Swing Low Sweet
Chariot Muscle Car
This month Tony salutes that Sixties
four-wheeled hipster, the Dodge Dart Swinger.
I always look forward to the end of May bank holiday weekend as
there are all sorts of car shows to attend. However, the one that draws me like
a magnet is the Sunday bash at Brook lands Museum organised by the Mo par
Muscle Association UK. Brook lands always throws up something special and this
year was no exception. How about a 1970 black on black with black decals 440cu
in +6bbl Cu da without a shaker hood? Or the re- emergence of a 1969 blue Hemi
Road Runner, a genuine car sitting now on period slot mags and a fabulous 1969
orange Dodge Dart 340cu in powered Swinger. And that’s just three of the many
fine cars present. This month I would like to look at the 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger,
especially the 340cu in powered models and this example in particular. Firstly
though the 1969 Swinger came about as Dodge dropped the base Dart Sedan and
replaced it with the new model; the Swinger became Dodge’s cheapest car for
that year and it sold thousands.
This month I would like to
look at the 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger, especially the 340cu in powered models and
this example in particular
The year 1968 saw the introduction of the 340cu in V8 engine
pumping out a factory- advertised 275 horses; although a small block this
little LA lump turned out to be one of Chrysler’s most potent weapons during
the muscle car wars. The new engine saw its way into Mopar’s A Body cars; the
Barracuda Formula S and the Dodge Dart GTS both show a ‘P’ in their respective
VINs, designating a 340 car. The GTS (Grand Touring Sport) Dart, the top of the
line model received the 340 as well as the big block 383cu in V8 with an
automatic Torqueflite gearbox as standard. Available both as a hard top or
convertible, a performance power bulge hood was included as well as a ‘bumble
bee’ stripe, which along with many other GT features made for a very
well-equipped car and the ideal way to catch ‘Dodge Fever’! The Dart Swinger
340 model featured the small block 340/275bhp V8 coupled to a four- speed
manual Hurst Shifted gearbox, full vinyl interior, complete with a slippery
bench seat, heavy duty Rallye suspension with ‘Firm Ride’ shocks, a Swinger
tail stripe and instant kudos as an official ‘Scat Pak’ car. The hood featured a
performance look with die-cast louvres, wide 70 x 14intyres, 3.23 or 3.55 or
4.10 gear ratios included with a Sure Grip and a dual exhaust system with chrome
tips rounded off the package nicely. At extra cost an automatic 727 Torqueflite
gearbox could be ordered, although the model was only available as a hard top.
The Barracuda Formula S
and the Dodge Dart GTS both show a ‘P’ in their respective VINs, designating a
340 car
All the usual body and interior colours were available throughout
the range; however, a mid- year edition of EV2 ‘Hemi Orange’, a retina burning
hue, found its way into the Dodge camp. That’s the reason why I fell in love
with this ’69 Swinger at Brook lands, the colour just did it completely for me,
absolutely stunning! The car hails from the Bristol area and is owned by a Mr Jon
Leonard who gave the Dart a fresh paint job, cleaned up the bright work, added
the factory original black vinyl roof and enjoys the car to its full potential.
The car hails from the
Bristol area and is owned by a Mr Jon Leonard who gave the Dart a fresh paint
job, cleaned up the bright work
A quick look at the car’s fender tag located in the engine bay
soon gave me an adrenalin buzz as the data tag confirmed my hunch that this was
a genuine EV2 orange car, and its build date of May 1, 1969, confirmed it. A
late build car for sure. The ‘P’ in the VIN and assembly plant of Hamtramck,
Michigan, further authenticated the car; with the E55/ D32, 340cu in/automatic
transmission combination this made for a rare old Mopar, probably an ordered
car. The A46 chrome trim package complements the colour and gives the car a
real sparkle which turns heads instantly. This little A body sits impressively
on body colour steel wheels with the iconic Dodge ‘dog dish’ hubcaps and is a
joy to behold in itself.
