If this rough and ready 1965 Dart does not speak to your inner BangShifter, seek counseling. You don’t have to like it, like the look, the slant six engine, or the fact that it has fender flares for days but you have to respect that this thing is built like an absolute anvil and has been in the hands of the same owner for 30 years. It is kind of a pro touring meets Mad Max, meets pro-ranch built but we love it just the same.
Equipped with air conditioning, a built taxi-cab spec Torqueflite transmission, and a sensibly built aforementioned Slant Six, the thing is not going to be a drag racer but with all that tire under it, we bet it handles pretty well! The engine has a Holley 2bbl carb, a marine intake manifold, a Clifford camshaft, and stuff like Smith Brothers push rods, long tube headers, etc. Like we said, the engine was built to make some more power but not be anywhere near a ragged edge piece. The torque it makes allows the car to perform real work, like dragging a big water tank around, etc. The car has a bunch of fuel holding capacity as well so road trips would be a pleasure in this baby.
On the chassis front, there’s a 16:1 manual steering box, big PST sway bars, Koni adjustable shocks, reinforced lower control arms and then a load of factory parts from later cars that help make this one better. Stuff like factory brake and hub upgrades, etc that go a long way into improving the chassis. There is nothing exotic here but then again there is nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a call to your local parts house.
The wheels are 15x10s and they are holding onto some pretty big tires which appear to be BFG Radial TAs.
This thing is just plain neat.
RacingJunk Find: This 1965 Dart is BangShifty to the core with flares and a Slant Six!
I may have to do the same grille treatment on my ’66 Dart; not sure I can get the stock grille to clear the front mount intercooler.
The wheel flares are super ugly
Yes the wheel flares ARE super ugly. But they somehow contribute to the likeable weirdness of the car by allowing the fat tires to fit in. Ok so it has potential if its not rotten or rusty
The car has a Mad Max vibe to it. Take out the slant six and dump in a healthy 360.
Between this and the Cleetus Crown Vic it’s RedNeck Wednesday
I forgot the Comet and ’58 Rambler too.
Heck, the Black Mako from Tenn. and the CC car show from Kentucky Too.
I’d paint it white and love to see it with black steel wheels- kinda of a “baby NASCAR Grand National “ vibe.
Obviously a well thought out build – excellent handling and bullet proof drivetrain.
Someone’s gonna get a great car.
I assume a BangShifty attitude is to crush such a fugly pile of shit on first sight!