Correct Engine Color

[Arch W]

I bought an original '68 GTS 340 4-speed in 1971 and still own it. The engine was and has been repainted red. The only turquoise engines that I've seen in those days (pretty sure they were still original) were automatics. As most of you know, in '68 the auto's and 4-speed engines were slightly different, 4-speed being equipped with a slightly wilder cam. In '69 all the 340's were produced with the milder auto cam. That might explain why '69's were turquoise. Just a theory. But you could go nuts trying to figure out Ma Mopar!

 

[Swinger 340]

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No. That’s false info. Please don’t spread that.

There have been some variations on original 1969 340 cars found. They do not necessarily follow 4-speed, auto, and/or A/C.

Most were turquoise.

If you have something different, you better have good proof to make that case for your motor. It's still very uncommon for non turquoise 69 340.

The 1969 Dart brochure doesn’t show Hemi orange. I don’t even see a picture of a motor in it. And the colors are not great on those brochures. As a rule, Factory brochures very from production cars greatly. Even the pictures are airbrushed touched up.

Here is the factory brochure for the 69' Darts. Sorry again, but I can't get the photo to transfer from my phone. The flyer says "DODGE FEVER" with a 69' Gold Dart on the cover. "1969 Dodge Dart" writing on upper right corner. If someone has this Ad, maybe they can get it to transfer. I will keep trying.

 

[oldkimmer]

I think if your car isn’t original paint the engine the color that compliments the body. Kim

 

[autoxcuda]

He

Here is the factory brochure for the 69' Darts. Sorry again, but I can't get the photo to transfer from my phone. The flyer says "DODGE FEVER" with a 69' Gold Dart on the cover. "1969 Dodge Dart" writing on upper right corner. If someone has this Ad, maybe they can get it to transfer. I will keep trying.

Factory brocheres are bad sources of info on production cars. The cars are pre-production and often have items that didn't make production or parts that were last years production since they didn't have the new stuff ready yet.
Also, they are often airbrushed.

 

[BrianT]

I'm painting my 414 Race Hemi orange. It's not correct but I think it'll provide a better contrast between it and the rest of the engine compartment in my red car. I also like the fact that the Race Hemi color was used on crate engines and special project engines back in the day.