Hi guys, being the owner of a 71`GS350, I`ve nevertheless found an old 69`Dart GTS that`s been standing since the beginning of time (or something like 35 years) in a not-so-much-of -beauty-sleep. Soon there might be an opportunity to get hands on it for little money. So I`ve decided to check it out and that`s where you come in. 1)How do I open the hood (my GS can be opened from the outside, same with the Dart? Where is that mechanism). 2)Since the car has been standing "dry" (that means it had a roof over it`s head and sitting on a dry dusty ground with had no direct rain-water contact for approx. 30 years, but it`s been an open place with temperature changes, snow, wind all around ect), where do I have to check for rust? Special places to check on a 69`Dart GTS? 3)How much would you guys pay, in your opinion, for a 69`GTS with a possible engine problem that has little rust? Maybe you can help me or keep me from a suicide mission while restoring a wreck. Greets Jens
Yep, you should be able to open the hood from the outside. On some older Mopars the latch is on the top left side of the grill (just left of center). As far as rust, check the usual places. Mopars usually have rust in the rear quarters and rear window channel. The trunks are gone 99% of the time, the floors are commonly rusted away as well. Now, what it worth depends greatly on what motor it originally came with. If it came with a 340 it's semi desierable, if it came with a 383 it's pretty desierable, and if it came with a 440 it's pretty damn rare. Supposedly the export cars came with weird unique VIN numbers, however if you post it I might be able to decode it for you. Is there car over in Switzerland? Shoot me a PM if you have any more questions. I'm a BIG Mopar guy with A LOT of Mopar knowledge. Good luck :TU: .
Thank you very much for the info, I`ll check on the places you mentioned and will take some photos which I`ll post or PM you. It`s a 340 GTS, transmission unknown up to now, I`ll find out soon. Yeah, the car is over here in Switzerland, they had quite some muscle imports in the 60`ies and 70`ies, up to the big ones like W30 Olds, BB Buicks and a whole lot of Mopars as well (lots of Dusters, Darts, and the kind). 340 sounded like SB-muscle to me in the first place, but checking on the internet I was amazed how fast these little ones can be and that some BB driver might get some serious trouble in the 1/4 mile. Again, thanks for your help Jens
The 340 is nothing to laugh at. Those things are screamers! The reason the are worth a little less is because they are more common. It will most likely have the 904 transmission, although it might have the 727 torqflite. Both are pretty good units. As far as value, it's hard to say without seeing pics. Old Car Price Guide says $3240 for a car in #5 condition, and $1k for a car in #6 condition. With adjustments for the market it's probably worth right around $2k, probably a little more. Of course since they are rarer over that will add to the price as well. I'd definitely try and scoop it up. They are cool cars, and the GTS 340 is a rare piece (6300 GTS's made in 69, 3600 were 340's).
A buddy in HS had at his disposal his grandmother's 69 Dart GTS with the 340 / 727. In the early 80's the car had under 10k original miles as she did not drive it much and never at night thus he had use of it then. Don't know the gearing but he beat the snot out out of that car with hole shots and brake stands and that car would smoke the tires all day long and run like champ. It was very quick and was raced against many of the camaro's and 6.6 TA's of the day with favorable results. It was an ugly green on green as were about 60% of them and met an unfortunate end vs a tree.
The 340 ONLY came with the 727. Unless a previous owner swapped in a 904. Basket case GTS are now selling for about $4000-$5000 over here-higher value on a 383 car. Look for rust in the floor pans, trunk floor, behind the rear wheels as well as the top of the rear wheel well. Behind the front wheels as well. They also rot out in the bottom corners of the windshield and back window. There are a number of GTS's in Sweden. If you buy this GTS, send me your GTS's info to the GTS Registry at www.geocities.com/gtsreg/ I'll forward you some of the info I have from your fellow Swedish GTS owners.
Wow, thank all of you for your replies, I feel more and more to get my hands on it....but if it gets to pricey I won`t be able to afford it due to the fact that my 71`GS wants to be paid off....But I`ll do what I can. Rust is being seen in the front fenders, for further rusty places I`ll check on it the next days. I`ll keep you guys updated Jens
Is the 904 only available behind the 318? Woah! I can't believe basket case GTS' are selling for that much. That's why I gave up finding a 2nd gen Charger (for the time being), you can't get one that runs for less than 7k or 8k.
The 904 came behind the 170/225 slant six and the 273 and 318. It can be built to withstand the rigors of a hot small block and it is advantageous over the 727 (if built properly) as it has a lower first gear ratio and is lighter than the 727. General rule of thumb is that 904 will give you a 1/10th in the 1/4 over the 727 in the same car due to those two factors.
Thanks, good to know. I knew the 904 was a SB only trans, but that's about it I guess. I've been out of the Mopar game for a few years :laugh: .
Lets see a904 or a727. I having owned a few mopars in my time will say that I would stick with the 4 speed stick over any of them two.:laugh: Have had 904's behind 360 too. :sleep:
