 
toolmanmike said:
Nizzze! 2066 model 270 convertibles. Only 431 270's with a HP273. 215 were 4 speeds and 216 were auto's. There are no production numbers to separate convertibles and hardtops Unless Ulf has more information there. I haven't seen any production number breakdown for colors.
Click to expand...
How many 66 GT's Hipo's with a 4 speed?
 
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