Wow. I’ve talked about box-checkers before but this 1973 Dodge Dart is one amazing car that checks a lot of boxes. This black beauty is listed on eBay in Paxton, Massachusetts with a current bid price of $27,000 and the reserve has been met! There is a $32,900 buy it now price and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone clicks that before the end of the auction.
This stealth bomber originally came with a slant-six engine but it has been just slightly upgraded. Believe it or not, this car is wearing its original and rust-free body panels and most of its original paint. The seller says that it has “mostly original paint that has Gone through a high end paint correction with ceramic coating.”
I think this is really a great looking car. A black two-door with black steel wheels and dog dish caps, a gigantic V8, and a 4-speed manual? And rust-free to boot? Yes, a thousand times over. In 1973, the Dart received an updated look. Oddly enough, the “Demon” was renamed the Dart Sport due to religious groups rallying against the Demon name and pitchfork-holding devil logo. The times haven’t really changed that much in 45 years after all and this car is the very definition of an automotive demon is there ever was one.
Did you expect to see a green interior? I didn’t either. But I like it, a lot. The seller says that the “Interior is all original, mint condition, carpet was added, originally had rubber mat. Factory radio delete car. Steering wheel upgraded to a simulated woodgrain unit. Way more details and new parts, too much to list.” The 4-speed isn’t original but it’s a very desirable addition to this car. I like the added carpet, this car isn’t going to ever be in a Pebble Beach keep-it-original concours show so why not have a little luxury along with a bit of sound-deadening along with monster power?
Hey, speaking of monster power, here is that six-pack 440 cubic-inch V8! Good grief, now that’s an engine. I’m on record as being a wicked huge fan of the 225 slant-six, and I mean a big fan. But, there aren’t many humans who wouldn’t like to have this car with this engine crammed under that hood. The seller says that the “Engine has been freshly rebuilt with edelbrock aluminum heads, steel crank, adj. rocker arms, main studs, Comp cam, etc.. Professionally built by Marsh performance. All new 6 pack setup which runs flawlessly. I have 2 pages of details on the engine”. Have any of you made a monster like this Dart? What are your thoughts on this one? I think it’s worth every penny of the current bid price, what will it sell for?
I’m sorry…he’s tired of looking at it?!
Have to have your head examined for getting rid of this puppy.
Holy. Crap.
I just hope the rear axle doesn’t tear off the leaf springs when you hit the loud pedal!
https://youtu.be/099douUPsOE?t=15s
I bet the next time he drove that Dart there was a driveshaft loop under it!
That was an expensive little romp!
Small wonder the seat’s not broken!
Holy ‘effin smokes!
I pity the fool that challenged this “GRANNY” looking car!
Been done right, lots of upgrades necessary for the absolute terror lurking under that hood.
Don’t forget Dodge made over 600 Darts with the 440 Magnum in ’69, plus about 300 or so Cuda’s with that engine, made that combination legal for stock class drag racing. Way out of balance, slow manual steering, brakes and puny tires were also part of the package. Turn? You’ve got to be kidding!
I dont know. 32 K for somebodys frankenstein , no matter the block. Hmmmmm..funny what is ‘valuable’ to people
Come on powerball numbers!!!
If done right a Dana rear is under it. Chrysler had pamphlets detailing how to build engine/chaais mods for what class of drag and speeds to build for.
PERSONALY I am not macho enough and reflexes too slow and coordination eyes legs and arms for 4 spd, so My choice for builds like this is Chryslers beefed Hemi trans.
Today’s youth are real a-holes, common courtesy calls for stopping to check driver and lend hand clearing debri.
Street was not always this mean and juvenile petty.
Awesome car! The ad states it has a dana 60 rear. Talk about a sleeper! The only things holding it back is that green interior and the 73 and later nose/ grill. The interior could be dyed black but it would take a little careful work to swap to the more attractive (imo) earlier nose/ grill. I have a buddy with an original orange paint 70 Dart Swinger with a 318/904 auto setting in his garage for nearly 20 yrs now since he has turned a wrench on it… oh he also has a 70 challenger rt 383/727 in primer but originally plum crazy as well as a 67 malibu 327/ 4spd all torn apart keeping the dart company…😢 I guess at least theyre inside…
Why do you say it is not the correct front end?
It looks correct for a 1973 model.
I don’t think he’s saying the front end is incorrect, he just prefers the earlier style,am I right Steve?
I’d rather a 67 gts 340 4 speed it can turn and the manifolds aren’t choked off.
The 340 will run with the big blocks all day long!
Oh yah and the 73 front end is ugly.i can say that cuz I’ve had 3 of em
Early Darts and Baracuda 340 would outgun any MOPARS, stock, until 1969-70.
Earliest ugly Cuda 340 was a high 13 sec off showroom floors.
340 was, and still is way underated motor.
There is no official record of a 13 second until 1969 and that was a modified car. No Barracuda was running as fast as you say straight out of the showroom. I have the numbers all the way back to 1950.
You can’t go by today’s Pure Stock numbers either because despite the claims the cars are Pure stock, that’s impossible for many reasons not the least of which are the tires which are far, far stickier than muscle car era tires of any make.
Sorry pal, this car, the way it sits, will do mid 12’s. The 440, six pak even beat the hemi.
67 Dart GTS had 383 68 Dart was first year for 340
This is the rear window treatment on the Mexican Darts.
You guys can comment on if you like it better than the American roof.
Wow, that makes a HUGE difference. I like it way better. Did all 67-76 Darts get that roof treatment?
I think the roof started in 1970. The older ones had the same roof.
The problem I found with the one I have is it gives more area for rust to develop.
I am trying to decide what to do with mine as it is rusted everywhere, even the roof.
I have a 1975 2 door.
It’s different than what we see up here, tunnel style like an old charger, well sort of. No smog either, right? Would like to see a straight on side view of it.
Miguel, I think you have a lot of cool cars.
Mama! This was the hottest stick out there, although, and not sure it was mentioned, I highly doubt a 440 was on the option sheet in ’73. Anybody remember Mr. Norm from Chicago? In ’68 he took stock Darts, and put 383’s, hemi’s and 440’s and sold them to a lucky few drag racers. They were the fastest cars in the Midwest.
BTW, HEY DICK! This I like!!
Why didn’t religious groups complain about the CURRENT Demon name/car?
Guess they never even noticed, lookin DOWN at smartphones all day & nite.
That’s at least a 150 lb 5 mph bumper on front of above car.
I’m sure a lighter late 60’s hemi dart is faster.
Nice car! I don’t want it but I think it “checks all the boxes” for what it is.
The car being advertised is a DART plain and simple. The ’71-’72 DEMON had a very different body similar to the Plymouth DUSTER. Although the body shell is different, the front sheet metal is interchangeable. This is a ’73 DART SPORT.
Putting a 73 dart together for my brother now but with a 360. Not as nice as this one. YET
In Venezuela the Dodge Dart was famous for their weak front suspension. With that engine the sheetmetal will tear apart.
To much money, for a green slant six car. If you are going to change color of the car , why not change color? Or at least change outside color to match inside. That black with at grandma green just don’t do it for me. Can you say but ugly
Ad says mostly original paint and interior. no color changes
For whatever reason, very few 1971+ Darts and Valiants were originally black. Unless the fender tag confirms that I’d guess this was a green or white car.
That Mexcian top is known as EL DIABLO option
Hot Rod magazine did a build in the early 90’s. 12 second car for under $2000.00. They took three cars to build their car. First an early Dart 6 cylinder for the good body, then another donor for the K member and rear end and a third for the 440 engine. It took them awhile to do it, but in the end they made a quarter mile pass under 13 seconds. They didn’t have the right trans mount so they had to strap it in place. Boy, those guys would do anything for a story. I only wished I could be the one being paid by Peterson Publishing to build a fast, cheap hot rod.
😁 i remember that story David Freiberger used a hose clamp to anchor the trans mount 😃 and he’s still doing it today on roadkill
The only black Dart I’ve seen was growing up among the Mennonites in Lancaster county Penna.
I haven’t read the ad but from what I’ve heard there need to be lots of structural mods for the engine swap and handling, right?
I think I’d like the black if accented with a cool stripe treatment and maybe raised white letter tires. Although the sleeper look is cool too.
Interior doesn’t scare or bother me.
Looks like a fun cruiser/rumble machine. Too expensive for that though. At least for me.
I grew up with a red 73 Swinger. I like the nose and the whole package. Personally I’d rather have a stock example, but I’m sure someone will have fun with this.
Needs a respray in dark green.
We used to do this swap of a 440/383 in A body’s in the 80’s a lot. Had to have a reverse manual valve body as kick down linkage never fit. A few bolts and a chain to hold the engine in place. 8 3/4 rearend would hold up as traction was limited. Always very quick. Harder to work on than the 454’s we put in G body gm cars but much bigger money makers on the street.
I do miss those days.
Chrysler Corp. had Polic Volares eoptions in later years, after old black and white Fury or Polara ,Blues Bros) , that could bolt right into earlier Darts and Valients.
Most had 360, disc brakes, wider steel wheel large bolt pattern, and Michelin Speed rated tires, big heavy duty automatics and 8 3/ rears.
Municipality auc tions let us buy 4 or 5 each. 350-500 each.
Not odd that we put 440 or 383 in early 70 Darts cuz by 80’s wrecking yards had piles of them and cheap, even 413 used in motor homes were plentiful and class C had Dana rears.
Above mention of reverse body shifters, was quite common from 64 on for we on streets and weekends at strips.
Thanks to a contributor for reminding me.
The factory 440’s on street were a close
match for factory stock Hemi until 71 and then 440 6 pac k ruled.
Why no mention of AAR Cuda 340 six pack engine option not mentioned?
This is one mean looking car! I would think that it’s a blast to drive!
The ‘Sleeper’ look on this is fun. The green interior seems odd (this coming from a guy who likes odd). I will have to follow this auction just to see if someone uses the BIN.
This thing is absolutely sinister looking…
but I like it! And yes, Howard A, I do remember Mr. Norm’s Grand Spalding
Dodge. Some of the wildest things on
wheels came out of that dealership in
the mid to late ’60’s. Still recall the big
grudge race between Mr. Norm and Arnie
“The Farmer” Beswick in the summer of
’66. The trash talk we heard on WLS
radio out of Chicago was absolutely
insane! Can still hear the Buckinghams
singing the Mr. Norm jingle that ended
with the line: “Get a Hemi or a 426 or a
383 any kind that you pick!” And how about Joan Parker, the Dodge girl! Oh
my God what a fox!!! Used to dream
about her all through middle school.
Had her picture on my bedroom wall
too! Still makes my heart race even
today. That reminds me, gotta take a
take my heart pills before turning in.
Night all!
😂😂 that’s funny, i well remember Mr Norm, i lived in Milwaukee and on good day and the right wind direction we could get WLS Sunday,Sunday,Sunday 😁 would always see those cars at Great Lakes dragstrip, i do miss those days
All the ugly comments kill me. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. As for me, I’m not a Mopar guy, but I’d roll this in a heartbeat. 5mph bumpers, green interior, I’d listen to all the trash talking over a real quiet exhaust, then take their money. 😉