As much as we'd like to fill our yards and garages with as many Mopars as we can afford, there are several reasons why most of us can't. County ordinances, deed restrictions, and financial restraints generally dictate how many cars we have, and sometimes having a spouse who isn't quite as into Mopars as you are can limit your number of cars as well. Fortunately for Richard Spotz of Pahrump, Nevada, his wife Kathy is very understanding of his hobby, helping him spot and score deals on various cars near Death Valley where they live. Richard never imagined it would lead to her scoring a car of her own.
Richard Spotz is lucky to...
Richard Spotz is lucky to have an understanding wife who lets him fix up old Mopars as a hobby. This month he got even luckier as she scored a deal on her very own 340 Dart Sport.
The VIN and fender tag were...
The VIN and fender tag were both intact...
...verifying this Dart's pedigree...
...verifying this Dart's pedigree and options
Enjoying, collecting, and fixing up Mopars as much as her husband, Kathy is always on the lookout for cool cars. One day she spotted a '73 Dodge Dart Sport sitting in a yard and stopped to ask about it. The owner said it was for sale, and it had the original 340 engine still in it. Kathy liked the car but wasn't sure she'd heard of a 340 before so she told the owner she'd think about it and come back. Once home, Kathy asked Richard about the car and he told her how rare the 340 option was in the Dart. Knowing she wanted the car, they drove back quickly to see if they could negotiate a deal.
The Dart was partially disassembled...
The Dart was partially disassembled but a solid candidate for restoration. As an original 340 car with the factory engine still intact, this Dodge was well worth the $500 price tag.
You can see the hoodscoop...
You can see the hoodscoop provisions on this Dart Sport. The original scoop had been removed but came with the car as well. Finding a car so complete really makes a restoration easier, as you have all the original equipment as a reference.
In the desert near Death Valley,...
In the desert near Death Valley, the Dart's paint was pretty much shot on the top surfaces. Otherwise, there was no real rust damage, and the floors of the Dart are rock solid.
Since Kathy had found the car, they decided that she would do the negotiating, with Richard backing her up. This was a change, as Mopar purchases were usually the other way around. As it turned out, the owner really wanted to get rid of the car and only owned it because a friend had started to take it apart to fix up, then lost interest. The owner didn't really want it around anymore, so he quickly agreed to sell it to Kathy for $500. Scoring a deal like that, we wouldn't be surprised if Richard let his wife negotiate every time they buy a new car!
Once Richard and Kathy got the Dart home, they discovered it was a real, numbers-matching Dart Sport with a 340 engine and 727 transmission. Although it was partially disassembled, all the parts came with the car including the bucket seats and the hoodscoop. Since purchasing the car, Kathy and Richard have got it running, saying it runs very good and even has a Sure-Grip rear end. Better yet, the Dart isn't just a lawn ornament anymore; it will be treated to a complete restoration.
Kathy was used to enjoying...
Kathy was used to enjoying the Mopar hobby with her husband Richard, but this time she's the one who found a great deal on this '73 Dart Sport.
A previous owner had taken...
A previous owner had taken some of the interior and trim off of the Dart, but everything was located in the car and came with it. The car is highly optioned and has the desirable bucket seats and floor shifted automatic.
Amazingly, the original 340...
Amazingly, the original 340 was still sitting between the inner fenders. With a battery and some fuel, the engine started and ran well.