Rare Sunroof: 1975 Dodge Dart Swinger
Whenever a Mopar comes with two fender tags, there’s usually something exciting going on, but the compact Dart isn’t generally a car you’d expect to find with more than one, so I had to dig in and find out what makes this Dodge so special. Turns out this car’s appeal is two-fold, not only of the many options it came with from the factory but also because some of the performance upgrades that have been added make this one a real beast. This 1975 Dodge Dart Swinger ticks plenty of great boxes, and it’s located in Nine Mile Falls, Washington should you want to go take a peek. Best of all, this is a no-reserve auction here on eBay with bidding not even quite up to the $10k mark yet, so whoever makes the best offer will be driving this bad boy home.
Some useful information we find out is that the Dart was previously owned for many years by a member of the local Dodge Club, and it’s now up for sale due to the guy’s age and retirement, so at least we know it was an adult driven vehicle and likely well cared for. Originally a 318 model, it now sports a crate 360 under the hood that produces around 300 horsepower, not too shabby for just about any application but I’m guessing it makes a lightweight car like this scream! Plus the hopping-up doesn’t end there, as there’s also a newer 8 3/4 rear end and a recently rebuilt 727 automatic transmission. It’s also got electronic ignition and starts right up, and the seller says it just purrs and emits that great Mopar muscle sound through a newer exhaust system underneath the car.
Surprisingly, we don’t get a whole lot of information regarding the exterior or what has or hasn’t been done to the body, but the mileage is stated as 83,000 so it’s not spent as much time on the road as many cars with nearly 50 years under their belt. Fortunately, we get several good photos from the outside which seem to show an overall straight body, although there is a small dent on the driver’s side front fender and the wiper on the passenger side looks a bit wonky. High on the cool-factor list is the factory sunroof, a rare option that the seller claims less than 1,100 of these cars came equipped with. The vinyl top seems to be in good shape overall, with maybe just a little over a handful of small bubbles underneath near the rear of the sunroof opening.
We don’t get very many details about the interior either, except for the seller mentioning that it’s in great shape and comfortable as well. The photos seem to back up that claim, as it does look pretty decent in there especially for a cockpit with white upholstery, with just one small rip in the driver’s seat being the most major defect I could spot in the vinyl. Another option I’m guessing is kind of uncommon on a Dart is the cruise control. I’m glad we got to view the trunk area too, as this part also looks to be nicely preserved plus it only appears like there’s just a small amount of surface rust present around the opening and on the underside of the trunk lid, so hopefully the tin worm has been kind to this car. From what we’re seeing here, bidding is likely to climb higher, but just how much more is hard to say. What are your thoughts on this one?
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Comments
Most of these rotted away, and I’ve never seen one with a factory sunroof. I like it.
unless you live in a dry climate , EVERY car rots away – When was the last time you saw a 1975 Corolla ?
My dad had a Swinger…a Polaroid Swinger.
Those wheels are not subtle, but nice ride!
Mr owner, keep those rims, they just do not complement this machine, find some stock rally rims for that year Mopar
Or these hubcaps on steelies with white-stripe tires.
https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/08430bac-b485-43c0-aa93-4972ae4d1141.58efc8ea627b6413c1295efdfc6b3d90.jpeg?odnHeight=612&odnWidth=612&odnBg=FFFFFF
My second car was a 73 Dart Swinger with a 318. Personally loved the style. Different rear bumper than this and mine was a work out dog by 1989 when I bought for $250.00. Think I over paid. But this super cool . agree needs steel wheels and dog dishes
Very nice Dart ! The sunroof makes all the rest of any negativity one may suggest go away. I would take it with those rims just to trot it casually down the local strip, but add a set of what it came with. Since it has already lost the drivetrain, it can no longer be considered a numbers matching vehicle, so that 360 is a great option to mess around with.
Best wishes to a good sale ! Some day these A bodies will gain their rightful place as Muscle Cars in their own right
Wow, slightly different than the 75 Dart I learned to drive in. Choked slant 6, hit the gas, pull for a second, then stumble, and finally go. Mid 70’s emissions at their worst. How did we haul a popup all over with 4 people and camping gear, towed a 15 ft boat with 85 horse mercury from PA to Ottawa. That weak, choked motor stumbled, but never died.
I’d enjoy driving this nice one, like the gauges and sunroof.
I’m pretty sure its an ASC installed sunroof and usually done as a dealer installed option.
Those were manual crank roofs, correct?
Can someone decode the 2 fender tags? Then we could know if the sunroof was indeed a factory installed option.
Bubbles under the vinyl top all over, bottom of C-pillar, across the top of the windshield and other places. Base of the A-pillar with the door open looks doctored up too, that’s typically where the sunroof drain comes out in front. Still a nice car!
Sliding steel sunroofs in A bodies were available from 1973 and up, but not too many had them as it was considered an entry level car. If its original to the car, it must be super rare ; In all the years of owning A body Mopars, I’ve never seen one on a Swinger or Scamp , just on the Duster and Dart Sport models. Back in the early 80s when I was restoring my Duster 340 I cut the entire roof assembly off parts car Duster I had so I could have the factory sunroof in my car.as it was a rare option. I’m glad now that part of my plan didnt happen as I still own it and it wouldn’t be original to the car
Shopping for a brand new Plymouth Scamp in 1973, dealer showed me one in butterscotch from the factory with a sunroof. Very appealing, but I passed on it probably because of extra cost and a fear that it might leak. Ended up with a baby blue Scamp (no sunroof) with black vinyl roof and blue vinyl upholstery with same style seats as this Swinger. Drove it for 12 years until sold to buy a fully loaded 1985 Caprice Classic (with no sunroof).
Not only is it equipped with the rare sunroof option, but also equipped with that even rarer option of speed control
Get rid of those rims, put dog dish caps on it and make it look like a real sleeper.
Back in the day when I worked at Super Shops, we sold those Centerline wheels by the truckload. They may be period correct, but I agree are all wrong for this car. Picture it with the correct Mopar 5 lug Rallye wheels, and it would be much more visually appealing.
I’m a 340 loyalist. But a 360 crate motor is the next best thing for a cool and highly optioned A body like this.
Car has more than 83,000, more like 183,000, minimum the numbers don’t line up for actual low miles, once the clock turns 100,000.0 the numbers are not straight across for a low mileage car, put the factory rims back on, and I’ll bet it was originally the Leaning Tower of Power. A friend of mine just bought an all Original 75 Dart Swinger with the original “Leaning Tower of Power” in it. Rare engine today, in my day alot of people took them out and put in 340 V-8’s, he’s keeping his original, he’s smart as a rare car with slant 6 now. Nice car, I love the cars from the 50’s, 60’s and up tp 1972. My everyday driver is a 1972 Cutlass, I will Never own a new junk PERIOD.
Me thinks, perchance there has been some “detailing” done. Very well loaded car, AM/FM Cruise sunroof, A/C, although most parts are not there. Bubbles in the roof, (which looks to well dressed, IMHO) indicate rust is brewing. Interior trim is a little jaded looking, should have compounded it to get rust (nicotine?) stains off it. weatherstripping looks real new, also. Inside of front fenders paint is not close to looking like outside (repaint?) 1 day and 8 hours left on auction, and bidding is about $11,000. Wonder what it will sell for?