1976 was a transitional year for Dodge with it being the final year in North America for the Dart, such as this 1976 Dodge Dart Swinger. The Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare were introduced for the 1976 model year so the two cars coexisted for just that one year. The seller has this example posted here on craigslist in Rancho Cordova, California, just east of Sacramento. They don’t list an asking price which is unusual. Here’s the original listing.
When I first ran across this listing I got excited, being a huge fan of this era Dodge Dart or really any era Dodge Dart. Other than being a nice shade of dark green, it’s always fun to see a car this old looking this good no matter what color it is. I believe this color is Spanish Gold Metallic? Then I started to dig into the photos – and kudos to the seller for providing so many – and there is some work to do here.
You can see many dings and not just dings but actual dents and dented body panels requiring a lot of work to massage back into place without layering on gobs of bondo. The trunk appears to be a darker shade of gold in the photo above so it’s had some work done in the past which isn’t that unusual.
The biggest thing that I worry about is rust, having grown up (that’s debatable) in the upper Midwest with six months of winter every year and salt on the roads. Torn, trashed seats are no problem as long as the OEM fabric is available, and thanks to SMS Auto Fabrics it should be. The seats can be redone to look like new again. The cardboard floor mat is interesting but it’s a little scary to see what’s under that cardboard. It’s hard to tell and the seller doesn’t mention rust at all, but that sure looks like rust on the floorboard to me. I’m also not sure what’s going on with the dash, gauges, and the wires hanging out below the dash.
Then you get to the engine photo and the clouds open up and the choir starts singing! I don’t like the black color but man is this engine nice compared to what I thought it would look like. It’s Dodge’s 225 slant-six which would have had around 100 horsepower by this point. The seller has done a ton of work here. Please read their ad to see everything that has been done, it sounds like this car is a great driver that just needs some cosmetic help. What’s your offer on this Dart?
I don’t think it’s rusty particularly, doglegs and shock towers look clean, bigger issue is the year, California smog almost certainly a problem. – they hate cars like this
Simple, reliable transportation device right here folks ✔️ My uncle had the same one. It was a good honest vehicle for him.
1976 was a horrible year for the slant six. Ran very badly. Yes, we needed cleaner air, but what good would it do you if the car stalled in a busy intersection and you got killed by a runaway garbage truck?
1977, just licensed, pulled out at a intersection in my Dads 75 Dart slant six, motor stumbled, vehicle clattered, half stalled. Hit in rear quarter by a school bus. Only accident that was my fault to this day. That motor was choked. Somehow it pulled a pop up camper and a family of 4 up and down the east coast. Pulled our 15 ft speedboat up and down boat ramps. And people whine today that their 160hp 4 cyl cars are slow!
Had a new 76 Volare with a six. Kept stalling on my wife in busy intersections. Finally post warranty, got a set up out of a wrecked 72 Dart in the junk yard, ran great then. I was all for the pollution controls, being the pinko commie that I am, but I didn’t want to lose my wife because of it. We have it so much better today. Plenty of power, great MPG, and clean air. Life is good.
Add says it runs and drives great but currently non op must be a California thing
That colour is Golden Haze Metallic….same colour of my first car, a ’74 Scamp.
The instrument cluster has been hacked….looks like someone was trying to put metal in place of the original plastic and fake woodgrain trim. The steering wheel looks like it came from an Aspen or a Volare.
If I had room in the barn, I’d make him an offer, but I already have too many Saab projects here………..
Thanks for the info, SaabGirl900. I got the color info here: https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1976-Dodge-Dart.pdf
They list two different golds (Spanish Gold and Inca Gold) but there must have been more if you list another one.
Thanks, Scotty!! Maybe they changed the name, but that sure looks like Golden Haze to me!
That sales brochure was a real trip back in time……I had wanted a Swinger ever since my next door neighbour’s uncle drove up in a green ’70. And when the Scamp arrived in 1971, I had a second choice. I used to watch the NHL on NBC not because I was a real fan of the game, or because I particularly like Peter Puck, but because Chrysler sponsored them and I wanted to see the Dart and Valiant ads.
I miss my Scamp………..