Through most of the 1960s, the Dodge Dart became known as a compact economy-minded vehicle for folks who weren’t too fancy or pretentious. Taking a second slice of coconut creme pie at the church social was the most demonic act perpetrated by a typical Dart owner. Exceptions to that image include this 1972 Dodge Demon 340 in Oneco, Florida. This Demonic Possession can be yours with the high bid here on eBay where A-body devotees have summoned forth over $4000 so far.
By the late 1960s and early ’70s, the classic muscle-car era shifted into top gear, and a subset of Dart buyers appreciated how their cars’ modest weight and girth made the humble Dart easier to accelerate, brake, and toss around corners. Darts swallowed bigger and bigger engines and appeared in Trans-Am road racing and drag-strips nationwide.
Only Darts with the Demon package received a four-speed manual transmission. This car left the factory wearing Dark Tan Poly paint that the seller calls “Root Beer Brown,” and a black-and-white interior as shown here. The white vinyl top is gone, but pictures in the listing show evidence of it having trapped water that rusted the C-pillars and other areas. The seller kindly shows other areas of rust-through as well.
The Body Fender Decoder at mymopar.com confirms the seller’s assertion that this is an original Demon with the high-revving 240 HP 340 cid V8 engine. The V21 “Performance Hood” appears to be original as well. Sadly, efforts to meet government emissions restrictions resulted in the 340’s losing two points of compression that year, from 10.5 to 8.5. Still, while other Mopar engines made more power in ’72, this top offering should not be dismissed in the lightweight Dart, and it made more power than the 360 (thanks to allpar.com for some details). Are you ready to sell your soul for this Demon?
Uhhhhhh…..let me see…..how much is my local Recycle Farm paying for SCRAP IRON???
Not cool
Nope. Not at all.
I’ve a lot worse for more money.
I just saw two Darts/Dusters like this the other day,
cruising from a local car show,they sure looked sharp..!
Its a shame that it has been painted,although I love the green.
These are getting even more collectable,and soon will be “high dollar” cars,
joining the rest of the muscle Mopar/Mo-money- family.This
car could be really nice, nicer if the price stays in the lower stratosphere.
My sister had one a d drove it until 1987 then with over 300,000 miles on it finally drove ig to the junkman. Not bad for a car that sold for $2,780. And it was still running but the body was so rusted, well..
340 or slant six? I know where money is if we were to bet. The 340 was an awesome engine, some of the fastest stuff I drove back in the day (and I had a 70 RR, so I know), but they were truly abused, 300K would be astronomically rare. If it were a SS or even a 318, I could see 300K, not the 340.
I am surprised the torsion bar rest mounts didn’t rust out before 300K, or are you from non salt areas?
I’d love to have one. Always liked the 340 4 speed Demons and Darts. Good balanced car that lends itself well to upgrades.
I got a ride in a dart that was very very fast once….pegged me back in the seat and I couldn’t move til he let off the gas..wow that was fun…put about 6-700 ponies in a dart and you can scare the $h!t outa people.😃
It may be a Dart. But I will give him max $2000. This poor thing needs sooooo much work.
I guess ’72 Demon 340s didn’t have the Rallye dash package like the ’71s did. The latter had a round speedo that went from 1 to 15, that read “MPH x 10.” I had a ’71 Demon 340 when I was in high school. A buddy of mine had a ’70 Duster 340. I didn’t know what I had when I had it, and certainly didn’t figure it’d be worth anything today.
Nope. The cool dash with tach was gone for 72.
Looks like it was a motel for critters too…
says its been in Fla all of its life- that might explain the rust on the roof. Lots of work, up tp 5100 now.
Good luck to the new owner, 340 4 speed would be fun to drive.
👹👹👹👹👹👹👹 Yes I am !
Once you replace the doors, fenders, hood,roof,quarters and floor pans thats gonna be a killer ride…
Had a ’72 Demon that I restored from the ground up. Had everything but the kitchen sink in that 340 and I can Guarantee you it was a heck of a lot more than 240 HP. SURE wish I still had it AND I’m very tempted to buy this one BUT, I’m in Ohio and just driving to get it and the drive back makes the asking price all wrong. Needs WAY too much work………………………………………………..
“Plus, the engine could very well have been cast in ’71…and not installed until ’72…as they used to “season” the blocks. When i was a kid, living in Dearborn, right next to Detroit, we used to see the blocks all sitting outside the factories just rusting in the snow…they did that for at least one season usually. ”
I’m go out on a limb and call BS on this one…
Eat my shorts, haters! That car is cool :)
I have a 71 Demon and love it.
If you can do the rust repair on this one yourself its saveable. Otherwise its parts car.
The year was 1974. As a young boy I languished in the back of our Winnebago as we trundled across the Kansas plains. The prevailing southerly wind made the Winnie lean to the north just a bit as we drove.
I was up in the bunk at the rear. I was drawing cars in a notebook. I recall that I was creating a fabulous rendition of Speed Racer’s Mach 5. I happened to glance out the rear window. In the distance but clearly gaining on us was a car. Now that doesn’t seem to tough to do; overtaking a Winnebago. This car was moving fast and appeared to be white. As it drew closer I recognized it as a Corvette, maybe a ’72. When I sat up the change in perspective revealed a car close behind the ‘Vette. Very close.
I started shouting at my father, “Race! Race! Behind us!”
The cars drifted into the left lane to pass us. As they blew by it was clear. This was a Corvette and a not-so-stock (mag wheels, traction bars, Thrush side pipes) Demon locked in combat. The Demon was less than half a car length behind.
Once they passed us the ‘Vette moved to the right the Demon stayed left. Since we had the windows down we could hear the Demon’s engine rev after a downshift. The rear squatted a bit as the Demon moved past the ‘Vette and did so quickly.
My father was muttering, “Get him, get him, get him…”. Once the Demon made the move he smiled. We sat there watching the cars move to the vanishing point. Both of us with stupid smiles on our faces.
The story ends several miles down the road. As we ‘Bago’d down the road we saw a bright green dot on the horizon. As we drew close it was clearly the Demon. Overheated. Hood up. Steam spewing.
The Corvette was parked behind the Demon. Both drivers were out. Both smiling and shaking hands. Both animated and happy despite the geyser behind them.
We honked, waved and gave the thumbs-up as we drove past.
Suddenly our summer trip wasn’t so bad any more.
Injunheer–that is one great story. A young gearhead seeing hot rodding at its finest, and dad rooting for his choice. Some things you never forget. Thanks a mill for sharing!
The best part is you past both of them, in your ‘Bago. Tortoise and the hare!
Ah the days of freedom.
The whole hot rod and most of later muscle car era was dominated by individuals just barely outside the norms of society.
Old song: “Not a good man;
Not a Bad man,
Just a man”…….
And I’d like to add:
“Men that liked to own and drive ,
“Bad ass cars”.
And these MOPAR Demons and Dusters with 340 4 speeds were ” Bad ass cars on street.
A parts car is where this belongs, and the parts other than mechanical and seats, and rear end are only real salvageable.
In today’s car scene and even more so in future, even a full rotisserie cannot bring this into a viable resale value.
Yes we see the barn finds of even old rusted out of norm junk selling , but that is because most real popular vehicles are might scarce, so second best is better than nothing.
Talks of entry level autos for initiates, ya initiates with piles of own or mom and dad’s expendable incomes.
Choosing a flipper or to own and drive restoration for a great many of US is choose wisely for most efficient use of expendable income.
This auto needs way to much, even self done work, what are your hours worth, IMO this is priced too high and too iffy without a carefull inspection.
Cool car.
I always preferred the looks of the Demon over the Duster. The ’71 and ’72 GSS Demons by Mr. Norm are bucket list cars for me. For a purely factory car, I’d want the ’71 with the high compression 340, bench, and 4-speed.
Pictured is a ’72 Demon 340 as I’d set this car up. Would add a pistol grip shifter too.
Beautiful!
Always found Chrysler 4 sp, especially with pistol grip shifters long of throw and so we added Hurst kits topped off with a Hurst shifter and it’s logo T bar knob.
Have to admit tho that a “pistol grip” is good eye candy for MOPAR aficianados.
By the way it looks mice have been in that car while in storage.I see some of the stuffing on the back seat. They can crawl through the whole interior of the car and make nests and mouse urine is very corrosive to metal. I have seen it a few times before
The ’71 Dusters and Demons were/are the ones to have. The ’71 340 engine held its own against a lot of larger factory displacement engines back in the day. I saw a 340 Duster destroy a ’68 Hemi Charger one night racing a quarter mile on a marked off straight and flat four-lane road. I have no idea what the gearing was on either, but both were running automatics.
Had I know how rare these were….my 1971 340/Auto left as a roller and my 1972 like this one with that rare factory scoop and a 340/4 speed in the Hemi Orange with gold stripe painted over – which by the late 70’s everyone was painting their cars black with that gold stripe – like a certain Pontiac Trans Am….sold it as a roller as well about 1981…oh whale….have pics on my other PC….
I bought a 72 Demon 340 that started life looking a lot like this car did as a parts car in 1986. I think I paid $300 for it and it was complete but rough is an understatement. How times have changed. Mine was the HT8 brown but with the basic bench seat interior (black) and no vinyl top. Also it was the 3-speed manual trans so I think someone was buying a bare bones 340 car way back when…
I stripped that Demon all the way down to a bare shell (see above pic) and scrapped it. I still have the 340-specific k-frame, clutch/brake pedal assy, engine, trans, driveshaft, and 3.23 rear stashed away for future use in my 72 Duster Twister project.
If a-body prices keep going up, however, I may have to sell off my accumulation of parts to pay for my kid’s college education. Or at least a few months of it…
Here’s a pic of my $300 Demon 340 as purchased. No deals like that anymore!
Mopar A bodies with the dual snorkel hood! Had a ‘69Barracuda with an original and functional Dart dual snorkel and blacked-out hood,and a 340 automatic trans.Made a mean mopar look awesome!