We’ve seen a few reasonably affordable project cars come across our desks here at Barn Finds in recent times, and this 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger is an excellent example of this trend. It needs work, but it could be driven and enjoyed as it stands. Spotting these types of cars can be difficult, and I always appreciate it when our readers refer them to us. So I have to thank Barn Finder Larry D for having the eagle-eye find this one. It is located in Melbourne, Florida, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $8,995, but there is the option to make an offer.

The Fiesta Green Swinger would have been a striking-looking car when it was new, and there’s no reason why it couldn’t be once again. The original paint is looking pretty tired, so it will need a refresh. The car features a Black vinyl top. This has been replaced at some point, and it remains in as-new condition. There is some external rust to tackle, but it isn’t that bad. Both lower rear quarter panels will require attention, but patches could be the answer. The back edges of both rockers are also showing some rust where they meet the quarters, meaning they may require the same treatment. The lower front fenders are just beginning to bubble, so fixing those should be easy. The seller suggests replacing the rear valance, but the rest of the body looks good. The rear bumper is dented, but the rest of the chrome shows no signs of problems. Some of the adhesive body moldings have fallen off, but the buyer will probably replace the lot when they perform the repaint. The glass shows no evidence of problems, while the Dart rolls on a spotless set of 14″ Rallye wheels.

When we delve below the surface, this is the rust that causes me the greatest concern. Problems are developing on both sides where the front inner fenders meet the firewall. It is beginning to look nasty and should be addressed sooner rather than later. Beyond that, the news regarding the vehicle’s underside is positive. There is surface corrosion on the inside of the trunk pan. This is the result of a water leak due to a faulty trunk seal. The seal has been fixed, which means that the corrosion could be treated and addressed. The owner supplies several photos of the Swinger’s underside, and it is as clean as you could hope to find.

For those of you who were hoping to pop the hood and find a V8, you might be disappointed to learn that the engine bay houses the original 225ci slant-six engine. This is backed by a TorqueFlite transmission, while the Dart scores power steering. That combination would produce a comfortable cruiser rather than a muscle car. That makes the 19-second ¼-mile ET not surprising. The buyer might choose to perform a drivetrain upgrade, but I hope that they don’t. The seller is only the car’s second owner, and he purchased it after the elderly lady, who was its first owner, passed away. She was meticulous about how her numbers-matching classic was maintained, and some of its history is a testament to that. Towards the end of her life, she wasn’t driving the Dart much. The seals in the TorqueFlite became dry through lack of use and started to leak. Rather than have some new seals fitted, she chose to have the transmission rebuilt. It seems that there were no half-measures with this lady. The seller has gone through the car to ensure that it is roadworthy and is nearly finished rebuilding the brakes. He has replaced the radiator, along with the fuel pump and filter. The original carburetor was rebuilt, and the owner says that the slant-six runs like a Swiss watch. Once the brakes are done, the Dart will be ready to hit the road. The seller claims that the Dodge has 80,000 original miles on the clock, although he doesn’t indicate whether he has evidence to back this claim.

The Dart’s interior is original, and while it isn’t perfect, it isn’t bad for a survivor of this vintage. The carpet is faded, and the front seat has some tears, but the remaining trim and upholstery look good. Even the headliner, which is prone to deterioration, looks to be in decent condition. Replacing the seat cover would cost about $460, while a carpet set will add $320 to the total. With that work complete, it would look pretty good inside this car. It isn’t loaded with creature comforts, with an AM radio being about it. There is no air conditioning, but the original owner did fit a period-correct 12-volt accessory fan. If that doesn’t do the job for the buyer, they can always resort to what I refer to as “2/50” air conditioning. That’s two windows down at 50mph.

The owner of this 1972 Dart Swinger says one thing that I can’t help but agree with; These are attractive cars. The styling is crisp, and when they are in excellent condition, they are a real eye-catcher. This one has some rust issues, but once these are addressed, and a fresh coat of Fiesta Green paint is applied, it is a car that should turn heads. The killer with this one is that in 6-cylinder form, they aren’t a car that will command a high price. Even a spotless example will struggle to top $15,000 if there is a six under the hood. However, if the buyer can perform most of the restoration work themselves, it is a car that should remain financially viable. Would you perform a faithful restoration, or would a V8 be finding its way under the hood?