When Dodge introduced its Fourth Generation Dart for the 1967 model year, it brought a fresh new look. Beneath the skin were engineering changes designed to allow it to accept larger engines. Unveiled with little fanfare late in the 1967 model year was the Dart GTS. Externally, there was little to distinguish it from the GT beyond a few badges, but the company had shoehorned their mighty 383ci V8 under the hood. This transformed an already impressive performer into something pretty special. This ’67 GTS is a complete classic that will need a total restoration. It has some rust for the buyer to tackle, but it appears to be structurally sound. The seller has decided that it needs to find its way to a passionate enthusiast willing to return the Dart to its former glory. Therefore, he has listed it for sale here on eBay. The GTS is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and frantic bidding has pushed the price to $2,900 in a No Reserve auction.

The supplied photos indicate that someone may have been planning to treat this Dart to a restoration, but the process stalled pretty early. It now wears a coating of grey primer over its original Dark Green paint, although the engine bay received a refresh in a shade of metallic blue. The quality of the work looks second-rate, and the buyer will probably elect to strip the panels if the goal is a high-end finish. The panels sport a few minor dents and marks, but there’s nothing beyond repair. Rust is the mortal enemy of these classics, and this GTS is no exception. However, it is nowhere near as bad as some Mopar products from this era that have crossed our desks. The lower rear quarter panels are rotten, and the buyer will choose to apply patches or undertake complete panel replacement. The rest of the exterior looks clean, with no evidence of problems in the doors, front fenders, or rockers. Delving below the surface reveals a trunk pan that has accumulated little beyond surface corrosion, but the floors are rotted. Replacement steel is readily available, although a complete set of floor pans will lighten someone’s wallet to the tune of $1,000. The most positive news is that the car remains structurally sound. While the floors might be bad, the rust-prone frame rails suffer no such issues. Some trim pieces are damaged, while others are missing. The glass looks okay, and while the Cragar wheels look period correct, they aren’t included in the sale. The car will head to its new home wearing a set of steelies.

This Dart’s interior must have looked pretty nice when the car was new. Trimmed in Black vinyl, it features bucket seats and a factory console. However, time marches on, and it appears to have marched across this interior wearing army boots! No upholstered surfaces have escaped damage, while a few components like the factory radio are gone. The painted surfaces wear a healthy coat of surface corrosion, so the buyer will have their work cut out to return this aspect of the GTS to its former glory. With interior trim items tending to be slightly more expensive than other classics from the same era, the buyer will need to budget around $2,500 to present in a showroom state.

What set the GTS apart from the GT is what piece of iron found its way under the hood. While buyers could order their GT with a 273ci V8, Dodge saved the 383ci motor exclusively for the GTS. With 300hp on tap finding its way through an A-727 automatic transmission to an 8¾” rear end, the Dart could storm through the ¼ mile in a neat 15 seconds. I would love to tell you that this GTS is numbers-matching, but we aren’t that lucky. The original engine and transmission are long gone, although the rear end is correct. The existing 383 and transmission are of 1968 vintage, but unfortunately, that isn’t the worst news. The owner indicates that the motor is stuck, and it appears that he hasn’t tried to get it turning. I never find that approach as bad because it means that nobody has forced the issue. It allows the new owner to tackle the process their way without concerns that somebody has potentially caused unwanted damage while working under the illusion that they are performing a good deed. It isn’t clear whether this might be one of those “chicken or the egg” scenarios. Is the motor stuck from being idle, or did the previous owner park this classic due to an engine problem? That question will require further investigation to determine whether it is a salvageable proposition.

Dodge viewed the Dart as a low-price compact car, but the release of the 1967 GTS saw the model join the muscle car race. While not as potent as some of its competition, it represented an affordable alternative for enthusiasts craving genuine performance. The seller claims that this is 1-of-228 examples of the GTS to roll off the line featuring the 383/automatic combination and give or take a car or two, that figure gels with the information I have at hand. The harsh reality is that despite its relative rarity, the GTS doesn’t command a mega price in today’s classic market. When a nice original car appears, it is common for the price to sit around the $20,000 mark. The loss of the original engine and transmission will negatively impact the potential value, but it is difficult to determine how profound that impact may be. Its saving grace would appear to be its structurally sound nature. It has rust issues, but a competent individual with reasonable welding skills could address them in a home workshop without spending a fortune. It seems that a few people like what they see because, despite the low figure at present, the GTS has received an impressive forty-seven bids. If you are a Mopar enthusiast, are you tempted to join the bidding war?