BF Auction: No Reserve 1975 Dodge Dart Swinger
- Seller: Harry L
- Location: Londonderry, Vermont
- Mileage: 52,000 Shown
- Chassis #: LH23G5B192432
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 318 V8
- Transmission: Automatic
UPDATE – The seller has asked us to relist their Dart, but this time as a no reserve auction! They’ve also added additional photos of the car, so be sure to take another look.
Locating a solid project candidate that can be enjoyed immediately is sometimes challenging, but that is the opportunity awaiting the new owner of this 1975 Dodge Dart. It has some obvious cosmetic needs, but the winning bidder can hit the road for immediate and potentially affordable classic motoring fun as they contemplate how they will add the finishing touches. The owner feels the time is right for the Dart to find a new home, listing it with us at Barn Finds Auctions.
Dodge’s Fourth Generation Dart range enjoyed a long production life, gracing showrooms from 1967 until 1976. Our feature car emerged from the factory in 1975 and finished in what I believe is Golden Fawn. Sections of the car now wear Gray primer as part of a stalled restoration, but the Dart’s overall condition should make a repaint in the original shade straightforward. The panels are free from significant flaws and defects. And no major rust requires attention. There are a few visible spots in the lower extremities, but these are candidates for patches rather than full panel replacement. The glass has no obvious issues, and the trim condition is comfortably acceptable if the buyer targets a driver-grade restoration. The Centerline wheels add a sense of purpose to this classic, wrapped in tires from the good folks at BF Goodrich.
This Dodge really shines when we lift its hood and check out the engine bay. The company offered several engine choices in 1975, but this car’s first owner selected the 318ci V8, producing 140hp and 250 ft/lbs of torque. They teamed the V8 with a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, adding power steering for an effortless driving experience. The 318’s performance was considered acceptable in 1975, but the current owner’s decision to improve its breathing may have unleashed a few extra ponies. They fitted it with headers and a dual exhaust, representing an excellent starting point. The new owner could push things a step further by adding an upgraded intake and a new 4-barrel carburetor to give the car significantly improved performance credentials without spending a fortune. There is plenty of good news for potential buyers because the Dart is a turnkey proposition that runs and drives well. Those who are attracted by a paper trail will welcome the original Owner’s Manual, Window Sticker, and Service Records dating back to 2012.
The Dart’s interior is a surprise packet in a positive way because the dash and pad are excellent, and the seat wears a new professionally installed cover. The remaining upholstered surfaces show no evidence of distress, and the carpet is serviceable. The faux woodgrain is a definite highlight because it is free from wear, lifting, or deterioration. Aftermarket additions include a sports wheel and a modern underdash stereo. There is an opportunity to tailor the interior further because the deal includes a set of Dart GT bucket seats and a console. The buyer also receives a California car cover to add extra protection when it is parked safely in their garage.
Potential buyers can consider this 1975 Dodge Dart a blank canvas project candidate. There is a lot of potential locked away in this classic, and it only needs an enthusiast with the right key for it to become genuinely head-turning. It need not be an expensive process, because someone with a DIY approach could tackle many of those tasks in a home workshop without breaking the bank. The Dart needs someone to complete the transformation that has already begun, and you could be the lucky candidate by submitting the winning bid.
Bid On This Auction
David L. Burtnett bid $2,000.00 2024-08-19 21:44:05
66Charger bid $1,750.00 2024-08-19 21:39:35- David L. Burtnett bid $1,500.00 2024-08-14 20:04:40
John K4631 bid $1,250.00 2024-08-14 10:11:47- 66Charger bid $1,000.00 2024-08-14 09:47:32
- John K4631 bid $500.00 2024-08-14 09:39:36
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Comments
The seller would be wise to include undercarriage shots if it truly is rust-free. These had a way of being very presentable up top and complete disasters underneath. The torsion bar broke free due to chassis rust while my grandfather was behind the wheel of his ’73 Scamp. Fortunately, he never exceeded 25 mph, so he didn’t lose control.
Forgot to add that the car was completely rust-free from the top.
beautiful little car, relatively close to me, need wife’s permission to pursue it!
It’s easier to ask for forgiveness then permission.
Good one, and very true!
Denba12 sounds like to me you messed up and bought her a rolling pin as a present.
The primered areas are interesting. I can already tell it had a vinyl top, which probably means some rust repair. The front and rear side marker lights have been filled in and the rest of the primered areas are the spots where these typically rust. Not a problem if it’s all been done properly but only an in person inspection will tell. If they have been done correctly, this would make a pretty easy project.
Overall, these were pretty solid dependable cars. I owned several of them from ’64-’78. Other than routine maintenance, they were virtually trouble-free.
Mechanically dependable as a rock, but rust has always been a problem. The 318 could become a 340 with a little machine work and some fresh pistons, and the low compression anti-smog heads could be swapped out to restore some of the lost ponies that the EPA took away. The bucket seats and console that come with the sale are definite pluses. I’d go with some form of EFI instead of a four-barrel carburetor, but that’s just me.
a Holley TBI would work wonders.
Undercarriage pictures need to be added.
Underside photos have been added!
OMG, this car reminds me of my first car, which was a ’76 Dart Custom, metallic copper/tan interior, and of course too many doors. I learned how to drive in that car, around the twisty-turnies and dirt roads here in Madison County. I also learned how to ‘power brake’, cut donuts and do ‘neutral drops’, which ultimately ruined the rearend, and away she went. But the little slant 6 225 in that car was pretty peppy for a six-banger, that little car would completely hide itself in a glorious cloud of white smoke during powerbraking, it’s one tire screaming for mercy, of which it was denied. My grandad bought it for me after the shop he worked for rebuilt it. Apparently, it was rear-ended by a dump truck, which basically compressed the trunk to where the back bumper was even with the rear window. So they cut the back end off another one which had succumbed to an engine fire, and the ‘copper sled’ was born. Great memories, I’ll keep my eye on this one, I had a girlfriend at the time who had a ’74 Swinger, I had lots of fun in that car as well…
I would like some pictures of the underside of this car.
The seller has added underside photos and is rerunning the auction, but this time without a reserve!
This would be a sweet project, but I like the flat fronts . I’d like to switch it out. (Guys, is that ok?) Perhaps go with a butterscotch paint.
Uhmmmmmmm Nope!
Sounds like to me you messed up and bought her a rolling pin as a present.
Brown Dart. Gold Dart. The good, the bad and the ugly! My sister and BIL had one of these in dark brown — circa 1981 — embarrassingly slow and uninspired both inside and out. Then, a few years back I borrowed the Sport version in this color from a friend while my daily driver was in for extensive repairs. Bench seat, 4 on the floor, leaning tower of power, thick meats on factory road wheels and WOW! The fun I had and the admiring looks I got from passers-by. What a difference 35-40 years makes!
The bid increment has been reduced.