I can’t help myself from thinking of the John Anderson song, “Swingin'” whenever I see a Dart Swinger, which may be different from what some other folks think of when they see a car with the name Swinger. This 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger is listed here on eBay. It’s located in Castalian Springs, Tennessee, the current bid price is $2,100, but the reserve isn’t met.
This Dart Swinger has been a-swingin’ silently since 2016, according to the seller, who says that it has been sitting since then. We don’t know if it’s been parked inside or outside or what the story is, and it looks great in the overall photos. But, you’ll need to hike up your britches (as John Anderson may say) and drag out the welder for some metalwork on this Swinger. There is a lot of rust, unfortunately.
If it was just a few spots over the rear wheels, no biggie, but it’s everywhere, and it was repainted at some point, obviously, so it’s lurking under what looks like a nice, clean, shiny car. Even in the trunk, and we don’t see the underside so who knows what’s going on there. That’s always my biggest worry on a Dart, as I had a friend who owned one, and the frame – or somewhere in the rear as these are mainly unit-body construction with a front K-frame – rusted out and broke in half. He had a heck of a time welding it back together, but he did, so even if this one is swiss cheese, structurally, it should be able to be fixed.
This car looks good, though, despite the rust that’s shown by the seller who clearly isn’t trying to hide anything. The dash looks good and that’s a major hurdle, the seat repairs are a no-brainer, and this car has a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic with a column shifter. I’d almost prefer a three-on-the-tree, but I’m weird. This is a fourth-generation Dart, and they were made from 1966 for the 1967 model year until 1976.
This Dart is powered by a 225-cu.in. OHV slant-six, which would have been factory-rated at 105 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque when new. The seller says that the “Battery was replaced, oil, transmission fluid and filters changed. Plugs, cap, rotor, wires and belts replaced. Carburetor rebuilt. Engine started timing and carb adjusted.” and it reportedly runs well but it needs more tinkering, and tires, and… Any thoughts on this Swinger?
Buy it cheap,& drive it into the ground.
I believe it was “Just a swangin”, and will never forgive the author for reminding me of that song.
The Dodge Swinger. Again, shows what a name can do. These were favored by single librarians, that school nurse, or factory worker, not the most prestigious of jobs, but boy howdy, they drove a SWINGER! Sent a clear message, there was more than met the eye. Say what you will, got to hand it to Chrysler on this car. From simple offerings like this, to 440 wheel standers, the Dart covered them all. I agree with agt, as is, it’s not really collectible, but a better car, to just drive, I doubt you’ll find. While the authors worries are valid, I’d have to think a car from Tenn. should be better than say, one from Wisconsin. I wouldn’t dawdle on this one.
Swinging? More like Dancing With Myself…agreed on someone outside the rust belt running it until it really quits.
Point this 👉 Dart Swinger to Florida and drive 📻
🎶 🎵 So blow, blow Seminole wind
Blow like you’re never gonna blow again
I’m calling to you like a long-lost friend
But I know who you are
And blow, blow from the Okeechobee
All the way up to Micanopy
Blow across the home of the Seminole
The alligator and the gar 🎶 🎸
This car was featured on an episode of Uncle Tony’s Garage on You Tube, in which he got it running.
My buddy’s mom had one that …1973 was lime green with a dark green alligator vinyl top slant 6. Car was mint until my buddy went for a joyride at 16 and plowed into a parked car around a long tricky curve on a busy street in the snow. His mom named it greenie.Boy was she upset and crying when she found out greenie was wrecked!
I had a 72 except for it being a points timing and the distributor hard to get to for adjusting it was a dependable ride, biggest complaint was over the years the gasket where the windshield wipers poked through dried out and would drip water on my accelerator foot in the rain would have wet socks when I got to work
I had a pretty blue (74) w wht top that my parents purchased new. It had the 318 which never had any issues but the dash lights kept going out. Those little twist in/out sockets were a nightmare to change. This one has definitely seen better days and repair would probably be more than its worth IMO.
Sorry, but I thought that “swingin” song was an embarrassment.
Yeah, my brother had one. He wasn’t a librarian, school teacher, or a swinger for that matter… just a car guy that needed a dependable beater. As a tribute to the “Swinger” name, he called his “Tarzan.”
As long as he wasn’t a Chicken Swinger. lol
No real ‘swingers’ drove a Dodge Dart Swinger. Well at least I don’t think they did.
But who really knows. Maybe it was the thought that counted. lol
A design wonder equal to the fugly fairmout posted above !
You got that right….brother. The Swinger could even be considered stylish compared to that Fair(not)mont.
Auction update: bidding ended at $4,150 and no sale!
Clutch – Spacegrass
Dodge Swinger 1973, Galaxy 500,
All the way stars’ green, gotta go.
Dodge Swinger 1973, top down, chassis low,
Panel dim, light drive, Jesus on the dashboard.
T-minus whenever it feels right, Galaxy 500.
Planets align, a king is born.
Always wanted one of these just to play that song with Jesus on the dashboard.