100% Private Owner Consignment

Call 847-838-3749 or Email pat@showyourauto.com

847-838-3749

1968 Dodge GSS 440 Dart, Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Sport

By 1967 Grand Spaulding Dodge looked at the competition and realized that Mopar was seriously behind the 'eight ball' in the newly formed Pony Car segment. Plymouth drew first blood with the Barracuda, but Ford won the public with superior styling and big budget promotion. So, Chrysler took their argument to the one place they always won, the race track. Mr. Norm Kraus showed the boys at Chrysler engineering that it was possible to stuff a 440 Super Commando motor into the economy minded Dart in 1968 with the help of Hurst/Campbell.

Each of 48 1968 Darts were ordered by Mr. Norm as a Special Order vehicle, build as if they were 383 cars, but delivered to Hurst-Campbell less drivetrain for 440 conversions. The broadcast sheet for these models read "BUILD LESS ENG TRANS CARB AIR CLNR". Once the 440 conversion was completed by Hurst-Campbell, each modified Dart GTS was inspected by Dodge service personnel at Hurst then shipped directly to:

Grand Spaulding Auto Sales, Inc.
3300 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60651

Special Monroney Labels (Window Stickers) were hand prepared by Hamtramck Assembly. The GSS epitomizes the dynamic relationship between the voice of the customer, the dealership, and the car maker to deliver on short order the performance that the public demanded during the Muscle Car Era. GM had the COPO program available to the entire dealer network and Don Yenko branded a number of those for himself. Carroll Shelby appended the VIN of the cars he converted from Ford. Like most high performance Mopars, even absent original paperwork, the original fender tag and the dash VIN plate tell you what the car is. The authenticity is in the "M". The "M" Code Dart is the only example of a manufacturer designating a VIN code for one dealership. With good reason, Grand Spaulding Dodge sold fully half of the high performance Dodge vehicles for the entire country. Of the original 48 production GSS Darts, only 12 persist. This is the only maroon/white interior GSS known to exist.

M-Code, GSS Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Sport Package Includes:

440 4bbl 375hp V8 Engine
727 Torque flight Transmission
E70x14" Firestone Red Streak Tires
Body Belt Moldings
3.55:1 Ratio w/8.75" Axle
Sure-Grip Differential
Sport Stripe-Transverse
Full Vinyl Roof
AM Radio
Console
Special Order

*Not Available with Undercoating

This particular example hails from the Bill Sefton collection of Mr. Norm’s Garage fame. She has been completely rotisserie restored and private museum kept since her completion. Brent Jarvis of Performance Restorations recently went through all the mechanicals to re-commission the car for street duty. This GSS is a double threat- both trophy grabbing “Show” and spine-compressing “Go”.

She was recently inspected and verified by noted “A” body expert, Jim Rhinehart and included in the Mr. Norm’s GSS Registry. This GSS was also featured front and center in David Snyder’s painting “Where Horsepower is Made”.

If you are looking for a genuine piece of Muscle Car history that epitomizes the peak of “small car, big motor” and “race on Sunday, sell on Monday”, this Ruby and Pearl 1968 M-code Grand Spaulding Special is the clear choice. Call 847-838-3749 or Email pat@showyourauto.com for more information!

Exterior Description

Overall fit and finish is superior to factory original, concours “Gold” quality. Door and panel gaps are tight and uniform, panels smooth as you look down each body side. The car was rotisserie restored in 2003, taken down to bare metal. During its life doing drag race duty, the inner fender aprons were modified for long tube headers. These were stitch welded using OE original panels. The rear wheel openings were also repaired using OE original sheet metal. Floorpans, trunk floor, and front and rear frame extensions appear original with no evidence of rust or collision repair. Factory spot welds are intact at all the major body joins. All the glass is in excellent condition, bearing ‘Pentastar’ proof marks and appropriate date codes. All bright-work and badging is in very good condition, absent of significant dings or scratches and believed to be original, including the difficult to restore rear trunk lid panel. The front headlight buckets and grills are restored originals. Headlight lamps are correct reproductions. Stripes and top are in very good to excellent condition. Wheels and rare Sport covers are factory original and in very good condition. Rims are date stamped near the valve stems and also believed to be original. Light and marker lenses are correct OE proof marked and restored originals.

Interior Description

Overall, the interior is restored to “as new” condition. Original hardware retained or restored when possible. Seats were taken down to bare frames and powder coated. No expense was spared in this restoration, cushions, seat covers, interior door panels, center console, scuff plates and carpets are all new concours quality replacements. Gauges, dash bezels, dash pad, and upper door frame paint, has all been restored to OE factory specifications. All wiring and switch gear was replaced with new OE correct during restoration. Trunk area sound deadening appears to be factory installed, trunk area was repainted during the restoration. Jack, hold down and spare appears to be original restored or high quality replacement. Trunk mat is a show quality reproduction. All accessories, gauges, and lights as factory intended. Taillight housings appear to be original.

Engine Bay Description

Chrysler delivered the M-Code GSS Darts minus drivetrain as rolling chassis. Hurst-Campbell completed the High Performance installation with a power train also supplied by Chrysler. According to factory documents, these driveline assemblies were supposed to be VIN stamped and united with their corresponding body at Hurst. In practice, VIN stamping was sporadic, only one of the remaining 12 ’68 GSS Dart has a VIN stamped engine and transmission. Like early Shelby Mustangs, Cobras, and Yenkos, GSS Darts were actively raced, even if the drivetrain was VIN stamped, their survivability was likely very low. The engine in this GSS is a date-code correct HP2 440, from air cleaner to oil pan. Engine casting numbers are consistent with factory original; VIN pad is clean, having never been stamped. Intake, carb and accessories are all likewise casting and date code correct according to a 3rd party inspector. Block hugger headers direct spent fumes to factory style exhaust. Belts, hoses, and pug wires are show quality Mopar reproductions. OE detail can be found throughout from the OE style hose clamps, wiring harnesses, to the Corporate Blue block paint. A modern sealed battery is used to ensure reliable service. The engine idles and starts on the first or second turn of the key, idles smoothly, and runs out strong. The GSS Dart is the ultimate expression of “Big Motor, Light Body”. This car will snap your neck with the flick of the ankle.

Chassis Description

Underbody is restored “over the top”, painted body color. The restoration of the undercarriage is as complete as the top side. The transmission is date code correct, consistent with factory original just as the motor. The Sure-Grip rear axle is believed to be original. All suspension and brake components have been completely mechanically and cosmetically restored. Metal plate finishes and factory assembly markings are all present and accounted for. Exhaust, brakes, and suspension are as factory equipped.

Check out Mr. Norm's Interview on the birth of the GSS:

Year 1968 Displacement 440
Make Dodge Transmission Automatic Floor Shift
Model GSS Gears 727 Torqueflight Automatic
Price $105,000 Rear End 8.75" Sure Grip
Location Grayslake, IL Final Drive 3.55:1
Odometer 87472 Drivetrain Rear-wheel Drive
VIN LM23M8B225269 Body Type Dart
Engine HP 375 Exterior Color RR1- Burgundy Poly w/ White Transverse Stripe, White Vinyl Top
Cylinders 8 Interior Color White Interior
Factory Options Added Accessories
GSS Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Sport Package Includes:
•440 4bbl 375hp 480 lb/ft of Torque V8 Engine
•727 Torque flight Transmission
•E70x14" Firestone Red Streak Tires
•Body Belt Moldings
•3.55:1 Ratio w/8.75" Axle
•Sure-Grip Differential
•Sport Stripe-Transverse
•Full Vinyl Rook
•AM Radio
•Console
•Special Order
•*Not Available with Undercoating

Patrick Krook, Owner, Show Your Auto LLC
Phone: (847) 838-3749
Email Me: pat@showyourauto.com Get ALL the information on the cars before you bid:
Access to Inspection Reports which includes: Vehicle Information Report, Mechanical Inspection, and Paint Inspection Report.
Access to a Private Photo Gallery of the car, Undercarriage Photos, VIN/Casting Stamps Detail Photos, etc.
Additional documentation on the car, Build Sheets, Judging Sheets, Original Window Stickers, Etc.
Ask us about transport, overseas customs and shipping, and pre purchase inspection services.

Terms of Sale

Terms of Sale
This vehicle is offered for sale locally, SYA reserves the right to end the auction at any time. SYA is NOT a dealer, this is a Private Party Sale. All Vehicle description/statements as well as verbal statements made by SYA, have come directly from the Seller and are accepted as reliable. The current Seller has reviewed and approved the content of this ad. SYA's only obligation with regard this ad and photos is to bring the high bidder and seller together. As the Buyer, you have the right to a Pre-Purchase Inspection. All vehicles are sold "as is", where is. 10% deposit due SYA within 24hours of Auction end. Balance within 10 days or satisfactory inspection, whichever is first. All payments are payable in certified funds only, defined as bank wire, cash in person or cashiers check. In the event the Pre-Purchase Inspection yields that Seller has materially misrepresented the vehicle, Deposits are refundable within the 10 day inspection period. Click Here for Complete Bidding Guidelines and Terms of Sale.