Everyone loves a good car story, and here's your chance to be a part of one. Read on:
I work at a rather large Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Ram dealership in Southern Illinois. One of the many small perks of this job is taking the chance every day to walk the wholesale lot to check out the interesting older trade-in cars that arrive and depart quietly, most often without much fanfare.
However, on occasion, the glimmer of a chrome bumper or the black canvas of a convertible top (see my other listing for the low-mileage 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible) catches the eye and warrants a closer look. That's what happened with this car, and as so often as is the case, that closer look led to bringing her home. I am nothing if not a hopeless romantic when it comes to classic cars. Some people rescue puppies and kittens. Me? The thought of this motor finding her way to an urban "Buy Here, Pay Here" lot where she would almost certainly be butchered and abused, fitted with some horrid 22" wheels and eventually wrapped around a telephone pole or left to rot when the new owner couldn't figure out how to replace the rapidly-worn front end components that his "customizations" had accelerated left me unable to sleep at night. So, I decided to investigate further.
The story as I have been told it by the salesman who took the car in on trade, and that I have supported by the available evidence, is this: The previous owner purchased the car in 1981, with a total mileage of 40,xxx according to the title that came with the car. The car was driven very little in the 30 plus years that the gentleman owned it, but he had recently begun to bring the car up to a respectable state. As the project went on, the gentleman decided to instead focus his finances on something more modern, and contacted our dealership regarding the purchase of a new 2013 Dodge Dart. The new car was delivered to his home on a flatbed truck, and the '74 was collected and brought back to the dealership where I became aware of it. I'm am also told that not too few a tear was shed by the gentleman as the car he had owned for 32 years made its way down the road.
Sometime during his ownership, the car had a Ziebart undercoating done, so the car exhibits very solid underpinnings. The previous owner began to repair the car back to roadworthy condition, starting with repairing the sill rot that is common on these cars. There is evidence that other semi-professional body repairs were undertaken, presumably with the idea of removing and stopping any rust appearance. The car appears to have had an "Earl Scheib" level respray at some point in what I believe is a GM (60's-70's Chevy Impala?) orangey-red.
However, where the most time/attention/money was spent was in the driveline and suspension. The car is currently showing 54,138 miles after driving it to work and back today (74.8 miles), and I absolutely believe that these are the genuine miles. The transmission (original standard-duty Torqueflite 3 speed automatic) was rebuilt about 2000 miles ago, and the engine (which according to the "E44" stamp on the build tag is the 230HP 2 barrel 318 c.i. V8) has been tuned up and starts, idles and runs smooth, strong and just plain brilliantly, even up to 100mph (professional driver on a closed course, of course). Most impressive, though, is the ride quality. All four corners have had the suspension components replaced, and the car simply glides down the road in quiet comfort. If you're looking for the ultimate daily-driver classic MoPar, I think you really would be hard-pressed to find a better one.
When I say "daily driver", I mean just that. If you're looking to purchase a solid car that can be hopped in and driven at a moment's notice, here's your ride. I've proved this to myself by driving over 800 miles in the car in the last month. No leaks, no drips, no noises apart from the quiet rumble of that gorgeous 318. I've replaced the fluids (engine, transmission, rear end and coolant) as a matter of precaution, though apart from the engine oil, none of them showed any signs of age or consumption.
Where the car does need help is the interior, though the present state certainly hasn't kept the family and I from enjoying a good few cruises in the car. The dash is cracked and the seats are tired, but the car is certainly in "drivable restoration" condition. The car originally was copper with a black vinyl top, and would look fantastic in that livery once again.
However, as Bob Dylan said, "Times, they are a-changin'", and so it goes with my time with the car. I purchased the car to save her from the certain doom of the wholesale lot, but I have a two car garage with a convertible, a classic, a motorcycle and the wife's minivan. I can't justify keeping her out of selfishness or greed, so I've decided to try to find her a good home to go to. To prove my desire to see her with someone who deserves such a sweet ride, I've decided to list the car for my absolute bottom-dollar price, and start the auction with no reserve. To assure you of how awesome this car drives, I will deliver it for gas money plus mileage (via driving the car @ $0.40/mile) within 500 miles of St. Louis, Missouri.
This car in this condition is worth what I am asking for it. I know it is certainly not perfect, which is why I'm not asking more. But, as the base for a full restoration, it'll be pretty hard to beat.
I welcome questions from genuinely interested buyers. I also welcome accurate information/correction from persons more knowledgable than myself about the car.
I am an honest seller, so please be an honest bidder so we don't waste your or my time. Happy bidding!
Dodge Dart for Sale
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Address: 814 E Ridge Rd, Crete
Phone: (219) 934-7844
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Phone: (618) 457-8411
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Address: 470 Georgetown Sq, Addison
Phone: (630) 521-0560
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Address: 610 Park Ln, East-Carondelet
Phone: (636) 394-1712
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Address: 60 W Lake St, Northlake
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Auto blog
Thu, 27 Feb 2014
Consumer Reports has announced its annual list of worst vehicles, a cringe-inducing contrast to its list of top vehicles. Ignominiously leading the way in 2014 is Chrysler, which has a staggering seven models listed.
Jeep nearly sweeps the small SUV segment by itself, with its Compass, Patriot and 2.4-liter version of the new Cherokee, while the only midsize sedans listed by CR were the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger. The new Dodge Dart and the Dodge Journey round out CR's condemnation of Chrysler.
Ford is taking heat as well, with the Taurus, Edge and their counterparts from Lincoln all listed as the worst vehicles in their respective segments. Toyota doesn't fare much better, with its Lexus IS, Scion iQ and tC also making the list.
Mon, Mar 13 2017
The Fate of the Furious is certainly the 6,000-pound SUV in the garage of automotive movies, but that doesn't mean gearheads are starved for options. The upcoming film Baby Driver looks to be a winner for car guys, featuring exciting chases with cars including a "hawk-eye" Impreza WRX, a Dodge Challenger, and a 1980s Chevy Caprice. The movie is written and directed by Edgar Wright, whom you may know as the man behind movies such as Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. And based on the two trailers released so far, seen above and below, it's about a young man by the name of Baby, who is a getaway driver for criminals. He's apparently the best in the business, and the secret to his success is the music he listens to while he's driving. He also wants out, but his boss, played by Kevin Spacey, has no intention of letting him go. Spacey is one of a number of major stars in the film, including Jamie Foxx and John Hamm. The driving action shown in the trailers definitely looks entertaining. The WRX is seen doing an array of drifts and J-turns. There is some driving precision on display here that wouldn't be out of place in a Gymkhana video. And it looks like Wright's attention to detail in his shots and transitions, as well as some solid comedy relief, are all going to be present. The film comes out this August. Related Video: News Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment / YouTube via Road & TrackImage Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment / YouTube TV/Movies Chevrolet Dodge Subaru Videos baby driver
Fri, Jul 24 2015
In the wake of a Jeep Cherokee being hacked remotely while on the road through its Uconnect infotainment system, FCA US is now issuing a software update for 1.4 million vehicles in the United States. Affected customers will receive a USB stick in the mail with the improved version; owners can check this website to see if their cars are affected. A large variety of models with FCA's 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system are affected. They include the 2015 Chrysler 200, 2015 Chrysler 300, 2015 Dodge Charger, and 2015 Dodge Challenger; 2013-2015 Dodge Viper; 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500; 2013-2015 Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 chassis cab; 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cherokee; and 2014-2015 Dodge Durango. According to FCA in its announcement, the new software "insulates connected vehicles from remote manipulation." As of July 23, the company also "fully tested and implemented within the cellular network" additional security to prevent access to many of a vehicle's systems. FCA US says that it's conducting this campaign out of an abundance of caution and disputes the notion that there's a defect with these vehicles. Beyond the demonstration of the hack in the Cherokee, the automaker says that it's unaware of any other reports of these attacks actually happening. Related Video: Statement: Software Update July 24, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is conducting a voluntary safety recall to update software in approximately 1,400,000 U.S. vehicles equipped with certain radios. The recall aligns with an ongoing software distribution that insulates connected vehicles from remote manipulation, which, if unauthorized, constitutes criminal action. Further, FCA US has applied network-level security measures to prevent the type of remote manipulation demonstrated in a recent media report. These measures – which required no customer or dealer actions – block remote access to certain vehicle systems and were fully tested and implemented within the cellular network on July 23, 2015. The Company is unaware of any injuries related to software exploitation, nor is it aware of any related complaints, warranty claims or accidents – independent of the media demonstration.