Last year, while we were working the Spring Fling Million in Las Vegas, Chad and I had a discussion on what was going to replace the Imperial. I was on my “eff that car, gotta go, next please” phase of the love-hate relationship with the car and I was planning on pulling the powertrain back out and find a new, better home for it. I was looking at many different options…okay, no I wasn’t. Either it was going to be a 1971-newer B-body or it was going to be a truck/Ramcharger. But while we had some downtime thanks to an oildown, we went surfing on Craigslist together and Chad’s idea of what a good Mopar pick would be and what I would pick were wide apart. He wanted 1960s A-bodies, Dusters, Darts, and the like. It is what it is, I like what I like. But for someone who seriously wants to get into a Mopar, that’s the way to go. Light, durable, and proven, a clean A-body is a great platform.
Now, leave it to a Mustang guy in Canada to find one of the cleanest Darts in existence. Left hidden since 1995, this 1971 Swinger is the quintessential A-body: Slant six, that iconic grille, small bumpers, vent windows, and odd for an A-body where anywhere salt has been used, seemingly no rust whatsoever. The question is then…now what? This car’s about 50 years old, and it looks like it’s been parked in a climate-controlled garage for forty-eight years, then moved to a dusty shed for the last two. Do you leave it alone? Because as wicked as a hot small-block Dart can be, a dead-nuts stock Dart Swinger with a stock six might actually be better in the long run. Oh, decisions, decisions….
Go and find a 71-73 charger with a small Block as original as you can. I had one old Man garage find 72 charger 318. It was by far the most comfortable and best handeling car i have ever owned. I could Cruise along on the freeway all day long and keep up with modern traffic with no issues. I only needed normal attention and service and used as a dayli driver and always started right up with a Nice rumble, working heater and aircon no rattles or misbehaving. I loved that car and i wish i still had it. Had to sell due to illness. No bullshit you will love every minut off it.
these things are an absolute riot with a 383
How much