Next to a ’68-’70 Plymouth Road Runner, I’d have to say that the ’67-’69 Dodge Dart is my favorite subject from the old ChryCo. Best of all, Mopar’s small block 340 CI V8 engine was the perfect motivational force in that vintage A-body. Big Block? Yeah, lots of fun but not really necessary. But you know, there are other engine room candidates for that favored Dodge compact, and in this case, it’s an arrangement that I would have never considered. Interested? Take a look at this Portland, Oregon domiciled 1969 Dodge Dart and let me know what you think. It’s available, here on craigslist for $18,500.
There was no shortage of Dart trim levels in ’69. Things started with the Dart/Dart Swinger, moved up to the Custom, added some pizazz with the GT, and went full muscle car with the GTS. Our subject car’s VIN tells us that it’s just a Dart Swingertwo-door hardtop – one of approximately 20K produced that year while total Dart assemblage, across all body styles and trim levels, reached about 86K copies.
If you study the exterior of this sharp-looking hardtop, you’ll note that it is devoid of most of its stainless trim. The finish is a recent respray in correct Mopar copper metallic and it looks great. The oversized rear tires, wrapped around Mopar rally wheels, and the hood hold-down pins hint at something other than a nice polite grocer-getter.
Pull those pins, flip up the hood, and surprise! It’s a 225 CI in-line “slant six” engine. Bummer…well, not really, there’s quite a bit more here that was never envisioned back in ’69. The seller tells us, “225 Slant 6 Turbo – Runs 22psi at 343 HP to wheels on Dyno. Fuel injected. Link ECU. Tuned for E85 (E85 sensor) or run on pump gas“. But wait, there’s more, the eight and three-quarter inch rear end, spinning 3.23 gears, has been welded (locked?) and narrowed while a modified A-904 TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission helps make the hook-up. The listing suggests, “Pro Street or take it to the track. Built right. Lots of fun. Fast car“. Want to learn a bit more? Here you go.
The race car vibe continues inside with a roll cage, G-Force harnesses, and a B&M shifter. The rest of the interior is semi-stock though there’s no back seat (dead weight on the drag strip, right?). Don’t fret, the roll cage diagonal bars disconnect for easier entry and exit – particularly important if you’re beyond a certain age…
What a surprise right? When I first spied the listing images for this Dart, I assumed the usual – you know, a built LA series V8 so you can imagine my surprise when I looked more closely. So, what’s your assessment? Many car guys and gals get pretty hung up on V8s, could this Dodge Dart make you reconsider power options?
I had a bare bones 69 Dart, lowered with rally wheels and 6 cylinder 3 speed, and liked it a lot, and passed it down to my son. But this Dart I love it, the only thing I would change would be to take off all the clues that make you suspect much more than it shows. Make people work for figuring out how cool it is
Interesting, but a 225 2bbl is really more than you would ever need, esp with a nice 3sp. At most a 318, but any more than that and you get body twist.
As Americans, we can determine what we ‘need’.
Twist? Did you notice it’s caged?