440 Big-Block: 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger
This 1970 Dart Swinger started life like so many did, one of 70 percent that were built with Chrysler’s venerable Slant-Six motor. It went through a restoration about 11 years ago, which is likely when the six-banger was thrown over from a 440 cubic inch fire-breather, estimated to put out 400 horsepower given a few upgrades. This beauty can be found in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and here on eBay where the auction stands at $17,988 with a lingering reserve. Buyers can bypass this through the Buy It Now feature for a flat $21,000.
The Dart began as a full-size, entry level Dodge in 1960 and changed gears as a compact in 1963. It would be Dodge’s smallest car for another 13 years until 1976. Production logistics for 1970 saw the great majority of Dodge Darts built in Brampton, Ontario, with only 4,000 being built in California. Until around 2010, this Dart was your typical grocery-getter and then underwent a transformation.
Those changes began with a 1968-vintage 440 implanted in the engine compartment, with an uptick in the camshaft, a set of headers, 727 reverse manual value body transmission and an 8 ¾ rear end with 3.55 posi-traction. According to the seller, just 3,000 miles have been put on the car since this all took place.
According to the ad, this is a three-owner car that has been garage kept and only seen 35,000 miles of use. The condition of the car tends to support that. As the seller puts it, the body is “laser straight” and the paint almost perfect, but not quite. The bronze paint (aka burnt orange) has a dimple in the hood where it was closed one time on the carb stud. The color is original but the paint not and some repair work was done to one of the rear quarters when it was redone a decade or so ago. The vinyl top is original and looks to have no flaws.
The exterior chrome all looks solid as does the interior with a bench seat. A smaller steering wheel was installed to accommodate a prior owner, but the seller has retained the original for the buyer. We’re told this is a turn-key car that you could drive just about anywhere. A lot of money has been invested in the Dart over time and it certainly shows. The car has newer shocks, brakes, hoses, suspension parts and a few other things. The seller must have a hankering for a classic convertible as he’s willing to trade for the right one.
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Comments
She’s a runner for sure.
The car and color looks simple, fast, clean and easy to maintain.
I like it…. 👍
Mr. Norm had a great influence in this build. Just by looking at it, you’d never guess it was one of the fastest cars of it’s day. One thing for sure, easy on the loud pedal, or this thing will never hook up.
I may be getting picky, but I dont see how taking an original cars’ six cylinder powertrain and putting in a built big block called “restored” . Hot rodded , Modified, Hopped up, maybe , but not restored .
That rant over, this is a really cool looking Dart .The color is really eye catching, and I’m sure it can smolder the rear tires !
The big block swap harkens back to the 1980’s, before Chrysler came out with their small block crate engines and the availability of reasonably priced LA engine stroker kits and aftermarket performance heads. Those basically made big block swaps obsolete for street driven A-bodies. This one looks well executed, compared to many other big block swaps. But the small block upgrade is really the way to go.
Steve R
My Valiant version with just 11000 miles on her and a 235 slant six, towed or trailered our 3 big bikes all over the country to bike rallies.
It allowed the boys to sleep on the way, as once you got there, the camp noise kept you awake all weekend.
Definitely, the small blocks work so much better with handling and braking.
I’ve also notices that a small block reduces the interior temps, the heat from the bigger and tight fitting engines always seeps in, especially if it has headers.
Maybe products like dyna mat help that situation.
Around 1971 a hemi Dart picked me up hitch hiking. Driver went through the gears, and the driver had the car under complete control. Handful, maybe. But not uncontrolable
What Steve R said.
(and I’m a slant 6 hater, so what you said, no…)
SteveR made a good point (makes a lot of those). Handling really is a big part of motoring pleasure. Raw power, can not be denied for the thrill, but it is only a small part of a car. I BTW, think the 225 was a great little engine, more then enough for this car in daily driving. 318s made them incredible, don’t really think you would ever need more then that.
If the suspension is “done”right,and dialed in,this could be a real sleeper for track day,or surprising punks in loud stupid lowered price burners but for daily driving I’d take a slant 6 or 318 any day that 440 is too easy to get in trouble with…lol!
Its a street rat desguised as a lowly Dodge Dart, but nobody’s fooled at least when its running. The car was built for fun occasional jaunts thats all. Tune ups are probably a pain so that may explain the recent lower mileage!
The Darts and ‘Cudas built in 1969 with the 440 were hairy scary for sure, needed real big meats in the back to take advantage of all that power, and the lack of power brakes and power steering mant you had to be just a little careful, just a little, with 440 cubic inches of raw power up front. Nuts!
I do not know where you get your production figure from but the 1970 Dodge Darts were mainly built at the World Renowned Manufacturing Plant known as “Dodge Main or the Hamtramck Assembly Plant,” Address:7900 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck, MI.. They were built on line number 2, the small line, The big line Line Number ONE was producing the Plymouth Duster, Plymouth Barracuda “E” Body, and the Brand new for 1970 Dodge Challenger. I still remember standing outside on the south side of the plant on a street named Dunn Road, hanging on the fence as an Assebly Engineer was doing burn outs with a new Dart Swinger 340 in the new Orange color for that year The Brampton Ontario was not in Production for Chrysler Corporation.in 1970. Some 1970Dodge Dart Models were built at the Windsor Assembly Plant plant Code 9103 on Tecumseh Road in Windsor , Ontario, Canada
To do this right would require substantial suspension and brake upgrades. Otherwise, this is a blast in a straight line that has plenty of room to stop in. The “new” 5.7 would be cool but most of these early ones were already modified before it became available.