Frame Up Restored Numbers Matching Dart GTS 383 4 Speed

A one-of-one, black on black, NUMBERS MATCHING, big block, four speed Dart - with documentation? Try and tell us you have a cooler one than this '68 GTS, but don't expect to get far! Buckets and console, 3.91 gears, excellent cosmetics and more - this is one of the best A-bodies ever built!

When are two letters insufficient? "GT" says it all, right? Gran Turismo, grand touring or however else you want to call it, if you're going to add that third letter it better mean something. When Dodge added one to get "GTS" on the fenders of Darts, they meant it: The pavement rippling, torque monster 383 under the hood says so!

Here are the highlights from the original Chrysler Corporation Broadcast Sheet:

CAR: Dodge Dart GTS 2 Door Hardtop
ENGINE: 383cid 4-bbl HP V8
TRANSMISSION: A-833 four-speed manual
TIRES: E70x14 Redline Tires
BUILD DATE: January 12, 1968
AXLE: 3.91 Rear Ratio 8.75” HD rear, Sure Grip
INTERIOR: Premium Trim Grade, Vinyl Bucket Seats. Black interior.
PAINT: Tuxedo Black with black upper door frame paint

HD 10” diameter Drum Brakes, AM Radio, Console, Body Sill, Drip Rail and Wheel Lip Moldings, Tinted Glass (All Windows,) Stripe Delete, Wood Grain Steering Wheel, HD Suspension and Simulated Mag Wheel Covers. Heavily optioned and TOTALLY cool!

Start with the exterior. '67-'69 high performance Darts have always had a purposeful look, and the '68 is the meanest of all with round side marker lights, a tough front grille and cool taillights. Their ties to the Super Stock cars don't hurt, either! The brilliant black paint is very straight and flat and looks like a warrior with the steelies wearing dog dish hubcaps. E70x14 Goodyear redline tires would've done fine but we're happier with the big 15x7 wheels with Diamondback Racing shaved radial redlines based on Yokohama Avid S/T casings...they handle and plant MUCH better!

The stainless trim, from the sill moldings to the reveal moldings, is all in excellent, highly polished condition. Both bumpers have been re-chromed, working with a new set of door handles, new badges and a new outside rear view mirror to add flash. It sure is pretty but you'd be crazy to tangle with this bad boy on the street!

So you're saying to yourself, “Sure, 383 Darts aren't to be trifled with, but they're not that fast!” OK, in stock form you're probably right, but this NUMBERS MATCHING mill carries nasty surprises under that fresh Hemi Orange paint! How about ported heads with 2.14/1.81 Manley valves, a 440 Source stroker crank, Ross pistons, Eagle rods and all supporting hardware? This 383-cum-434ci engine packs a TON more bite than its bark suggests! New wiring harnesses, the right motor mounts and real live A-body exhaust manifolds are other highlights of the engine compartment. A new Mopar chrome air cleaner covers a new, tuned Edelbrock AFB carb. There's a new electronic ignition distributor, date coded plug wires, a new wiring harness and the correct 033 radiator in front. There's a new Turbo Start reproduction battery in the corner and a rebuilt master cylinder and wiper motor keeping the ballast resistor and constant-output voltage regulator company on the firewall. Reliability takes the form of new reproduction hoses and a new belt along with a full tune up. Nothing beats a big block for cruising torque, especially when it's done this well, and this car will take home its share of stoplight drag victories!

Inside, the newly reupholstered seats, door panels and other trim are from Legendary, and they look right at home with the restored door frames, trim and the restored dash. This is a cool car to just sit in and look around. New and rechromed shiny stuff abounds while a trio of Auto meter gauges offer up information under the dash and on the column. That's the restored factory console between the seats with the Hurst shifter falling right to hand - it's awesome!

Throw the car on a lift and take in the details. The ORIGINAL floors are super shiny, just like the top. You really will have to look for yourself - how many A-bodies do you see lavished with this kind of attention? You'll notice sub frame connectors have been installed to keep the chassis from twisting to pieces, and they really tidy up the handling. There are all new suspension and brake components, from the front sway bar to the rear leaf springs. A new fuel tank and new stainless lines and hoses are here, too. You'll also catch a glimpse of the rebuilt A-833 four speed transmission and 8 ¾ rear with 3.91s and tons of detailing. There's a fresh stainless steel 2.25" dual exhaust system from the manifolds to the bumper, too. Show or shine this is one heck of a car!

A recent Galen Govier report on this car suggests that it is the only black on black 4-speed GTS with a 3.91 axle ever built, making it a very unique piece. There's also an inch-thick stack of receipts for every part and service which went into the build. The pictures show you what's on the outside but the receipts show you just how well everything's done underneath the surface.

The horsepower wars in '67 brought out the big guns from the big three, who promptly stuffed them into their lightest packages. A 383 Magnum in a Dart? That's crazy! Fortunately, it's our kind of crazy, and we're sure it's yours, too! If you are into rare, big block Darts, this documented, black on black 1968 GTS 4 speed is as good as it gets!