The Forever Car: 1973 Dodge Dart
While most folks aspire to have a new or different car every few years, there are a select few that are constantly looking for their “forever car.” This is a Grail-like quest for a vehicle that will last absolutely forever with minimal maintenance and upkeep. If you are one of those parsimonious folks, then take a look at this 1973 Dodge Dart for sale on craigslist in Milpitas, California. This elderly-owned Dart has just 90,000 miles on the clock and spent nearly all of its life garaged. Even better, it comes with the most indestructible engine ever built: the Slant Six. Thanks to Pat L. for this helping find this pea green prize!
Darts were a thing in my area growing up. A lot of folks around the neighborhood had either a Dart or Valiant, and pea green was a very popular color for Mopars in this era. In fact, lots of Chrysler products were rolling around our neighborhood at that time, including some big Chryslers that looked like they could carry a football team in the trunk. The tinny sound of their starters every morning sang the symphony of my early childhood. Of course, my parents were the oddballs in the neighborhood. Mom and dad drove a canary yellow 1973 Buick Century Regal. Later, when the road became a bit too visible in the passenger rear footwell, it was traded for a 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham with genuine Hurst/Hatch T-Tops. The T-Tops were cool, but it was the slowest vehicle on the planet. No kidding. It built up speed like a savings bond accrues interest. A mail truck could beat it in a drag race by a couple of car lengths.
One thing I do remember about Darts and Valiants of the time is that they never seemed to have any mechanical issues. Rust was always a problem in our rainy climate, and the vinyl upholstery would split in the seams from the beating the sun put on the cars of the area. Yet, they always ran. I would guess that a majority of the cars were powered by the amazing Slant Six inline six-cylinder engine that powered most lower-end Chrysler products. The rest probably were propelled by the nearly as reliable (until lean burn electronic ignition came around) 318 cubic inch V-8. With a time-tested Torqueflite transmission behind them and a simple rear end, you couldn’t ask for a more boringly reliable drivetrain.
That may be why this car was held on to by the “old folks” that owned it for a long period of time before the seller purchased it. According to the ad, the car has been garaged for most of its life and is still incredibly original. There are some issues with the bench seat needing to be recovered and what the seller calls “minor dents and dings.” These minor bruises are on quite a few panels but must have been very low-speed affairs as the paint doesn’t appear to be damaged on any of them. In 1973, the bumpers on these cars were built to withstand the 5-mph government crash testing, so maybe the folks who owned it were safe from the effects of “back until you bump” parking, but “merge until you meet” may have been a thing for them.
What kept these cars on the road was the sheer durability of the parts. Sheet metal thickness back then would probably put a modern Mercedes to shame, and all of the plastics and vinyls were formed with little environmental or safety concerns. These cars were built tough, and it shows in the picture above. While the armrest hides the tears in the driver’s side of the bench seat, the rest of the interior looks showroom new. Those tears most likely occurred along the molded seams put in the design to simulate actual stitching. Just looking inside, I can feel how the vinyl felt and can imagine the click when turning on the radio. This car brings back old times.
The Slant Six under the hood was most likely a 225 cubic inch unit putting out something close to 120+ horsepower. I was unable to find any solid data, but hopefully, a reader will set me straight in the comments. This car has been the recipient of new belts, brakes, tires, a tune-up, and more work to keep it in good shape. The car is said to be in good enough shape to return to daily driver duty. With air conditioning and power steering, this Dart may be good for just that.
In all, this is a neat car that takes a few of us down memory lane. At car shows, we all fawn all over muscle cars, convertibles, and low-production stunners. However, it is often the guy with the old-school family car at the end of the row that talks to the most people. Basic cars like this were everywhere, and a lot of memories were made (and a few kids) in them. They need to be saved and enjoyed. With this Dart, it will likely be around a long time to do just that. Did you have a Dart or a Valiant? What about a Slant Six-powered vehicle? Please share your memories in the comments.
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Comments
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Looks like it’s becoming a “got to be quick” thing. Being CL, probably gone before it even went out. I think we’ll see a lot more of this, and I can see it now, “Come see the all new 2027 Dodge Dart”,( blowing dust off molds),,
Yep, this was a bread-and-butter car from my youth, and for good reason. These were well designed, comfortable, reliable, and they handled well. The slanty was great, had enough power, and started on the coldest days.
I took my road test in a car just like this. Through college and beyond we owned several of these, so they have a special place in my automotive heart.
I have a ’74 Plymouth Valiant Scamp, the Plymouth version of this car. It is an original survivor wit the slant six. It is amazing how many people have stopped to talk about it and their memories of having and/or driving one.
I’m wondering..”Elderly owned” and they bought a hardtop? Also, that seat shows a lot more than 90k miles. The fabric was very durable on those cars. I had a ’75.
Maybe the size of the “elderly owner” was a factor and maybe they owned a Bedazzler. ;)
Seat fabric condition is probably more a factor of age than use. It is a 50 year old, mass produced on a budget, car.
The fabric on early 70s Chryslers was junk. However, I had a slant six in a 1963 Savoy I got from my grandmother in 1976. I was making $100 a week take home and flat broke. I ran waste oil in it when I changed it because I was that broke, adjusted the then solid lifters once, ran retread tires and put 100,000 miles on it. Never changed a water pump, starter, anything. Best car I ever had. Push button automatic, bullet proof. Anvil like quality. Oh, how Chrysler has fallen. I am not retired and work part time at a Dodge Ram Jeep dealership. The mechanics have job security with this junk today.
I had a fastback sport with the four speed,you had to shift it into neutral in rain when you had to stop or it would stall.I would still be driving it if some punk didn’t pull out right in front of me.
Had a 72 it was a dependable car mine was a points car so it was kinda a pain to tune it because the distributor was really low in the engine bay.this one I can’t tell from the pictures if that is a dent in the right door or just a trick of the light and reflection of the curb
Good eyes. I think you’re right. Looks like the door’s pushed in enough to see the top edge of the rocker panel, as well as the body line on the door being distorted.
I drove a 62 or 63 Dart with slant six and stick shift for about 6 months as a company car way back then. Never liked it as wife’s Volvo drove so much better.
Had a ’72 sedan with a 318 as my second car, the first was a grey 72 Ventura Sedan with half moon caps, everybody thought I was an unmarked cop car. The Dart was a real surprise to the guys who laughed at me when she took off.
Gray 72 Ventura …the 7 ups. Bill Hickman drove the black Granville. Cool car.It’ll run forever with that ole slant 6.
I have a 1973 Dart that was purchased new by my grandfather, who then passed it on to my father, who then passed it on to me. The car has always been garaged and looks fantastic, and runs great. It is my sunny day, summer time happy drive.
I see ads for these old Darts, and of late they’ve started to tug at me… I have truly become my father…
Chrysler Corp. seem to do a way better job of integrating the crash bumpers of 1973/74… better than a 73 Nova/Apollo/Omega and WAY better than a 73 Maverick/Comet
Had a 1970 Wart Swinger, bought it October 1969 when it hit the dealers floor, had a 225 slant six and let me tell you, those things don’t die, took it everywhere and never let me down, good on gas to, I lived in Staten Island, NY at the time and I believe all the Dodge taxis in Manhattan had a 225 in them, that’s how durable they are. After having mine for a number of years, I gave it to my friends son and he had it for a bunch of years before he sold it. I believe the slant six was on of the better engines of its time.
Seller deleted the ad a few days ago.
Just curious, any idea what they were asking for it?
No mention in the BF article.
Thanks
I find it amusing that cars labeled “Swinger” and “Scamp” appeared to be most frequently owned by retirees. My grandparents had a green ’73 Scamp.
People of all ages drove these cars, they were cheap and reliable – the names had nothing to do with who bought it , they were just names to most people back then – My Scottish mother drove a Rambler American . My frugal dad drove a Marquis .People bought what they liked and could afford.
But still…. There was a car called Swinger!…. Wow!… Times have changed!
I had a ’74 Scamp.
Green with a vinyl roof. Slant-6 engine. Great car. I put gas and some oil in it and it ran and ran and ran.
It couldn’t get out of it’s own way though. You could hear the clickety-click of the lifters 2 blocks away.
Bought it for $300 in 1980. Sold it for $300 a few years later.
Good catch on the front seat “issues.” Beautiful car otherwise.
I had a 71 Plymouth Scamp in that color with a slant six. It never failed me until someone t-boned me. Picked up a 73 Duster with same six. It had electronic ignition that Chrysler hadn’t figured out yet. You couldn’t drive it in the rain and I traded it in after one month for a Pacer that was one of the most dependable cars I’ve ever owned.
We had a 1974 Plymouth Duster with the slant 6. The only issue that I recall having with it had nothing to do with the mechanicals. When the car was built, the factory apparently didn’t adequately seal the windshield, so a good rain or a trip through the car wash meant that the front seat passenger got a good shoe washing.
My first car was a ’74 Scamp….Golden Haze metallic with a black vinyl roof. Slant six, autobox, AC and deluxe vinyl interior. I drove it everywhere……bought it with 53K miles from an elderly man and drove it to over 150K. Ex-fiancé’s brother ran the engine out of oil and that was it for the car…….if I hadn’t been a broke college student, I would have replaced the stuck Slant Six with another.
I really miss that car……….