This 1968 Dodge Dart GTS is now awake and alive after being hidden in a building in the High Desert of California since 1987! The former owner obviously planned to restore it – he bought parts and restoration items for it, but time got in the way, as it sometimes does. After his passing, the family sold us the car. Ever the optimist, I thought it might wake up and live – and sure enough, it did! And it’s offered by The Vault Classic Cars Dealership, Fullerton, CA. 714-401-1047.
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Here it is, as found. Thankfully it was well stored, in a nice building with a concrete floor. If you’re gonna go after a barn find, it’s nice to see it in this type of barn! And, it is a totally solid rust free black license plate California car, with original paint on everything except the right front fender!
1968 Dodge Dart GTS 340 Barn Find
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Here it is on the road after a significant wake-up effort! We did the full brakes, including booster, master cylinder, hoses, wheel cylinders, shoes, and drums turned. The power steering gearbox and pump were rebuilt, A rebuilt Carter AVS 4 Barrel was installed, and a new gas tank too. New radial tires, and a new Windshield. The result of all this work is a car that made a successful 70 mile round trip freeway drive to a Cars & Coffee event
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It’s equipped with the 340 high performance V-8, factory air conditioning, Sport steering Wheel, Bucket Seats, Console shifter, Bumblebee stripes, Power drum brakes, and all of the GTS stuff like the hood and emblems.
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Nice and straight and rust free.
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Another view of the trunk trim, with the original to the car black license plate.
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Ready to launch!
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Sport Steering wheel, Buckets and console. All original except for the driver’s seat, which was re-upholstered with “Motor City Originals” upholstery material. The passenger and rear seat uphostery is also included with the car.
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Original rear upholstery
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Very nice original doorpanels, with GTS emblem
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Nice original doorpanel on the right side
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Here’s the right side seat upholstery from Motor City Originals. The upper and lower rear seat upholstery is in the box too! You’ll need it to make progress on the interior.
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The carpeting is original but, sadly, not useable!
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The engine runs great! Lots of power , it’s a good motor. The block is from 1972, so obviously a replacement block at some point. The cylinder heads and manifolds are the original High-Performance items from the 1968 340. I’ll run through them here:
Cylinder heads: 2531894 – Hi Po 2.02 intake valve head.
Intake manifold: 2531915 ’68 only 4 barrel
Left exhaust: 2863553, Right exhaust 2863549
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Cylinder head
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Intake
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Left side exhaust. The right side is too close to the shock tower to get a photo, but I made a tracing of it on paper to get the number.
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Like you were in the barn yourself!
In 1968, the hidden body numbers on the trunk lip, the radiator core support, and the trim tag all matched the build order, not the VIN #. As we’ll see, all three of these numbers match, E8L155105.
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The lower right number, 155105.
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E8L155105 on the Radiator core support.
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Really nice and solid underneath. This is a California car since new, and it shows.
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Wow – solid original floors
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Super crisp edge on that lower right rear fender
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Same on the left
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New gas tank and sending unit. And look how good the trunk pan is.
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Here’s the top side of the trunk pan – wow! Dirty but really solid, with only a little bit of surface rust at the edges.
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Amazingly nice and solid.
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Incredible!
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Scrape / Crease on the right fender and into the door. Another fender is included with the sale, although this one could certainly be repaired.
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There are parts included, an extra grille, good tail lights, headliner bows, step plates, and some of the interior roof trim.
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It’s a time machine – look at that 1984 sticker. there are a couple of other sticker partials on top, but 1987 was the last time this car was on the road in California!
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Terrific!
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Up, Running, and ready for the next owner to show as a preservation car and enjoy, or take it to the next level!
Offered by the Vault Classic Cars Dealership, Fullerton, CA, call us at 714-401-1047
International customers are welcome to buy! We’ve sent many cars overseas.
THERE IS NO COOLING OFF PERIOD UNLESS YOU OBTAIN A CONTRACT CANCELLATION OPTION. California law does not provide for a “cooling off” period for vehicle lease or purchase contracts. Therefore, you cannot later cancel such a contract simply because you change your mind, decide the vehicle costs too much, or wish you had acquired a different vehicle. After you sign a motor vehicle purchase or lease contract, it may only be cancelled with the agreement of the seller or lessor or for legal cause, such as fraud. However, California law does require the seller to offer a 2 day contract cancellation option on used vehicles with a purchase price of less than $40,000, subject to certain statutory conditions. See the vehicle contract cancellation option agreement for details.
The prospective purchaser of a vehicle may, at his or her own expense and with the approval of the dealer, have the vehicle inspected by an independent third party either on or off the dealership premises. All Prices shown DO NOT include California Sales Tax, DMV fees, smog certificate on post-1975 vehicles, Documentation fees, and any late registration fees owed to DMV. Out of state customers are responsible to pay sales tax and any other government fees in their own state. Out of state customers are not required to pay California Sales Tax and DMV fees IF the car is shipped by ICC licensed carrier that issues a bill of lading. If you fly in and drive it home, we are required to charge Tax and DMV for driving on California roads! All signed contract documentation must be received AND full payment received before the car will be released to the new owner.
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Sold AS-IS, with NO WARRANTY. Delivery F.O.B. Fullerton, CA. This car is sold Mileage exempt, meaning it’s not possible to know the original mileage. It is the buyer’s responsibility to either inspect the car in person or enlist the services of an inspector prior to sale. The car may have minor or major flaws that are not evident in the photos and description. Federally required “buyer’s guide”, marked AS-IS, NO WARRANTY is incorporated in this contract by reference. CONDITIONS OF SALE, 4 PAGES, are incorporated in this contract by reference. Buyer must provide seller with a copy of government-issued identification such as a driver’s license or Passport. Funds must come from the person shown on the identification, not a third party. .
We are happy to work with legitimate overseas buyers, and we can assist with getting the car shipped to most international ports. Shipping is at buyers expense, the car is sold FOB Anaheim, CA. There is an additional $200 cost to flatbed the car to any freight forwarder in the Los Angeles, CA area. Call us during Pacific Daylight Business hours at 714-401-1047.
Full Payment by Bank wire only or lender check if buyer is using a loan . Payment must be made by the person buying the car. No third party payments. Goverment issued Identification , such as a scan or copy of drivers license or passport is required.
WARNING: Operating, servicing and maintaining a passenger vehicle or off-road vehicle can expose you to chemicals including engine exhaust, carbon monoxide, phthalates, and lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. To minimize exposure, avoid breathing exhaust, do not idle the engine except as necessary, service your vehicle in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves or wash your hands frequently when servicing your vehicle. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/passenger-vehicle.