65 Dart value: sell or not

[swing69]

I've got a 65 Dart 2dr. sedan, all original. I bought it from out west, so its a rust free car; a rarity in NJ. 225 / auto. Interior in good condition, runs prefect, needs nothing.

The plan is to install a v8 "kit" that I've accumulated. I've got the centerlink, V8 gas pedal, kick down, coil-overs, exhaust (TTis, spitfires and 273 manifolds - not sure what I'll use), disk brakes, rebuilt 318 and a rebuilt 360 and a rebuilt 904, 8.75 with a 742 rear.

My shop time may get cut back, so I MAY not have the time or space to do the swap.

Question is: is it better to sell it off now and the pieces....or do the swap. What's the car worth as-is?

 

[Darter6]

You "may" make more by selling off the parts and the "car only" than together.Plus a die hard slanter would want it as is. Every time I think of selling off my race car I know I can get more parting it than Whole..

 

[chryslerfat]

That is too beautiful to part ways with in todays economy. Later you will be lucky to replace it with rust for the price it would sell for. I say keep the motor and etc. that will be your final choice and enjoy the ride until you can make time to convert it.

 

[valiant1966]

Sell the parts and car separate if you must but think long and hard before you do. If you don't need the money, just drive it until you do have time and space to make it what you want.
You gotta know that it will be tough to replace a car that nice. JMO Dennis

 

[Commando66]

I was in the same spot with my 64 Valiant wagon. It was a good running slant 6 car that I was going to do a 273 swap on. I had collected all the parts to do the swap, but started thinking about resale value. I came to the realization that it would only be worth a few $$$ more with a 273 and 4 speed. A friend of a friend offered what I thought it was worth with a V8 so I sold it. I loved the car, but the room in the garage for my other projects is nice too.

 

[604]

Boy I sure would not part with that car. Unless you sold it to me! LOL These are getting pretty darn hard to find rust free. I looked for ever to find my rust free CA car. If it were me I would part with the parts, but keep the car. I love those post cars!!!!

On another note I have never seen one with door panels like that? Looks like just a piece of painted masonite. Must have ben base model thing.

 

[abodyjoe]

i have seen this car in person.. the ***** is clean and runs awesome...

personally i would sell it just the way it is. as a running 6cyl. car. then sell the parts separate.

if you do decide to go the v-8 route i would scrap the coil over idea all together and stick with a stock style suspension.

 

[prrc]

Nice clean car, I will have to agree with the others sell it as is. If you do start selling of any of the parts shoot me a PM I may be interested in some of the things you have collected.

 

[swing69]

in for sale section at $3950

 

[604]

Your killing me!!! I wish I had the extra $ laying around. I sure would want it! Man I would even conceder selling off some of my "bang" collection to get your dart!

To bad you are not closer.

 

[swing69]

hey 604. those panels are stock cards, recovered in 65 vinyl (metallic fawn) color. The headliner is fawn. The carpet redye'd brown. seats were from a valiant 2 dr..

Interior work left to do: repaint the dash, fix the gauges, replace the pad. mechanical work? who knows yet.......

I don't know what I would do if I kept it. 318 with stock manifolds or the 360 the TTIs.

 

[BillGrissom]

I assume your question is whether to sell the car and all parts (likely separately) or push on with your planned swap. I assume the later means keeping the car, not selling it. It sure would make no sense to do the swap and then try to sell it, since nobody would value your mod.s the same as you.

You don't show under-hood, trunk, or floors. If they are pristine, your car would probably be worth ~$1500 in CA, if the paint is OK. If the paint is pristine, maybe $2000. The cost to ship to NJ is ~$1000, so maybe $2500-$3000 there. Of course, a "bird in the hand" is worth more, so could be up to $3500. The market will decide. My guess is it will end up selling for $2500. Since you asked us, please update when it sells, whether FABO, craigslist, ebay, or some guy driving by. We all want to know how under-water we are on our car values after many parts and years of work.

 

[swing69]

Thanks Bill. I don't think anyone wants to know how far underwater they are. I figure if you are going to keep it, THINK to yourself its worth 10x what you have in it, and you'll be happier! lol

I paid ~2200, ~1100 to ship, ~700 in the interior and misc. stuff. Thats why I'm at ~4K
Your $$$$ go way further out west that in the NE region for sure. $1500 here buys you at titled rust bucket only.

It costs no more to keep it.