When I was in high school, a classmate and his sister went in halfsies on a 1970 Plymouth Duster 340. Talk about running like a scalded dog, that little Plymouth packed a punch and made quite an impression on me. I’ve been a Mopar 340 devotee ever since though admittedly, I have never owned a vehicle powered by ChryCo’s most impressive of LA series engines. With that thought, it’s time to take a closer look at some “340 go” in the form of a 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger. This Dart is located in Shelton, Connecticut and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $25,100, with twenty-three bids tendered so far.

The truth of the matter is that I prefer the ’68 and ’69 versions of the performance Dart known as the GTS. They’re similar to this ’70 variant but the fake hood vents are a little less boy-racerish than the dual scoops on this ’70 and the GTS’ recessed grille just flows better and looks less tacked on. We’re talking minor styling issues here and it’s all subjective – after all, it’s the oomph that matters.

My classmate’s Duster was equipped with an automatic transmission and a 3.91 rear gear – it was a head snapper, to say the least, especially considering the A-body’s lack of bulk.  This Dart has an automatic transmission but there is no reference regarding final gearing. Regardless the 275 gross HP 340 CI V8 will lay it out regardless of the gearing. The seller claims, “1968 Engine 727 automatic and 8 and 3/4 rear completely rebuilt” so I take that to mean all three components have undergone a redo. Sounds good but there’s no indication as to how well this Dart motivates and it’s suggested that the transmission linkage will require some adjustment. And as a subjective comment, I have always thought that the 275 HP rating was a bit light, do I hear 300? Maybe 325?

Finished in code FJ5, Sublime, you can see this Dodge coming at you, or its taillights pulling away, from a distance. This Swinger looks to be solid, with strong paint, straight body panels, sound “gator” pattern vinyl top covering, and no signs of rust. A Mopar aficionado friend tells me that an A-body has a tendency to rust in the lower fender legs due to clogged cowl vents but there’s no indication of that malady here. The deck stripe is a matter of taste but it’s a Dodge styling cue.

The lone interior image isn’t great but what can be seen looks fine. There are no signs of rips or wear in the black vinyl upholstery and the dash, console, and door panels show as one would expect. The seller does mention that the dash gauges are out – not sure where to start on solving that foible.

Like it? You bet! Sure, as stated, I’d prefer a ’68 or ’69 but this Dart doesn’t appear to leave anything on the table and the 340 motor is worth it regardless of what’s wrapped around it. In a Mopar world where Chargers, Challengers, and Road Runners get most of the attention, it’s nice to see some well-warranted attention fall upon a Dart Swinger, right?