Numbers-Matching 340: 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger
Don’t be fooled by the flaking green and gold paint, because hiding beneath that is a solid 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger that started its life finished in Charger Red. The owner has decided to part with the car, so this is a chance to get your hands on a project car that could eventually be a pretty stunning vehicle. If this is a car that really takes your fancy, then you will find it located in North Platte, Nebraska, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $4,050 at the time of writing, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
While we don’t get any photos of the underside of the Dart, the information that the owner provides is fairly promising. Rust is apparently confined to a small spot in the front floor. Otherwise, it does look pretty good. There is nothing visible in the quarters, rockers, or around the rear window. There’s a sizeable dent in the passenger side quarter, but it would be up to the new owner whether they chose to repair this, or whether they would replace the quarter panel. There are a few other minor dings around the car, but it still looks promising.
The interior of the Dart is certainly serviceable as it is, but there are some items that would need to be replaced to bring it up to a nice standard. Chief amongst these would be a new dash pad, as the original is pretty badly cracked. The covers on the seats aren’t original, but they are in pretty reasonable shape. Whether these would be replaced would really depend on both the new owner’s personal taste, and whether they were undertaking a full restoration to return the car to its original condition and specifications.
For the new owner, the decision about restoration of the Dart might be greatly influenced by what’s under the hood. What you get here is a numbers-matching car, with the exception of the carburetor. That means that the original 340ci V8, 727 automatic transmission, 8¾” rear end, and power steering are all still present. The owner doesn’t give us any information about the mechanical condition of the car, but if that engine turns freely, then that might be a good start.
I’m sure that the person who decided to change the color of the Dart did it with all of the best intentions, but they really did the car no favors. The glimpses that we get of the original red certainly make it easy to visualize the car when it was new, and it must have been a stunner. It could definitely be returned to that state, so, are you willing to take it on?
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Comments
Wow. This is arguably the first time I’ve ever seen a car go from original red to dark green. I’ve seen it go the other way a million times in cars from this era, but never that. And the green paint looks very old. I wonder if this was stolen at one point in time? Car theft used to be much more common than it is today.
I was thinking the same thing – everything is jammed in green to cover it up ; I cant imagine anyone wanting to paint a red 340 Dart to green either
For “SWINGING”,,,looks like this car done swung quite a bit. These were fun cars to beat the heck out of. They were light, fast, and literally could take a pounding, and still nice enough to take on a date, if the exhaust wasn’t too loud, that is. Lot of people got in a lot of trouble with cars like this. I did.
I doubt its a numbers matching engine ; the engine shouldn’t be blue , in ’69 it would have been red .
Other way around Don
It’s turquoises. That is correct for early 69 builds. I have a Nov 26 1968 build GTS and a Dec 18, 1968 build 340 Swinger.
I agree with all three of you. I have have factory photos of 4-speeds being hemi orange and know of all the automatics I seen as being turquoise. 68′ were all red. I have a 69′ swinger, 4-speed. Also 69′ had shoulder belts and as far as I know, they had head rests. GTS were sport, rounded and swingers were squared off somewhat.
Yeah, Both my early build 69’s where parked unrestored since 1977 for the 340 Swinger & 1978 for the GTS. They are auto cars with the turquoises engines. Yes, the 4 speed cars were red/hemi orange from what I’ve seen. The shoulder belts are a separate belt from the lap belt. They clip up by the sun visor when not in use.
Some issues as noted.
Bet reserve will be ridiculous
Don, I have 69′ swinger 340 (4- speed) and it is red and should be, but I believe the automatics could or were blue. If this car is an original 340, the car has been parted of 340 items, such as, no head rests seen on the seat backs, intake appears to be from a 70′ and up(large bi-pass hose), the DART name plates were not on the fenders, but center of hood and deck lid. Maybe it could be an option, but I don’t think it was, the lower chrome trim should of been on the Dart Custom along with the DART name on the front fenders. Also don’t see the “Standard” shoulder belts hanging from the roof (you would see them in the applied photos). Exhaust manifolds and air cleaner seen to be correct, valve covers ,no. I agree with some one here, that it may of been a “HOT” car at one point and repainted to look like another. Look for the “P” in the VIN to be sure it’s a titled 340 car. Worst scenario, it would make a good part car. $5,000.00 or $7,000.00 for a clean 340 title with correct drive train(to many items to correct or restore). Could be a fun car, as is.
Actually turquoises not blue for the automatics. I have a 2 early build 340 cars a Nov 26 1968 built GTS and a Dec 1968 340 Swinger. Head rests were not mandatory until Jan 1, 1969.
My matching # 69 340 is blue so most guess the factory on colors but all 68 340’s were red I’m sure.