Amazing Survivor: 1969 Dodge Dart GTS Swinger
When it comes to 50-year-old survivor cars, this 1969 Dart GTS Swinger is probably up there with the best of them. This is claimed to be a completely original survivor, and if this is true, then this is a car that is an endorsement of what can be achieved by careful ownership. It is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding is currently sitting at $13,988, and the good news is that the car is being offered in a No Reserve auction.
The first word that pops into my head when I look at this Dart is “clean.” This rates as one of the cleanest Darts that I have seen for quite some time. If this car is as original as is claimed then that Code Y2 Yellow paint is in fantastic condition. There doesn’t appear to be a mark or blemish anywhere and not a sign of rust. The seller has listed it on behalf of an estate, and the car is said to have been garaged all of its life. The seller also states that the GTS package was dealer-installed when the car was new, and those distinctive stripes certainly help the car to really stand out.
If the exterior of the Dart was impressive, then the interior is probably more of the same. Once again, this is said to be original, and the black trim looks to be faultless. The column-mounted tachometer and the under-dash gauges look fantastic, and the only thing that I’m not keen on is the aftermarket radio/cassette player that has been fitted into the dash. Still, it doesn’t look like the dash has been cut to install it, so replacing it with a factory radio shouldn’t be a big job.
Opening the hood reveals more amazing presentation. This isn’t all about presentation though. The Dart is a full, numbers-matching car. That 340ci V8 would be delivering 275hp, which it would send to the rear wheels via a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission. This is another car that needs little to achieve near-perfection. There are a few stray wires to tidy, but the rest of it looks extremely impressive. The seller says that the car has covered a genuine 48,875 miles and that it starts, runs, drives, handles, and stops perfectly. This is a claim that I have no trouble in believing because everything else about the Dart has been so good.
I have always felt fortunate to be able to write for Barn Finds, and there is really only one drawback to it. I see cars like this Dart, and I just want it. If I bought every one of the cars that I have loved since I began writing, then I would be a divorced man…many times over. This Dart is a nice car, and I really believe that the next owner is going to be fortunate to own such a wonderfully clean survivor.
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Comments
69 dart is one of favorite mopars. Appears to be a nice car. You sure couldn’t buy and restore at this price.
Theres an advantage to being older and retired with an understanding wife, Adam: if I told my wife I was going to get this car she wouldn’t threaten to divorce me, she would tell me to make sure it has a heater and A/C because I’d be sleeping in it from now on..😂
We feel your pain, Adam!
would not the interior panels under the hood be the same colour, not black? just asking
Yes, and you would have to wonder why you would do that with so few miles- plus the intake should be blue , and this car seems to have electronic ignition
I agree the engine compartment should be the same color as the exterior of the car. Why paint it black?
Its either a Dodge Dart GTS or a 340 Swinger… it can’t be both.
Restored and not original.
I would think it has an after market intake and ignition.There was a time long ago when a guy could try to make his car better without someone calling him out for changing something from original. they used to call it hot rodding……
Yes, but then it shouldn’t be called completely original !
A GTS Dealer installed package I don’t think so it either factory or not.
what does it mean dealer installed GTS package? the trim package or the 340 8-3/4 rear etc? Confused?
The Vin# provided at the bottom of the eBay link translates as a `69 Dart Swinger 340 built in Los Angeles.
And though the 340 was available in the GTS, it would have a GTS (LS)Vin# and not a Dart Swinger 340 (LM)Vin# if it were a real one.
Two sources below.
http://www.tpocr.com/dodgevin4.html
http://69gts383.com/Production_Numbers.php
It’s not real. It’s dealer “installed”. It’s also not original.
Which means therefore it is NOT a survivor at all, right ? Its a very nice car, why try to make it something it is not, sell it for what it is.
My best friend in high school had a 69 with a three speed and a slant 6 good driver I can only imagine how this would drive!! Nice car!!!
Wheels look good, but not original.
Proves a unibody car does not have to have high wide shock towers.
Or is that because it has torsion bars instead of coil springs?
Look how ez it is to change plugs on this car!
Exactly, all GTS s were LS cars. GTS on fender is wrong, ive never seen a bench seat GTS.
Own two, One was 68 340 auto console, one 68 383 4sp bucket no console
Swinger wheels and hood. Should say GTS on the hood and decklid. Only thing GTS about this car is the decal.
Still has all the right equipment to be a hot-rod at a decent price with some personal touches that the owner added,this is a nice Mopar!
This is no doubt a great car. I am fairly dubious that it hasn’t been resprayed before. Just look behind the wheels…what, no rocks were ever kicked up after nearly 50k miles? And there’s the engine compartment too.
And one photo with the door open seems to show some overspray areas onto the interior rubber/vinyl(?) Could be the lighting.
But still, very nice car. Be nicer if the seller included even 1 photo of the underside (alas, I’m aware of the eBay and Craigslist rule banning any underside vehicle photos)
And, any buyer with “investment grade!” in their mind will also require that the low mileage figure to be documented in some way.
Where did you get the notion that under car photos are banned?
I think that was sarcasm based on the knotheads that aren’t smart enough or honest enough to get the undersides.
The car is not a real GTS.
It is optioned as one and is incorrect.
Bumble Bee striped cars do not have GTS emblems in front fenders.
If it was a stripe delete car it would have the GTS emblems on the front fenders.
Also GTS door emblems are missing.
I agree.It’s a Swinger that he took to the dealership and had GTS badging and stripe installed. Inside door panel should have GTS emblems and they are not there. The VIN will tell the truth!
It’s purely a fake GTS. Nice looking car, but not as advertised or stated.
so who care weather its a gts or not you are 50 miles from home in the middle of no where and it quits running does it matter get real! take for what it is a dam fast mopar that gets the job done! go to a car show leave the hood closed if its going to get your panties in a knot! such crap!
can’t give any THUMBS up or DOWN….Hmmmmmm
It looks like it has single exhaust.
No such thing as dealer installed GTS package.
Car is a miss mash GTS clone. Done poorly.
Since inside of fender wells are painted black I would suspect a front clip replacement from a front accident at some time.
VIN shows just Dart 340. Why no fender tag break down ?
No go. Watch out here.😭
This site should be called Dart Finds! If this one had a 4speed it would be peeeeeeerfect!
It’s not original by any means, but it is an example of a nice “Day 2” Swinger 340, sporting the headers, aluminum intake and chrome valve covers a lot of folks stuck on their muscle cars the day after they brought it home. Those wheels weren’t available until ’70, and I suspect the stripe was added later, likely the same time they got too enthusiastic with a can of flat black paint on the grille and the inner fenders, both very popular “go fast” modifications in the early ’70’s (Swinger grilles were clear anodized with argent paint on the surrounds, and while GT/GTS grilles had flat black paint grille texture, they weren’t all flat black like this one). Nobody has commented on the color of the engine yet – there has been much discussion over the years, and it is generally agreed that ’69 340’s were turquoise or red and a few Hemi Orange engines proven to be original, but I have never seen anyone say that some were Chrysler blue, which this one seems to be.
Still a nice car that can easily be put back to stock, as long as it’s priced right.
Agree with most everyone here. A lot of things are out of place here. RNR, I would like to add to your comment on the 340 engine colors. My understanding, 68′ 340’s were red, 69′ automatics, turquoise and 4-speeds were Hemi Orange. There are always odd balls, so this is not a exact science. 68′ 4-speeds had a higher lift cam, but the 69’s auto and 4-speeds had the same as the automatic in 68′.
wheres the chrome tailpipe extensions,this car isn’t a survivor sorry
Nice car but call it a “GTS” survivor. No chrome on brake and gas pedals, wrong radio, dash insert at center looks like a swinger(GTS) would carry on across glove box), no wheel lip moldings, no head rests or shoulder belts, which all Hi-PO mopars had in 69′(possible even all makes), missing front bumper guards(possible a bumper change) and appears to be the wrong antenna(should be telescoping) and not a single rod as in later models. These are added to the other items that were already mentioned. One item that appears correct is the radiator. My guess here is(I know I wasn’t asked), but I think a Swinger had a bad frontal impact and a 340 donor car in ruff shape was added to it to form a complete car with the original swinger title.
Terry – I’m with you on everything but the shoulder belts and head rests. In ’69 the shoulder belts had their own buckle, and they were clipped to a bracket at the sun visors. If you look closely at the open door pictures you can the the stored belt sagging below the line of the weatherstripping.
As for head rests, while optional at the start of the model year, they were not mandated by the Feds until January 1, 1969. My Dad bought an early build “sales bank” ’69 Polara two door new in the spring of ’69 – no head rests.