This 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger is barn fresh, which may sound odd, but I mean that it was freshly pulled out of a barn where it has been in storage and was last driven in 1993. It can be found here on eBay in Nuremberg, Pennsylvania. The seller has a buy-it-now price of $4,000 listed.
This Dart has a great look to it with those painted rims and dog dish wheel covers. 1969 is the last year before some fairly significant design changes to the Dart so if you’re looking for a “square” looking Dart, this is it. The next owner will have a lot (and by lot I mean LOT) of work to do on this one, however. It’s fairly significantly rusted, well past the point of no return for me, but I don’t do rusty cars at all. Maybe some of you can fix the rust and enjoy this car after some welding. A lot of welding.
This is a fourth-generation Dodge Dart and in 1969, Dodge created the Swinger model out of the two-door hardtop. Actually, it wasn’t much more than a few badges and/or decals, but it’s a legendary name. I’m surprised at how great this car looks in the overall photos, and it’s nice that the seller is honest and has included the photos of the less-than-desirable condition issues in a few areas so the next owner knows what they’re getting into.
The interior looks fantastic, other than a crack on the top of the dash. This car has a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic and it doesn’t look like it would take much to bring this one back to looking like new again. The trunk looks solid and the body rust surprises me given how good most of the car looks in the photos. Hagerty is at $4,560 for a #4 fair condition Dart with a slant-six, so I’m not sure if the seller will see this one leaving anytime soon with those rust issues and that asking price.
The engine is Dodge’s 225 cubic-inch slant-six which would have had 145 hp. The seller says that it starts but doesn’t stay running and will need some help. I’m guessing that most Barn Finds readers could get it going in no time. Any thoughts on this Dart Swinger.
That’s a real stripper basic transportation car from the era. Maybe the family’s second car, then passed down to the teen drivers. Do car companies still make this type of car nowadays? It looks like the PA winters took their toll.
Scotty should know, we’ve seen our share of rusty cars in the Midwest, and this car is a cream puff compared to what happened to them by us. I don’t think this is quite the stripper, it does have PS and automatic. I read, head restraints were mandatory after Jan. 1, 1969, so this must be an early ’69. Before US small cars, this was the answer to a VW, and they sold a bunch. Nothing fancy, took mom to the grocery store, or the librarian, traveling nurse maybe, but we didn’t live in our cars, like today, and this fit the bill for a lot of folks. I doubt anyone will restore it, but a great vintage ride,, for like half what they want. No bids confirms that. Great find, I’d love to have it.
Howard, the dart does have head rests.
The rust in the upprt fire wall and hood sections is weird.
Never seen that.
Especially when trunk seems solid.
Do not know what to say. Maybe worth a grand ?
Tops! After some negotiations. This almost had my attention for a daily driver. But, just looking at the pics, I’m gonna hafta pass. That’s without an up close and personal inspection. Almost got me….almost.
Way too much for the asking price. The seller is dilusional if he thinks someone will turn it in to a Super Stock or Stock eliminator race car. The guys building those cars are too well connected to waste their time with a car in this condition. They will either start with a rust free roller or spend more money for a car with a better body. As mentioned above, it’s a nice $1,000 to $1,500 project for a beginner or will make a good beater, but that’s about where it ends.
Steve R
Amen Steve 😁
I wonder if Nuremberg, PA has any “roundabouts”…if so you could drive the Nuremberg ring.
Hiss. Boo. Derisive catcalls.
That’s funny!
My boss had a Dart like rhis except his was red. I used the car to do deliveries. Unfortunately the northeast were not kind to Mopars even 40 yrs ago.
When I met my 1st wife she drove the same car but yellow with black interior. On more than one occasion I’d check the oil and nothing showed on the stick. You truly had to try hard to kill a slant six.
The rust on this one is more than most will want to deal with. Being in the desert southwest, I don’t deal with any at all…
Remarkable that Dodge got 145 HP out of the same motor that the 5th gen Darts only got 105 HP out of.
I’d love to put my 383 in this and run it. Patch it up and give her hell!
That’s a shame. Its nice but too much welding for me since I don’t know how. The crunchy roof is very scary too…
Run , Forrest, Run! Unless you are an excellent metal smith, best to leave this alone. Way too much rust.
If the motor ran correctly, it would make a good winter car and let it rust. With the rust I see in the engine Department, I’m sure the frame, “K” member and connecting parts are shot also.
Aah the slant six. My neighbours passed one on to their daughter. The car was not neglected it was ignored. I’m sure all it ever got was gas. It had a little valve noise so we had her bring it into the shop. We were in shock and hysterics when we took the valve cover off. Try to imagine a “Jello” mold of the inside of the cover consisting of foamy gooey muck with the rocker arms wiggling each in it’s own slot. We laughed like hell and very carefully put the cover back on. Yes you cannot kill one of these motors. By the way if you never seen Top Gear episode of try Kill a Toyota Hilux get a beer and do it.