The Dart compact served Dodge well from 1963 to 1976. Its second-generation (1967-76) was the most popular, especially the Swinger 2-door hardtop. The seller’s 1975 edition was built as Dodge was starting to wind things down; the Aspen would replace it the following year. According to the seller, this car was a barn find and has been sitting for a long time, and does not run. Located in Plainfield, New Jersey, this Mopar is waiting to be saved, and it has Chrysler’s venerable Slant-Six engine. The Dodge is available here on eBay for $3,000 OBO.
To boost interest in the Dart series, Dodge introduced the Swinger in 1969. For a time, it could be ordered with a 340 cubic inch V8 for those buyers so inclined. But the majority were equipped with either the 225 Slant-Six or the 318 V8. The seller’s Swinger has the former, paired with a TorqueFlite automatic transmission. In advance of the Aspen’s arrival, sales were down in 1975, but Dodge still managed to peddle about 55,000 Swingers, largely because small cars were in again (thanks to the OPEC oil embargo of 1973).
We assume the seller found this machine in a barn or some other dusty place with the goal of reselling it. There is no indication of any work having been done, including a car wash. The car may be complete and seems to be solid, sans some surface rust here and there. The maroon paint is faded, and the car may have once had a vinyl roof covering. Other than the dash pad or the cover over it, the interior seems to have held up pretty well.
The Slant-Sixes were known for running forever, but the mechanical condition of this one isn’t clear. This could be a cool car to restore, but it might prove to be a bit more valuable if a V8 resided under the hood. The seller started off by asking $4,000, but it has been lowered by a grand. Would you restore this Dart to its original state, turn it into a sleeper, or buy the Dodge as a donor for another project?
Nightmare car for me. Learned to drive in a 75 dart 4 door. The poor slant 6 was so choked by emissions, hit the gas and 1/2 the time it would stumble, for a good 2-3 seconds. My only chargeable accident was when I stupidly pulled out in front of a bus, motor stumbled bad, took a hit in the rear quarter. My poor father was in the hospital at the time, had to tell him I wrecked his car.
But somehow still we pulled a pop up and camped/hunted in snow in that car. Towed a 15ft runabout with a 85 hp mercury to Canada with it as well.
Already lowered the price by $1000 bucks from the description to the or best offer I bet that odometer has rolled over a few times. Should clean up pretty good. New Jersey car makes me wonder if it still has a frame under it or Swiss cheese
I was thinking I’d want to see some undercarriage pics before considering making an offer.
if it can run and not too rusty wash it and put some rally wheels and fresh tires and have some fun
Looks like it was dragged out of a field.