The Dodge Dart was a chameleon in the Chrysler line-up: it was first introduced for model year 1960 as a full-sized car, then spent a year in the mid-sized segment before settling into the compact category until the last of its kind rolled off the line in 1976. Early Darts were finned and chromed; four years later, the styling was sleeker but more subdued; by 1971, the car’s sheet metal had been synchronized with Chrysler’s other models, nearly erasing the Dart’s individuality. The little muscle car still flew out of showrooms everywhere, pleasing buyers with a wide variety of body styles, engines, and trim. This 1971 Swinger – a name given only to the two-door hardtop – is represented as a low-mileage, numbers-matching original car, and while its originality may be a question mark, plenty of work has been performed to improve its roadworthiness for the next owner. Before we launch into the details, note that the seller has the body part to repair that fender damage on the driver’s side.

By its fourth generation – extending from 1967 to the end of the line in 1976 – the Dart entered the muscle car category in earnest. A ground-pounding 383 cu. in. V8 generating 300 hp was available in the Dart GTS, and even the more pedestrian models could be had with a 318 cu. in. V8. The top-of-line Swinger was equipped with a 340 but by 1971, Dodge had sliced the Dart population into smaller bits, introducing the Dart Demon. From then on, that 340 V8 was reserved for the Demon. This one is the 318, good for 230 hp, mated to a column-shift automatic transmission. The odometer reads 12,698 miles. The seller has rebuilt the two-barrel carburetor and the engine’s top end, with a new camshaft, valves, and lifters. The gas tank is new, as is the suspension, and the stock rims were replaced with modern Jegs mag wheels. The factory rims do come with the sale. I’d tackle that rusty bit on the left side below the firewall before it worsens.

The interior is described as “almost excellent”. The front bench seat has a small tear on the driver’s side next to the headrest, and a dash cover may be hiding cracks – we don’t know. The headliner is in good condition. The rear seats have deteriorated along their top edges, perhaps from sun exposure; white tape covers the damage. This car’s fender tag codes include “V1W”, corresponding to a white vinyl top, which makes sense given the white interior. The paint job is a modern base coat/clear coat system, and the clear coat is peeling. That said, the jack instructions remain intact on the underside of the trunk lid.

Speaking of “underside”, this Swinger’s undercarriage is its best feature. The new fuel tank is evident; someone repainted that oil pan while the engine was out; looks like a new exhaust has been installed too. This view isn’t a fluke, either – the seller includes several undercarriage photos in the listing here on eBay. This car is bid to $5100, with no reserve, and it’s garaged in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I wish the listing included documentation supporting the mileage and the matching numbers claim, but I’m sure the seller would entertain a phone call or two to satisfy a prospective buyer’s curiosity. Meanwhile, advancing this car’s condition will require fresh paint and a new interior against a market backdrop that values a 318 Dart Swinger in the mid-teens. Anyone up for a Swinger project?