1974 Dodge Dart Swinger

Description

This 1974 Dodge Dart Swinger is an awesome way to get into the old car hobby without spending a ton of cash to do it. With V8 power in a compact body, it's got plenty of performance, and by borrowing some styling cues from its big brothers over at the Mopar factory, it has an aggressive look that's instantly recognizable.

The red shade on this Dart is a perfect complement to the '70s bodywork. It's a good repaint that shows a soft gloss and that typical Mopar shine that is endemic of the era, so while it's very nice, it does have a proper all-of-a-piece look that's very appealing. All the bodywork is straight with no signs of previous damage, a testament to its life under the tutelage of careful ownership. The dual hood scoops and Go-Wing are all traditional Chrysler pieces that give the car a high-performance look that Mopar fans will instantly recognize. The chrome bumpers fore and aft remain bright and shiny, the rear tail panel and front grille are typical '70s nostalgia, and even though the rest of the trim is minimal it provides a nice contrast to the bright red backdrop. We don't know if this is one of those little old lady specials, but someone certainly took exceptionally good care of this little Dart Swinger and it shows.

The split bench in this example does a pretty good impersonation of buckets with traditional Mopar pleats and built-in headrests. It's also wonderfully preserved with no damage or even notable wear. The white vinyl seat covers are still taut and present very well, with the back seat looking brand new, which is rather amazing for such a light shade. The factory instrument panel offers a complete array of gauges, and they're augmented by a set of auxiliary units and tachometer integrated into the makeshift center console below. The original Music Master AM radio is gone, upgraded by a RetroSound AM/FM/AUX in the factory dash slot. If you wanted A/C in your Dart, it was equipped as an under-dash unit as shown here, a very rare option for a Dart, which has been updated with today's R134a refrigerant blowing nice and cold. Black carpets provide a nice contrast to all that white upholstery, and the wood applique on the dash warms the entire cabin up a bit. Open the trunk and there's a correct mat that fits better than most, as well as a correct jack assembly tucked into its spot in the quarter panel.

Powering this Dart as a 318 cubic inch V8, a common and very dependable small block from the era. Powerful, smooth, and surprisingly torquey, it delivers great performance thanks to the car's lightweight body. Thanks to upgrades like a polished Holley 4-barrel carburetor in place of the original 2-barrel, and ceramic-coated headers, it definitely makes good power. It's quite nicely detailed with shiny chrome valve covers and a matching air cleaner, and the big aluminum radiator up front keeps the whole show nice and cool. A Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission shows quick reflexes and spins what appears to be the original rear end, and the Magnaflow-equipped dual exhaust system sounds suitably threatening. Flashy chrome Foose wheels wearing staggered 215/45/17 front and 225/55/17 rear performance radials make the Dart a nimble handler, and they really fill the wheel wells nicely for a sporty look.

Simple, clean, and very affordable, this Dart is a lot of fun for the Mopar enthusiast, or any cool classic car buyer. Call today!