The Dodge Dart was a popular compact car in the late 1960s – except with younger buyers. So, in 1969, they took the 2-door hardtop, added the Swinger name to it, and went after that segment of the market. That included the Swinger 340, which was sold as a muscle car with a 275 hp small-block V8 (like the one here). This one looks quite good and sports a rebuilt engine and transmission. Located in Everson, Washington, this mighty Mopar is available here on craigslist for $25,000 OBO. Our appreciation goes to “Curvette” for another awesome tip!
Dodge’s Dart Swinger 340 helped carve out a niche in the performance segment, which had been dominated by the likes of the mid-size Pontiac GTO, Plymouth Road Runner, and Ford Torino Cobra. 275 horses were ample power in a lighter compact car and may have been looked upon more favorably rate-wise when you went shopping for insurance. Some 16,600 Swinger 340s were sold in 1969 compared to 5,800 Dart GTS 340s in 1968, which was essentially the same car but not marketed as well.
This Swinger comes with its broadcast sheet, which we assume confirms a numbers-matching automobile. When the drivetrain was rebuilt, the camshaft was updated, and a 2500-stall converter installed, which should add up to a better-sounding and faster Dart. The rear-end was also redone and has 4.10 gears and a SureGrip differential. While the overall car has 132,000 miles, we don’t know how many of these have been added since the refresh.
We gather the car was repainted and the interior possibly updated 25 years ago. The vehicle has been well-kept since then and presents quite well in 2025. Rust is non-existent thanks to being a Pacific Rim car all its life. The Dodge has power brakes, but the steering is the old-fashioned kind, which might take five turns to go from lock-to-lock. If you’re looking for a nice muscle car which may be civilized, too, what say ye about this Mopar?
Back in ’75 when I was a 17yr old high school senior I bought a ’71 Duster with a 340 and a 4spd. When my father called the insurance guy and told him what I bought, he said since it was compact my rate went down. Before that I was driving a ’64 Cadillac. So this Dart was probably in the same category. This looks like a nice ride and price seems in the ballpark. I would like it even more with a 4spd. and I never understood a vinyl roof on a performance car.
Is that an automatic on the column I see? Why,why why. Doesn’t matter to me but I know I would pull that column shifter out and convert it to an automatic on the floor with a console I’ll never understand people ordering muscle cars with automatic on the column? Other than that nice car
Obviously there were exceptions, but generally, on the “upscale” GTS, you’d have buckets and floor shift with console, and the Swinger, which was marketed as a more budget performance option, you’d see the bench seat with column shift.
Column shift & bench seat was a big advantage back in the day drivin around with your gf in the car – & also going with her to a drive-in movie.
Bench seat is also lighter than buckets and a console. Less weight is more horsepower per pound.
Reasonable price for some hot mopar muscle.
Besides being a real 340 Swinger, what makes this car attractive is the color combination which you don’t see often. Nothing brings a 340 to life like a good cam profile and a properly jetted carb on a good intake and headers. Not sure how well this one was modified, but it’s all the updates you could want to go faster plus the welcome addition of power brakes to slow you back down. Pretty good package for a fun A body!
If this were a factory 4-speed, I’d wait until my wife wasn’t looking and cash out the vacation fund to buy it. One ride and she’d either forgive me or divorce me.
In college I was still driving the ’55 Chev convert that I had in high school. The engine was very tired because I was NEVER very nice to it. I had no where to work on it. So I traded foe a 1968 340 4 speed Dart. What a great car! BUT, I didn’t have it long as it was stolen and never
recovered
I will always miss that car.
4.11? The best thing about that potent small blocks was that it handled well on an actual road. With that rear end, might as well have a big block and just drive in straight lines. They came with a 3.23 for a reason
Yeah, the 3:55 is a good compromise unless you’re going on a lot of longer trips.
3.91 was ideal w Torq-flite for 1/4 mile Chris 🏁
Stock 340’s were very quick back in the day.
The 340 was one of the few my ’69 343 AMX couldn’t take down. Fun times in the ’70s
I miss AMC.
Having oowned both a 1970 390 AMX and a 1969 340 Swinger (both 4 speeds) the Dart was definitely faster. I suppose the weight advantage was a big part of that. But I always questioned the factory rating of 275hp on those motors. I think Chrysler underrated them for insurance reasons, and to not cannibalize 383 sales.
Ohh man, I feel like flying from NC, buying this, and driving it all the way back!! My first car was a ’69 Dart Swinger 340, this same color w/o the black trim. I’ve wanted one ever since I let mine get away — especially the last 17 years since I turned 50. LOVE this!!
Driving that car back is a great idea 30 years ago I found a GTS convertible in Wisconsin I flew out and drove it back 22 straight hours in Non-Stop rain with a milk crate on the passenger side and a seat on the driver side still have the car won’t ever forget the trip and that 3:40 in that car never missed a beat I probably only filled up twice the miles per gallon was incredible this was back in I think 1987-88 so go for it
Those are some funky looking valve covers. Do they serve a purpose beyond factory valve covers?