Vehicle Description
Some of our favorite creations are the cars that the factory could
have built but didn't. This 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger Tribute is such
a machine, a street version of the lightweight cars Chrysler built
to dominate the strip. With 408 cubic inches, B5 Blue paint, and a
power-to-weight ratio of, say, a cruise missile, it's one man's
ultimate Mopar.
Dodge's flyweight Dart proved the old adage that taking weight out
was just as effective as putting horsepower in. But what if you did
both, then painted it Mopar's favorite color, B5 Blue? Well, you'd
have this incredible Dart. Built from a rust-free V8 car, it was
treated to the best of everything, professionally engineered, and
fully sorted on the mean streets. The little Dart Swinger is one of
Chrysler's best styling efforts, clearly Mopar but not ashamed to
be mid-sized. A few additions get it closer to its Mopar roots,
including that aggressive hood, the painted-on rear 'Dart Swinger'
bumble-bee stripe, and that smooth white vinyl roof. The brilliant,
borderline show-quality paint means that keeping it on the DL is
going to be a challenge, a finish so darn nice you might be scared
to drive this car fast. That's until you hear the motor fire up,
but more on that later. All the chrome was refinished or replaced
to high standards as well, the stainless was polished, and there's
just no such thing as a 'compact' muscle car that ever looked this
good.
The interior is wonderfully classic car basic, wearing two-tone
blue vinyl upholstery, which includes a pair of comfortable benches
with plenty of room for friends that like to go fast. The Dart's
original dash was retained, as were all the simple gauges, but
they're augmented with a column-mounted tachometer and oil pressure
gauge under the dash that look suitably vintage, and they're both a
good idea with almost 315 horsepower on tap for this lightweight
Dart. There is no radio and I'm disappointed that you'd even ask,
because the sound of the V8 stroker should be more than adequate.
The stock column shifter remains in place, now managing the below
727 Torqueflight below, and topping the column is a 3-spoke
steering wheel with a Road Runner 'Beeb Beep' horn cap. Options
were always slim for the economy Dart, but this one actually boasts
a factory A/C setup, and although all the equipment appears to be
in place it will need to be hooked up and serviced, as the prior
owners weren't in the habit of pulling any power away from the
monster engine living under the hood. Out back, the surprisingly
spacious trunk was coated with a blue-tinted spray-in bedliner for
ultimate protection, and then dressed up with a reproduction mat
for a correct look.
Powering this little Mopar is not-so-little 408 Stroker V8 with
only 7,502 miles on the clock, producing nearly 315 horsepower
according to its most recent Dyno test. Built for combat with Mahle
pistons and rings, a Howards hydraulic roller cam, a Holley
4-barrel carburetor, long-tube headers and 10:1 compression, it's
responsive and powerful, lifting this lightweight Mopar down the
street with relative ease. And with an Edelbrock open-element air
cleaner and a set of Mopar Performance valve covers atop the HEMI
orange painted block, it's both scary fast and beautiful to look at
inside the blue engine bay. The inner fenders and firewall have
been smoothed and painted, all the plumbing and wiring was neatly
organized, and a big aluminum radiator keeps the whole show nice
and cool. And with upgraded power steering and power front disc
brakes, the car remains quite street-friendly. The transmission is
a recently rebuilt 727 Torqueflight automatic that's armor-clad
with a shift kit, and it feeds an 8.75 rear end with 3.55 Sure Grip
gears inside. The custom exhaust system is a work of art all by
itself, with long-tube headers feeding an X-pipe dual pipe set-up
that menacingly burbles through a set of chambered mufflers. The
floors are finished and undercoated for further protection and an
upgraded look, and maintained suspension components are found
throughout. It even captures the vintage race vibe with American
Racing "Bullet Hole" racing wheels and staggered 225/60/14 front
and 245/60/14 rear BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials.
With only 7,502 miles on the build, this is one brutal performance
Mopar that you can buy with confidence and enjoy with impunity.
Call today!
