'66 Dart Wagon Survivor "refurbish"

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Flashback

Flashback

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I've mentioned a bit about my project in other areas here, but thought I'd provide some "eye candy". The car is a VERY solid survivor that spent it's entire life in West Texas...and the last 20 years sitting in the desert. I spotted it online and it matches identically in year, color combo and options (except exhaust spoilers and dealer AC) as the one I rode all over the country in as a kid.

My brother and I have been "refurbishing it" , not restoring it as we want to keep as much a survivor as possible. It has all of it's original body panels, glass, trim and 95% of its paint. We re-did front seat, added dash overlay, gas tank, re-cored radiator, brakes and had some minor rust repaired in just the rear quarter panels (usual spot).

We presented it to my father and our siblings this Xmas...they got a kick out of it. The overwhelming comment from them was "I can't believe how small it is??" Of course, we're all in our forties or better now, so we're a bit bigger than we were when my parent took the five of us kids, crammed in this for yearly nine hour trips to Chicago!!

Hope you enjoy the shots. Last one is my father standing with his "2nd" Dart wagon.
 

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thats pretty cool. i bet your dad got a kick out of that. keep up the good work, i like the idea of keeping it as original as possible. nice pictures.
 
Awesome car.

Doing a project like this is a real balancing act. I have tried to do the same with my Barracuda.

It's like…….. Ok, this could look better but if I over restore this section it won't fit with the rest of the "patina".

So, sure I could make my car nicer, but I want to maintain the look of it's 62,000 original miles. It's often harder than it sounds.
 
1968FormulaS340 said:
Awesome car.

Doing a project like this is a real balancing act. I have tried to do the same with my Barracuda.

It's like…….. Ok, this could look better but if I over restore this section it won't fit with the rest of the "patina".

.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the compliments!

You are right about the "balancing act". Carpet is yet to go in (which we had to replace, was really bad, but with it, plus dash overlay and seat re-covered, I know the worn steering wheel is going to stick out like a beacon! But, one thing at a time, I error on the side of originality though and believe "patina" is part of well-earned battle scars.

BTW, Nice Barracuda!
 
That's a real nice wagon you found. I agree with you and 1968FormulaS340, it's hard to keep a car looking unrestored with patina. It's sometimes harder then a complete resto!

BTW what kind of tires do you have on the wagon? They look like bias ply stock wheel 7.00x13 with whitewall!
 
Cool storyand great car! We purchased this wagon last year to restore and have plans to do a trip in it when done maybe the power tour or visits a few states like most of us remember as a kid. I hope my kids will grow up and remember the trip we take in it and that I preserved it for them someday. Jayson
 

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65dartcharger said:
!

BTW what kind of tires do you have on the wagon? They look like bias ply stock wheel 7.00x13 with whitewall!
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Yes, bias ply 13's w/ whitewalls, bought them from a member here. They really set off the original look of the car. Can't believe how skinny they are!

jsynflem,

Nice wagon too! Totally agree, plan to make some memories with my young daughter with the wagon too. Like watching fireworks on the 4th of July off the tailgate like I did forty years ago!!
 
My family loves going for rides in "Herbert". Load up the back with kid stuff and off to the park!
 

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Man that thing is in amazing condition Flashback, I wish my '65 was in half of that condition to start with. The smile on your Dad's face says it all, great thing you are doing with that car! Keep us posted!
 
Rocky65 said:
Man that thing is in amazing condition Flashback, !
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Thanks Rocky,

I was so amazed and pleased when I pulled the carpet and saw this! Just don't see them this way in the Midwest!
 

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What a great thread. Our cars, our dads, our dads' cars. Not a wagon, but here's my dad just pulling in with the car fresh from the paint shop, this would have been in about 1995:

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wow! look at those floor pans. my california car didnt even look that good. i just got done putting front pans in it.
 
Thanks Slantscamp,

Been watching your rebuild...you're inspiring me to be redo my 904. You picked great wheels for your car and excellent engine detailing!
 
neat wgn but you need an armrest!!heres one im selling
 

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Yep, among a dozen other items... First up is to freshen the 904.

BTW, nice wagon...like the trailer hitch too!
 
Flashback said:
Thanks Rocky,

I was so amazed and pleased when I pulled the carpet and saw this! Just don't see them this way in the Midwest!
Click to expand...

Nice! I had a 66 Dart GT years ago and it was the only one i have had that didn't need at least one floor pan! That is half the battle with these cars!
 
Came across this photo of my father's original wagon in an old scrapbook. This would be around 1971. Note the crazy mudflap he had on it....I remember it well...it won't be added to the "refurbished" version. I don't recall the story around the crease in the rear door.

Thought you might enjoy the photo. I always like seeing the "back in the day" shots.
 

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Cool!;-) I'm betting he put it on there to help keep exhaust and dust from coming in through the back window?
 
Here in Europe that mud flap was very common on the wagons. The reason was simply to keep out of the dirt on the back window. I remember my neighbour who had a frost green 1961 Valiant wagon. He had that big mud flap and it was mostly layin on the ground with a lot of noice when he was driving. He was a carpenter so he's car was very loaded most of the time.

That is a neat picture of your fathers car!
 
65charger,

Very interesting that the mud flaps were big in Europe. My dad went through two of them ( I recall as a 9 yr old trying to dissuade from attaching the second one). Even then, I just didn't think it was cool...it went on anyway...
 
Well, here's the latest effort on my wagon. I got the carpet installed this past weekend, sorry for the crappy cell phone shot. It certainly "woke up" the interior, especially shows off my worn steering wheel...but that's part of it charm. Amazing how the dealer-installed AC has a drain hose that goes through floorboard which is what my brother is wrestling with in the photo.
 

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