According to the ad, this 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger is a 16,000 mile, original paint, numbers matching survivor! Apparently the seller (technically the second owner, I guess) purchased the car from a widow whose husband ordered the car from a Nemaha Valley Motors in Kansas. It can be found for sale here on eBay with a current bid of nearly $28,000. Now located in Glendale, Arizona, from the photos, it looks like the seller is an avid collector. This car may be one of the best Dodge Dart Swinger survivors you will see! Have a closer look.
The engine is a 340 cubic inch V8 mated to a 4-speed manual transmission. The seller had the car appraised by Galen Govier in 2017 who gave it a value of $47,500. The appraisal indicates the car is original as purported and has original paperwork including the broadcast sheet with only the bottom corner missing. It is also a one-of-one car, meaning this was the only car made that had the specific option combination that this one does.
The interior is pretty plain but looks like it is in great shape. There’s no mention of the missing driver’s door panel except the ad does say that there was a dent repair to the door due to a shipping accident. The photo of the trunk appears to show the missing panel, although it’s hard to tell.
This car looks great in Hemi Orange with the black bumble bee stripe! Overall, this looks like a great car and a solid investment. What do you think? Is the near $50K appraisal for this car still in the ballpark?
Nice car. I came really close to buying one of these when they were cheap, and should have.
I don’t like the ad. One of one, who cares. I also don’t like how stress it’s an original owner car, which isn’t true at face value. At least it’s a no reserve auction.
Due to the number and dollar amount of the bids I’d bet this car is known among Mopar collectors.
Steve R
I still remember how, if you bought one in the fall, paint bubbles would start appearing the next spring. Many owners got a nasty surprise when they tried waxing the fenders.
I don’t understand how people like this get away with “one owner” claims. I get that their name may not be on the title, making the next person to title it the “second” owner on paper, but if you aren’t buying the car from the person who bought it new, it is no longer a “one owner” car.
He meant “one-at-a-time”.
I knew a used car salesman who told his buyers that “This car was originally driven by the first buyer” like it was something special. He got a kick out of the reactions.
Max, thank you!
I don’t understand the benefit of a one owner car, unless the owner is still alive and can pass on it’s History from day one. Hopefully all the dealer paper work goes along with the car.
Max-you are absolutely correct!!!! I always say that I “bought it from the original owner” or “it has xxxx one owner miles.” But for a flipper to say it’s “one owner,” that’s not true or honest.
Cool car, well optioned and very sharp. I’m not sure it’s worth 50k, but definitely all of 30k. I’ve always wanted a 340 car…..
My high school car was a 70 Dart Swinger, regrettably not a 340 but a /6. It’s incredible how much these cars are fetching these days, I never would’ve guessed in my wildest dreams…
I’m always suspicious of a boatload of oil and grease on the valve cover. Looks like way more than 16,000 miles worth.
What happened to the door card and armrest? They were good for at least 100,000 miles of abuse in my experience. Why not clean it up and take decent pictures if the goal is to sell it for fifty large by online auction? Why on earth is a fifty year old car that changed hands almost fifteen years ago being described as one-owner? That vast majority of cars were one-owner at some point in their history. That doesn’t mean they stay one-owner after being registered by two different people. How did this guy earn his money? Running the worlds only virgin brothel?
I had no idea you could get rally-pack gauges without a tachometer, although this looks stock. What was the point then? Just to have a hard-to-read speedometer?
“The vast majority of cars were one owner at some point in their history”
Solid understatement.
The manufacturer was the 1st owner, the dealer the 2nd and the others just fell in the line. I would rather have a car that had 10 owners that took care of it, then one owner that just tore it apart. The little old lady is another line. What does the little old lady know about taking care of a car? Why is she always “LITTLE”? Little old ladies do crash into shopping carts and other part cars, just like everyone else. It all in a way to sale something or just to deceive someone into making a sale.
In Wisconsin we have a lot of “large” old ladies lol. All that beer, bratwurst & cheese!
I have seen a LOT of 1 owner, old person owned cars that were neglected, rusted junk. I generally don’t buy those cars unless there is something exceptional about them.
I also won’t buy a car from someone who turns a wrench for a living. The last thing they want to do is work on their own cars after work lol.
To buy a car from someone who is in the old car hobby is best! They know cars, know how to maintain them, but they don’t do it for a living (usually).
The seller states :
“The Dart 340 Swinger is optioned out from the factory with lots of extra cost options;.
EV2 High Impact Hemi Orange W/Slick Top (No Vinyl Roof) W/Black Bumble Bee Stripe
D2X9 Deluxe Vinyl Bench Seat W/Head Rest.
A46 Moulding Group; Drip Rails, Deck lid Lower Moulding.
D21 4-Speed Manual Transmission.
E55 340 Engine 4-BBL.
J45 Hood Pins.
M31 Belt Moldings.
R11 Music Master AM Radio.
T74 E70X14 Goodyear Tires.”
I don’t see lots of extra cost options in this car ; the Swinger 340 would have come with the white letter Goodyears and of course the 340 .I’ve seen a lot with the tail stripe too but don’t know if that was standard on the Swinger 340s. The auto trans would likely have been optional . The bench seat and AM radio ? well 99% of Swingers had those as well as the chrome drip moldings – no optional buckets or vinyl top with this car. The Hemi Orange was available as a standard color, one of about 25 colors for that year. Other than the hood pins ,I really don’t see it as anything more than a bone stock 340 car which to me is really cool , much like many of the first gen. roadrunners were – just a light car with a lot of power !
It didn’t even come with a Posi or optional gear ratio.
Steve R
I like the car , but I don’t buy the story . It has a lot of things that look worn for only 16K . The seller also states the car was purchased new from Nemaha Valley Motors , but if you look at the really worn dealer installed trunk sticker, it was a Chrysler Plymouth dealer at the time , not a Dodge dealer , and wouldn’t have sold Swingers. Maybe it was a trade in by the time the guy purchased it.
*insert eye roll emoji*
Thank you for showing copy of window sticker. Was car built at Hamtramck Assembly final Assembly point: Detroit , MI?
The car is a nice car but there are some things that make the ad suspicious. Obviously a flipper by showing off his hemi car and others in the first picture. Add in the burnt grease and o on the valve covers make me dou t the 16,000 original miles claim. Been around cars all my life. If those are the original Val e covers they have seen more than 16,000 miles. I personally think this car has been flipped back and forth several times. I believe I have seen it before when it was located in I belie w Alabama. Th 1 owner of thing is puzzling also whether it was titled as on e owner or not. Car is still in e just tell the truth and giv the facts. The buyer wants to add to a true story later in when telling nt a cars history to others.
I have a stock 70 340 4 speed -owned since 1985 . Galen gave me his report after inspection. Great guy and very thorough visual inspection. In reply to CJinSD – yep you could get the rally dash without the tach. Go figure. I also agree this car is not option loaded. To me, from just the photos, car has questions. Photo 7 shows “unusual “ paint on deck lid. Why not put door panel back? Hopefully anyone really serious will hire someone Mopar savvy in Glendale/Phoenix area to verify condition before parting with their hard earned dough. Make no mistake – These are fun straight line rockets. Not good on corners. And No strangers to abuse. I’ve watched market at a distance and really nice ones rarely linger on market for long. Believe me a $50,0000 end auction sale result would make my 1985 purchase price of 35 years ago , look crazy smart. GLWTA
Pretty typical eBay story. Nice Dart but absolutely run of the mill as far as the options go. Some of those were standard even they are priced as options.
It’s not even close to being a one of anything no matter what Galen says his statistics say.
It could be original though much it’s more likely that odometer has spun over 1 time, the general grunge on the car bares this out.
Does Galen Govier still decode and appraise cars ? how much did he charge to decode cars to see if they are ” one of one ” ?
Don’t bother with him! Cashed my 800.00 check over a year ago for fender tags for my aar cuda now I get no response from him headed to court now!
I heard several years ago he was falsifying documentation and being sued by a lot of people.
Thanks for the tip !
Something is not right on passenger side front fender especially noticeable around the marker light. The paint doesn’t match and it appears damaged. The grime on the engine doesn’t match the cleanliness of the engine bay. Maybe not the original motor?
A cousin has a Dart GTS Convertible for his wife an kids to ride around in! It was a 66, light met blue, with three tone blue matching bucket seat interior. With a 273/4 brl, 727 automatic, with lively 3:55 limited slip gears he said was mostly for the snowy winters.
To: KRV: No such thing as a 1966 Dart GTS, A Dart GT -YES but not a 1966 DART GTS.
You are correct George. They also made them in 67′ and were called, Dart GT, 273, 4 bbl. I’ll not totally sure, but I think the GTS started with the 67′ 383 Dart, then of course 68′ & 69′, 340’s, 383’s & 440’s. 70’s were just Swinger 340. Now getting to Galen Govier, I have known him for over 30 years and I don’t believe he rates cars by a “one owner”, but he does know his stuff on the numbers and equipment applied. The only time I questioned him was the color of the 1969 340 motors. He states that they only came painted the light blue(I believe they call it turquoise), but I have a factory brochure that shows it to be Hemi orange with the 4 – speed. I do agree the automatics were turquoise, but not the 4-speeds. When I painted mine in 87′, I did not see any other color than Hemi Orange on the motor while taking it apart to rebuild.
Well I called him and he told me it was a 1969 Dart GTS Convertible
It may be a “one of one” car, but only because of the lack of options, including the lack of the remote driver mirror. I just sold a 70′ Swinger 340 with the rally gauges, No tach!!!!! Standard transmissions were standard in 1969 Dart 340’s, but in 70′ they were a option, from the 727 automatics. I don’t believe the car has such low miles, due to the alternator has been changed out with a AC one and the carb. appears to have an electric choke. A good car to start out with, but not at these numbers. The best part of the dart is that it is a 4-speed. As is $16 – $18,000, if it is mechanically fit. $30,000 restored, due to lack of options. For a fun keeper, go for it.
The car originally came with full hubcaps too , not the “rallye” wheels
Only worth what someone is willing to pay. For $50,000, I can have a decent 67 Corvette driver. A fool and his money.
You guys sure do like making this seller famous here on BarnFinds… this is about his 4th appearance in the past few months. Has anyone ever thought of asking the seller all these questions instead of a thread he is not privy to? Hmm… that makes too much sense huh? Better yet you just pay your $7.96 a month to talk amongst each other and bash postings behind a computer screen with no intention to buy. All of the sudden everyone is a picture collector and expert analyst via the internet. His name is Randy Wilson located in Glendale, AZ and you can Google him or better yet ask any Mopar enthusiast about him. His eBay user ID is: USACycles and IG is @MoparGuru and will gladly answer any serious inquiries or if local let you come by and see his collection! He’s old school and doesn’t participate in all these internet shenanigans but does answer his phone.
Most guys here have decades of auto experience , some likely 50 years worth. whether its collecting, racing, restoring, rodding , or just personal ownership, these guys know it all , and you really can learn from their life experiences . They know what to look for in a car and can see whats good or bad. Some cars are purchased because of this site , but many are either too far gone or are priced too high or both. True, its their opinions , but just on this post alone you can see the things pointed out are true .
All of sellers representations are easily verified. Go look at the car. It almost impossible to buy a car online and know what youre getting. Having done this in the early days of the internet I plead guilty.
That said, while we have numerous experienced and knowledgeable people on BF, I often find two posters offering up contradictory information.
So……….caveat emptor
Major damage on the drivers door. Whoever pays this ridiculous price will sink more than it’s worth in restoring this back to show condition. Buyer beware.
Not to mention the appraisal was done in 2017.
1968 was the first year for the Dart GTS.
My bought one new in 70. Limelight with dark green vinyl roof, dark green bucket seats, flat black hood scoops, tail stripe, rear wing, 340/4 speed, and pistol grip shifter. Man that thing was nice and could haul a##. Wish I had bought it from him when he offered it to me.
I never saw a picture of a 1968 GTS convertible!!!!! Must be smne kind of HOCUS POCUS MAGIC ACT where the GTS Convertible will appear momentarily.
Interior door panels on our 1968 GT 318 2bbl with 126k miles are near perfect! Complete cosmetic resto finished last year. Bucket seats and console too.
The little old lady was seen as vulnerable by a lot of people sellng automotive services. How many times were they taken advantage of paying for service that was not needed but yet these guys sold it any way.
Old men too. I bought a car from my Grandfather. As I was going through the receipts, I was amazed at how many front end lubrication jobs he paid for. His front end didn’t have any grease fitting, so I don’t know what was lubricated that many times (although I have an idea).
Angela, thank you for the tip on this Randy Wilson guy. I am planning a move in the next couple years to the Phoenix area. I will look him up when I get down there. Always good to meet a fellow gear head & see some cool cars.