Vehicle Description
This 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger is an awesome way to get into the old
car hobby without spending a ton of cash to do it. With its
lightweight bodywork, the 318 cubic inch V8 performs like a champ
and the originality makes it a slam-dunk for HPOF judging at any
level. Add in factory A/C and an awesome low-profile look, and you
get a car that's a ton of fun on a budget.
The color is code B1 Powder Blue, and while it might not be your
first thought when you imagine Mopar Muscle, now that you've seen
it, you have to admit it looks pretty good. It's either original
paint or an older respray that was very well done to mimic the
original look. Either way, the bodywork underneath is in good order
save for what appears to be an older repair in the drip rails, or
possibly even the original seam sealer that's just now showing some
age. The addition of the black bumblebee stripe around the tail and
the aggressive black hood scoop make this Dart seem a bit more
aggressive than most, and we have to admit we like it. The chrome
bumpers are decent, showing 45 years of use but nothing critical,
and if you need perfection, replacements are still easy to find. I
don't know if this is one of those little old lady specials, but
someone certainly took exceptionally good care of this little Dart,
and it shows.
The split bench in this example does a pretty good impersonation of
buckets with traditional Mopar fabrics and pleats, along with a set
of built-in headrests. It's also nicely preserved with only modest
wear to the driver's seat and the foam underneath is still firm and
comfortable. The carpets show some fading, as you'd expect after
all this time, and a new headliner would really brighten things up.
The instrument panel offers a surprisingly complete array of
gauges, all of which are functional, but the replacement
AM/FM/cassette radio is not, so it's ripe for an upgrade. If you
wanted A/C in your Dart, it was an under-dash unit as shown here,
and it's a very rare option for a Dart and remains functional. The
trunk is tidy and shows good trunk extensions and inner quarters,
suggesting that this is not a car from a northern climate.
This Dart uses a 318 cubic inch V8, one of two V8s offered in 1972.
Powerful, smooth, and surprisingly torquey, it delivers better
performance than its specifications would suggest. This one has
never been apart, obviously, and recent service work and upgrades
ensure that it runs quite nicely. It's almost completely stock,
from the 2-barrel carburetor and factory air cleaner assembly to
the cast iron exhaust manifolds and modest single exhaust system.
The engine bay is orderly and rust-free, with clean inner fenders
that have never been rusty. A Torqueflite 3-speed automatic shows
quick reflexes, the suspension has a nice ride/handling balance
that Chrysler seems to have mastered sooner than everyone else.
Plain Jane steel wheels with dog dish hubcaps are a great
performance look and they carry reasonably fat 195/70/14 blackwall
radials which make the Dart a nimble handler and they really fill
the wheel wells for a sporty look.
Simple, clean, and affordable, this Dart is a lot of fun for the
Mopar enthusiast on a budget. Call today!