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Hot 1970 Dodge Dart 340 Swinger

Decisions, decisions. The next owner of this 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger will face a few as they tailor this classic to their specific needs. The current owner has slotted an upgraded V8 under the hood and transformed it into a potent street and strip machine, but it would take little effort to return it to a more civilized state as a cruiser that commanded respect. If you feel up for the challenge, you will find this Dart located in Lenexa, Kansas, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has already raced past the reserve and sits at $7,101 at the time of writing.

There’s a bit to consider with this Dark Green Poly Dart, but the best piece of news is its relative lack of rust. The owner only identifies some bubbling in the lower rear quarter panels. However, he has sourced replacement sections from AMD, and he includes these in the sale. There is the usual accumulated surface corrosion on the vehicle’s underside, but the supplied photos seem to support his claims surrounding a general lack of rust. There is no evidence of penetration in the floors or frame. The paint is tired, but apart from the positive rust vibes, the Dart is also surprisingly short of significant dings or dents. The tinted glass is in good order, as is the external trim. The factory Rallye wheels look spotless, and with the rears shod in Mickey Thompson slicks, they provide the first clue that this Dart may have a few tricks up its sleeve.

The Dart’s interior provides potential buyers with further clues that there might be more to this classic than meets the eye. What remains of the original trim and upholstery is well past its best, while the dash pad is badly cracked. There is no carpet or rear seat, while the front buckets are a set of vintage-style racing items. However, what dominates this interior is the professionally built rollcage. The owner installed this as part of his quest to transform a humble Dart into a street/strip animal, and it certainly looks the part. There is also a radio/cassette player in place of the original radio and a column-mounted VDO tach. If I am surprised about anything, it’s the lack of ancillary gauges in a car that is destined to spend time on the strip. The owner says that removing the cage and installing a refreshed interior is an option for potential buyers to consider, but that will depend on the buyer’s vision for this classic.

I’m not sure if the seller is being deliberately vague in his listing because the amount of information he supplies about the Dart’s drivetrain is pretty limited. The car rolled off the line with a 318ci V8 under the hood, but a 340ci motor now occupies its space. Bolted to this is a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission that feeds the power to a 3.91 Sure Grip rear end. He refers to the motor as a “mean 340,” which suggests that it has received a few performance upgrades. I can positively identify aftermarket headers, but making a definitive call on anything else is not possible. For potential buyers, the best news is that the owner has performed the upgrades without cutting the inner fenders to accommodate the headers. He has resisted the urge to tub the rear to fit larger rubber, meaning that returning this classic to a street cruiser would be an easy undertaking. The owner doesn’t supply much information on how well this classic runs or drives, but since he appears to be an approachable character, I’m sure that he would be happy to provide serious individuals with all of the information they might require.

Now that you’ve seen what this 1970 Dart Swinger has to offer, it will be interesting to see how you would tackle this project. Would you drive it untouched or possibly treat it to a light cosmetic refresh? Would you make it more “street-friendly” by removing the roll cage and installing a nicely retrimmed interior? The world will be the next owner’s oyster, but I can’t help wondering if that new owner will be one of our readers. Do you feel ready to take on this one?

Comments

  1. Avatar photo Hot Rod Lincoln

    This would be a fun and easy project what ever way you went. That Sure Grip rear end with the 3.91 gears will give great acceleration off the line and spin the 340 at highway speeds.

    Like 2
    • Avatar photo piston poney

      love the name

      Like 0
  2. Avatar photo Tony Primo

    The wet floor is a big turn off.

    Like 5
  3. Avatar photo SebastianX1/9

    These cars are very pretty and by today’s standards nimble. I saw one in Manhattan this week and among the military vehicles people drive today, it initially looked like a Fiat 130. Pretty low ride and very cool rear window. I could do without the roll cage on this one though.

    Like 5
  4. Avatar photo MikeStang

    It looks like rust has bitten off a chunk of metal from the bottom of the rear fender. There might be more rust than just bubbles.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar photo Wayne

    I agree with the more than rust bubbles on the rear 1/4 panels. The left rear looks like the tin worm has been munching. Common problems on the Chrysler intermediates of this vintage. Fuel leaks out past the filler cap and down the 1/4 panel to eat away the paint. When I lived in the rust belt and owned several of these ’60s-early ’70s Chrysler cars. It was not uncommon to see rotted left rear 1/4 panels. This could be a fun project!

    Like 0
  6. Avatar photo erik johnston

    nice start, I would If its as wild as the owner says,maybe leave the cage unless its needed. How wild is it? Price is fair now,but the ad is not over yet.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar photo joenywf64

    Why not to clearcoat – if you will avoid waxing …
    http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zCYAAOSw5Lxhfyrl/s-l1600.jpg

    Like 0

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