Numbers Matching Dart GTS Convertible 383

Interested in purchasing a truly rare and desirable Mopar for showing and cruising? Are you an A-body fan? If you answered yes to both of those questions, have we got the car for you! How about an ultra rare, numbers matching, BIG BLOCK, red over black-and-white 1969 Dodge Dart GTS Convertible? Does it get any better?

You know I'm a fan of these smaller cars with big engines, and I love the fact that they were factory built with such an outrageous power train combination. The fact that they would also build you a convertible with a big block in it is even more astounding to me, and that's why the '60s were so cool. If the parts were on the shelf, most manufacturers were willing to put them together in just about any combination the customer wanted - there were no “option packages” or “preferred equipment groups,” just a long options list that allowed a customer to build exactly the car he or she wanted.

With that in mind, here's this car's fender tag information:

E63 383-4 BarrelD32 H-D A-727 TorqueFlite Trans
LS27L = Dodge Dart / Demon
S = Special
27 = Convertible
H9BH = 383 330HP OR 335HP 1-4BBL 8 CYL
9 = 1969
B = Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA
143011 Sequence Number '143011'
R6 Paint Code: Red
P6W Trim Grade/Style/Color
P = Premium
6 = Vinyl Bucket Seats
W = White and Black

917 Date Built: 9 / 17 / 1968064183
Order Number: 064183
B51 Power Assisted Brakes
C16 Console w/ Buckets
C55 Bucket Seats
C15 Special Sound Insulation Package
G31 Right Hand Outside Mirror - Manual / Chrome
G33 Left Hand Outside Mirror - Manual / Chrome
L31 Hood / Fender Mount Turn Signal
W25 Heavy Duty Stamped Wheels 69-71
R11 Music Master Radio AM
V3W White Convertible Top
V8W Transverse Stripe - White

Clearly the recipient of a quality restoration several years ago, this car has aged very, very well and still presents as a high-quality cruiser that can be proudly driven and shown anywhere. The '69 Darts were a little more mainstream with their rectangular marker lights in place of 1968s funky-cool round ones, but a lot of folks think the entire look is more integrated. Sight down the flanks on this particular car and you'll see very straight sheet metal with straight panel gaps all around (remember that this is 1960s Mopar we're talking about, so the gaps aren't exactly tight, but they are better than factory for certain). The gorgeous red paint is the original R6 Red hue, and it was both expertly applied and professionally finished. The white transverse sport stripe leaves no doubt that “GTS” stands for “GT Sport.”

The chrome and other bright pieces on the car have been restored to new condition, and all the lenses and other plastic bits are either excellent originals or quality reproduction items that look authentic. The glass is clear and unblemished. The GTS-specific hood treatment with chrome louvers has been faithfully restored for that classic Mopar performance look (it seems that Mopar more than most other companies really went wild with the hood design on their cars). The blacked-out rear panel and taillight housings look freshly restored and I'm surprised by the understated use of chrome on the back of this car. It looks much more contemporary than its 1969 vintage would suggest.

Moving under the hood, you'll find the original 383 cubic inch V8 topped with the correct 4-barrel carburetor and air cleaner. The car has clearly been driven and enjoyed since it was restored, but the engine compartment still shows well. The Hemi Orange paint on the block is in great condition, although you can tell that it has been heat cycled a few times. Hoses and wires are quality replacements, while original style hose clamps keep it all sealed up. There's a fresh Group 23 green cap battery installed by RK Motors Charlotte for that 100% authentic look, and it really would not take much work at all to make this a concours-quality engine bay. Or just maintain it as-is for a spectacular driver that you'll be proud to show off every chance you get.

Backing up that stout V8 under the hood is a rebuilt TorqueFlite automatic that sports a matching set of numbers. The undercarriage is 100% ready for the road, with rebuilt systems from the brakes to the manual steering to shocks that were replaced at the time of restoration. Out back there's an 8.75-inch rear axle filled with 3.23 gears for great cruising around town or on long highway hauls. Things like the exhaust system and gas tank were apparently replaced when the rest of the car was restored, so they have only slight signs of aging on them, much like the rest of the mechanicals on the car. Wheels are 14-inch Rallyes sporting 215/70/14 BFGoodrich T/A radials. In all, this is a turn-key GTS ready to drive and enjoy, or with a few weekends' worth of work it could easily be a show contender.

Climb behind the wheel and you're in for a real treat. The black and white bucket seat interior is all-new from top to bottom, and it looks amazing. The white seats are REALLY white and clean and look like there's never been a driver behind the wheel. The black carpets and dash pad are recent, and the gauges have been restored. The door panels have the correct “GT Sport” emblems, and the console's wood grain looks new. An aftermarket Mopar tach has been added to the console, and there's a Sun Pro oil pressure gauge stashed below the dash on the left side of the steering column. The dash fascia and gauges have to be original, and they're extremely nice for their age - the only reason they're notable is because they're just not quite as perfect as the rest of the interior. Finally, there's a set of new floor mats with the Dodge logo embroidered in them.

Covering it all up is a recent white vinyl convertible top with all-new pads and cables. It folds effortlessly into its well, and a matching white vinyl boot hides the stack when it's down for a clean look. The trunk features a new and correct mat and jack assembly.

For obvious reasons, these GTS convertibles are hot commodities. They pack a ton of power and performance into a comfortably-sized package, and of course any time the top goes down, the fun factor goes way up. Add in a matching-numbers pedigree and a restoration that makes this car a top-notch show and go piece, and, well, you've got one heck of a summertime toy. We don't get many of these because they're so rare, but looking over previous sales, none has lasted more than ten days on our showroom floor. As I pointed out earlier, someone was visiting the museum and just happened to spot the blue one that came in with this red one, and snapped it up on the spot. Same thing happened last year on our 1968 Dart GT 383 convertible-it got purchased AS IT CAME OFF OF THE TRAILER! So if you're interested, you need to move NOW. That's not sales hyperbole, that's me telling you, one car guy to another, that Dart GTS convertibles sell faster than anything else except maybe black 1969 Chargers. Call today and secure this one for yourself!