(pictures used with kind permission of oldparkedcars.com)
Some of you might remember the more “classic” American car I alluded to in my previous article. Those of you who were hoping for a 1957 Bel-Air hardtop may be disappointed. Instead I give you a rusty 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger; hey, at least it’s a hard top!
I still recall when I first laid eyes on this car. I was helping my friend Peter with his coffee cart business that was located outside our State capitol building. Our friends owned another cart in another area of the capitol and the two carts shared the same storage area. I was putting things away when I saw my old friend Jerry who ran the other cart some of the time pull up in a gold Dart hardtop. I was a bit surprised because he had always bought beater mini trucks and busted up Japanese cars. So I asked him how he came to own it. He told me a friend of his sold it to him for three hundred dollars. I immediately asked him if he would sell it to me and he said, “no way”! I was in love with it and I told him right there that it would some day be mine.
Well that day did eventually come. Jerry got a better more practical car and sold me the Dart. He charged me four hundred and I was glad to pay it, even knowing he paid three.
Now I did mention the rust. Most of the rear drivers side quarter panel rocker area was rusted away and there was some other small spots around the car, strangely the passenger side was just fine. It was a two-door hardtop with the 225 slant six and an automatic transmission, and the back tires may have been the original Goodyear Silverstones. The bench seats were covered in Naugahyde, the shifter was on the column, and the ashtray was chrome; can it get anymore classic American chic’ than that? Sure it bordered on kitsch like a 1970’s gold fleck finish Formica and chrome table. But it in my mind it was a bit more chic’ than kitsch.
Of course it had a few more issues than rust. For one thing it ran very rich, so driving with the windows down was a gas, literally. But I fixed that problem when me and my friend Bill found an old Volare in the woods on an outing. I stole pulled the carburetor and rebuilt it, fitted it to the Dart and no more rich running. But there were also the ball joints. They were so bad that the front tires were needing to be replaced after only about a thousand miles of driving. I never did fix them though, it was to much trouble.
Despite those problems I drove it to work and back everyday, a little commute of about twenty miles round trip. I was aware that there were more practical cars, cars that handled better, cars that had more power, cars that got better mileage, cars that were more comfortable, and cars that were all of the above. But every time I started thinking that way I would have a “hardtop experience”.
What is an “hardtop experience” you might wonder. Well it goes like this; the sun is out, the windows are down, the AM radio is playing Maybelline. I am looking for a parking spot downtown, the slant six under the hood idles around nine-hundred rpm with an unmistakable domestic basso vibrato. My arm rests on the chrome window molding receiving the warm sun on the top of my hand and a gentle breeze on the bottom of it. And I think to myself, this is allot better than driving a buzzing VW around like a little tin golf cart on steroids. That is a a hardtop moment.
And that is why I kept that old car as long as I did. Driving it, I suddenly realized why people drive American sedans. Suddenly the laurels that my previous LTD were resting on appeared to me as if a light was switched on in my head. It all came rushing in to me, the rides in the back of my Aunt’s Buick wagon to the ice cream shop, the back seat of a Checker Marathon taxi cab in Minneapolis, my Uncle’s big gold two door in the hot Tennessee sun. And for a time I lost any interest in driving any econoboxes, hot hatches, or rice-rockets.
But I am fundamentally an oxymoronic, pragmatic sentimentalist. So eventually I convinced myself that it was not practical (it was not) and sold it to get something more so. But did I get that same experience in the “new” car? No, but I did get other experiences like front tires that lasted, better than fifteen miles per gallon fuel economy, better handling, better seats, and a radio that got FM. Yet still, I miss that old Dart. Would I buy another? Nope, I would not; I am happy to miss it. Like so many other cars (especially large American ones) it lives on better in one’s memory than in real life.
Like so many other cars (especially large American ones) it lives on better in one’s memory than in real life.
Sadly and likely, yes. But for those of us in the CC Comentariat, this is nostolgia central.
I strongly disagree with that statement. I thought this was a good writeup til I got to the last paragraph. To blame this car’s maladies on cars of this era is totally unfair.
This car was a worn-out beater when Mr.Freeman bought it, and it didn’t receive the effort required to return it to mechanical fitness. In my opinion, he had little right to complain about poor handling an a propensity to burn out tires if replacing the worn out balljoints was “too much trouble”. Similarly with the poor fuel economy, the carb was either misadjusted or worn out from age. The reader can only assume that maintenance of the ignition system was similarly neglected.
My thoughts were aimed big American cars from the past in general. Sadly, they are not at all practical, but no, I cannot drive myself to own a new plastic car with no-repairable components etc. Given the choice between a new Chevy Impala and an old one I would certainly take the old one, but I would be foolish to do so. I can accept that. It is far from me disliking such cars, I love them.
I loved mine and yes, it only got 15mpg, but it was as reliable as a stone and when I was driving mine circa 1990, gas was like 45 cents a litre.
I really don’t understand why people complain about fuel economy on beaters cars. Want fuel economy? Go pop $30,000 on a Prius!
We have no idea how much you pay for gas. We do gallons.
4.5 litres to a real gallon,3.8 per US baby gallon
Yes, I believe there is one country that uses that “gallon” thing. All the rest of them are wrong.
+1
@BigOldChryslers, I also felt that Mr. Freeman was getting to that idea of cars being better in our memories than they were in real life. I’m not saying that old American Iron can’t be something cool to drive right now, and yes it is very dependant on the prior maintance that was done and how much you’re willing to do yourself. My fiance wants to have a large family and her all time favorite “family hauler” is one of the square Suburbans that Michael decried in another article, but because I’m someone who doesn’t mind rolling up his sleeves, getting dirty, and learning a new skill I’m seriously considering her owning one at some point in the future and me doing the “restoration” and repair.
Let’s put it this way: My Celebrity is a much better car in my memory than it ever was when I had the keys in my hands. Now that doesn’t mean it was a “bad” car, it just means that nostolgia makes it sweeter. Same goes for my 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
IIRC, the Mopar ball joints of that time were very easy to replace. Weren’t those the ones that screwed in? Much easier than chiseling off a bunch of rivets…
Would be better in real life if you would have cared to address the issues that it had.
It was a beaten, rusty $300 car….
The slant six was always a satifying drive in a simple, low expectations sort of way.
No stains under the gas cap? Quite an achievement!
Great write-up, Michael. The hardtop experience is tops – the best way to enjoy a scenic drive is with about eight feet of panoramic open window framing the countryside.
(Cheerfully ignoring the wind and water leaks and the loosely hung 100 pound doors…)
I had a 1971 Scamp, which is apparently the car that the 1973 Swinger’s back bumper trained on. It had been my parents’ car and shared the driveway with a 1966 Coronet 440 2 door hardtop in my earliest memories. I guess Mom and Dad liked the hardtop experience too, but I really don’t remember the windows of the air-conditioned Scamp ever being rolled down until it was handed down to my sister and I.
The ’67-’76 Dart/Valiant were the all-American compact – well proportioned, tossable, great sight lines.
Sort of the 2000 Accord – competent but invisible.
But the 2000 (why not 1998-2002?) Accord was dependable.
1998-2002 will do. To me the greatest generation of Accord before they got all funky designed and/or huge.
Can you name anything else from the late ’60s / early ’70s that was as reliable and durable as a Slant Six powered A body?
My first car was a ’66 Valiant with the “Super 225” / Torquflite that was a hand me down from my parents and it never needed any powertrain work the entire time it was in our family – which was almost 25 years of regular use.
It needed tuneups from time to time, but other than that it was bombproof – it was still running the original alternator when I got rid of it in the early ’90s…
“Can you name anything else from the late ’60s / early ’70s that was as reliable and durable as a Slant Six powered A body?”
1. A Slant-Six powered ANYTHING!
2. Any International Harvester
3. Six-cylinder Ford Mavericks
4. Any OHV-six powered AMC
I owned a ’69 Valiant 4-dr. in the ’90’s. 225 I-6/auto. Paid $300.00 Forest green w/matching interior. One of the torsion bar mounts was rusted out. I bought a rear coilover kit, and put one on the driver’s side shock absorber – evened things out nicely, drove great until my son picked up a new hood ornament – a ’94 Chevy Caprice.
You read my mind, Dave, I have a history in the works on the All-American Six. These could be the greatest.
In my observation, Portland has more Dodge Darts running around than any other single model from that era. I drive all over the city, so I have a pretty good idea of what’s out there.
The number two spot seems to be held by various Ramblers.
Curiously, I’ve seen very few Valiants/Scamps and no Dusters/Demons. Maybe they didn’t sell as many of those in the first place.
Same here (in Eugene). I long quit shooting them, unless they happen to be of some particularly unique configuration. I’m holding out for a Feather Duster.
The really are the most recommendable entry level American Curbside Classic.
I don’t get why Falcons are more commonplace here in the Bay Area. The Valiant/Dart seem far more competent, and generally had engines better suited to actual driving. Like over hills at 30mph.
I’m surprised there are fewer Dusters to be seen. From 1970-1974, Plymouth sold about 150,000 more Dusters a year than they did Valiants, making the Duster the best selling A-body of the era by far. There were more Dusters sold than all forms of the Dart and Demon combined from 1971-1974.
I see a bunch of Darts/Valiants in East Portland (3-4 or so during a drive around), but in North Portland I only see one on a regular basis.
I hear Falcons are a hipster car of choice for the Bay Area so that explains their multiple numbers driving around.
“Hey, at least it’s a hard top!”
You bet your sweet bippy it is!
My father-in-law had one, a Valiant. Bright green with a dark green vinyl top and green interior! I believe his had the 318. Of course, the doors felt as if they were made of cardboard. In fact, whether a Duster or Dart with pop-open rear windows or the pillarless model style, all these felt that way. Still, they were nice looking cars, but to compare them to your average Nova, there was no comparison as to quality.
Wow, we got this far down in the comments before you chimed in! I thought for sure you’d be number one or two…
Various friends and family members had one a Valiant at one time or another, I’m familiar with several iterations of the car. As a young boy, I just could not fathom the appeal of a 4 door, six cylinder car, I thought everything should be a hot rod. Probably because I was reading Hot Rod magazine more than I was doing my homework back then…
I remember them as solid, but light cars. Mostly because my father always drove midsize and larger Mercurys, and most everything was lighter than a Monterey or Montego…
“Probably because I was reading Hot Rod magazine more than I was doing my homework back then…”
You actually did homework, Geo??? Ha ha ha! Obviously I didn’t, hence my being stuck in the box business! Sure lived on Hot Rod Magazine, though!
I would be a proud shanty dweller to own the car above.
I do prefer the looks of the 2-door 1969 Dart and would giggle with glee to own one in decent to wonderful condition with a throbbing 318 under the bonnet but a slant-6 would also appease me.
Sadly… no wealth to spend on frivolities and and unable to acquire employment that would allow the embezzling of enough funds to allow acquiring my lusts then shipping those material goods to a foreign land lacking an extradition treaty with elite-class and corporate USA owned and operated USA.
Sniff.
Luckily I, the Disgruntled Old Coot, can still get his grubby paws on the occasional pile of mashed potatoes though strict (mostly) meager consuming of carb-laden comestibles has curtailed one of the last few liver-quiverin’ gustatory available.
Luckily the cauliflower and broccoli I also crave, but not as much as most Mopars and various tater types (scalloped, au gratin, mashed, baked, fried… anything but raw spuds) is allowable in pert-near limitless amounts.
These are great old cars, although I dispute your description of the one in the photos as rusty. I remember seeing these with the rear quarters missing from the top of the wheelarch back, and the front wings becoming detached at the rear and lifting up doing what a mate termed the ‘flying nun’ look.
However, I did have a great ’74 Duster, that I purchased in Denver for $400 in 1995. It was totally rust free, 70K miles, and ran perfectly. However, it was more of a stripper than any floozy in in the Reeperbahn. I don’t think there was one option specified. It had drum brakes, bias ply tires, single speed wipers, rubber floor mats, vinyl upholstery, cardboard headlining, and to top it off, a 3 on the tree manual. I loved that car, and it is the single car that I regret selling more than anything. Having had problems with stalling (later knowledge indicates this was nothing worse than a ballast resistor), I sold it on in Kansas City for $800, thinking I made a killing. I’m sure its now had its slant six removed and has been turned into a muscle car selling for $20K or more.
I live in the UK now, and would love a mostly rust free slant six Valiant/Dart/Duster/Scamp from the west coast. Preferably either the previously mentioned feather duster, or a ’76 Scamp Brougham with velour upholstery.
The one in the pics was from oldparkedcars.com I never took any pics of mine, it was significantly more rusty on the rear quarter
Valiants were sold in the UK – probably no longer rust free however…
A high school friend of mine picked up a 71 Duster from an elderly lady for $500 back aroud 1991 or 92. Aside from a bad repaint and the Naugahyde seat covers it was in great shape.
Even with a 2bbl, header and 2.25″ dual exhaust performance from the 225 was less than exciting.. For a couple of teenagers cruising around on a friday night it did the trick.
An oddity with the 73-76 Darts is that they share a hood with the 69 Baracuda.
What the 2bbl Slant Six lacked in power, it made up for in torque. I love, and I mean love, the torque of that motor. I have never experienced anything so good in the torque department before or since that motor.
IIRC, peak torque on the 225 was about 1800 rpm, and it was still pretty gutty a ways up from that. I’m right there with you on the love for that motor. It also had a sound that was unlike anything else, particularly when the valves had not been adjusted in awhile and had that soft clatter.
The lifter tick was very soothing. That was a unique sound for sure!
With the 225 the party was over at like 3000 rpm as the piston speeds were too high. In the early, lighter cars, the 170 was actually a better motor.
And let’s not forget that rattling heat riser that all Slant Sixes displayed!
We never got the 170 cid motor the 225 was the only option until the VC when the 273 V8 was introduced.
I loved the torque curve of that motor.
My favorite cheap performance trick (for warm weather only) was to add a second heat shield gasket under the carb, which put close to an inch of gasket between carb and manifold. It eliminated hard hot starting (which was why I tried it), and had the unintended consequence of permitting a significant timing advance without knocking. Spec was 0 degrees btdc, but I could run mine at as much as 10 degrees btdc without a bit of knock. I would advance it until I got knocking on acceleration, then back it off a bit. That really brightened up performance on the car and improved fuel mileage as well. Of course, I had to revert back to a stock gasket during cold weather for the car to run properly.
Ah nice old Val but what would be a 60s version out this way Good cars except for a tendancy to rust these old things clattered along for years rare to see a live one now though. Chrysler in the south pacific updated the Valiant in 71 with a new body and a new motor the Hemi6 in 215, 145 & 265 cubic inch a 318 might be bullet proof but a healthy 265 will blow it away easily and the E38/49 variety 6 was the fastest 6 cylinder car untill BMW got their act going in the 90s.
I drove a ’73 Dart Swinger for the best part of a year during my Shady Used Car Salesman days. It was one of the coolest examples I have ever seen, too. For example, the previous owner (who traded it on a Cougar XR-7 sled of all things) had swapped out the interior of a 1967 Dart GT, with the black buckets and chrome floor shifter. He also had put in a new, I repeat NEW 225 Super Six 2bbl. The car car was faded red with black vinyl top and had not a speck of rust on it, being a Victoria car. It even had a killer (for the day) stereo system.
The best part I got the car for free. It was quickly christened the Cruisemobile and all my friends loved it. It was totally reliable and the Super Six fantastically torquey. What a car! For example, one day I took the wheels off to look at the drum brake and all four wheels had new everything! What a fool to trade it on a gas hog Ford sled! Soon after he came around and wanted it back. No dice!
I loved it as I said but my boss started to pressure me to sell it, as we had got it for free. The car was worth money so it had to go. I eventually sold it to a crazy girlfriend I was dating for $1300, market price but the car was worth more. This girl, although rather attractive, was a real bag of snakes. She promptly accused me of ripping her off and then parked in her next boyfriend’s (who paid all her bills and smoked her up, just like I had been doing) garage, were it sat uninsured. After a year, it was towed away and sold for scrap.
Then I got a 1980 Rabbit Diesel with a blown engine, an swapped a turbo-diesel into it. Also a great car but another story.
I think you are going to have to take over for me when I run out of cars!
My father had one of these (of course well before my time). He said it was quite reliable. There is still one that drives around my neighborhood, and apparently the owner has taken care of the rust…
I owned a 71 Plymouth Scamp from about 1980 to 1985. At that time, it set an ownership record, and broke me from my new-car-twice-a-year pattern. Tawney Gold metallic (that brownish gold that was so popular on early 70s Mopars) with a black vinyl roof and beige interior. Slant 6, Torqueflite and power steering (so that you could park it by spinning the wheel with your pinkie.)
This was the car I fell in love with and kicked the 59 Fury out of the driveway. I bought it at about 100K and paid $800. The front fenders were rust free, though there was some rust on the rear quarters. The car had some issues from age and mileage, but it was kind of like an automotive Rudy.
This was my college and law school car, and I could not have asked for a better one given the budget. This was the car that taught me the virtues of the slant 6. Even at 145K at the end of its time with me, it idled smooth as a baby’s butt at 750 rpm. Unlike Michael, I would own another one of these in a heartbeat.
One note – the pictured car is certainly a 73 or newer (no vent panes in the doors) but wears a 71-72 Plymouth Scamp back bumper (the Dart had 2 taillights per side)
It must be a ’73- small rear bumper, 5mph front bumper.
My Dart Swinger had armstrong steering and it had to be like six turns lock to lock. Sure was a lot of wheeling to drive it!
“strangely the passenger side was just fine…”
My answer is: Street-parked car!
The driver’s side facing traffic gets a lot more spray tossed its way. (You can speed up the reaction with a nice salty aerosol, midwestern-style…)
All cars get more salt exposure on the driver’s side. The opposing traffic kicks up a salt spray that hits the left side of the car as you drive. If you want to see real rust, try a heated garage.
Good call
A high school friend’s father owned a ’72 Scamp from new that was nearly identical to this car. It was a lot of fun for a couple of 16-year-old kids, but his dad passed away shortly after and the car disappeared a few years later. I never did find out what happened to it, or the ’73 Coronet that was purchased about the same time.
i had a virtually identical beater dart in dark green that i picked up right after college. i especially loved that the windshield spritzer was powered by a rubber bulb under the floor mat.
Michael, you totally nailed it for me. Mine was the ’73 Nova hardtop coupe I drove daily long ago. It was a total beater, dead reliable, and it had that great American hardtop feeling. I wouldn’t own one now (unless I could be a collector) but I sure do miss it.
Nicely done.
At least someone else sees it that way! Thanks
My Mom had a ’72 Gold Duster that she bought from I think the original owner back in ’76 in like new condition. She only kept it until 1978 when it went to my middle sister i trade for her ’76 bright yellow 142 Volvo 2 door and my parents took over the payments.
The duster was metallic brown, had gold stripping, gold vinyl roof and vinyl interior and I think it had the 225 slant 6 with torqueflight automatic.
It was a great car that one was.
However, I’ve been witness to and have driven some that were very much clapped out (some extremely so) as company cars for Domino’s Pizza when I worked there. It was a franchise and rumor was the mechanic had a Dart or Duster and would buy new parts for the company car, put it on his car and put the used part on the company car, no wonder they barely held together. Doors on one kept flying open upon cornering, one car had its frame crack and brakes on another were marginally effective (primarily forward), but they kept on running though.
Speaking of torque, it’s why Dodge put the new 225 slant 6 in the first generation Darts (1960-62) and the later Darts and the “full size” Dodges like the base 330 and bit better trimmed 440 sedan, coupe and wagons (they were related to the Polara). My parents had a ’64 Dodge 330 wagon with that motor and the push button torqueflite automatic that they bought new in ’64 and sold it or so Mom says, in ’77 with over 140K original miles on it, ran but not reliable anymore and had major rust, thanks to the salt air of Jacksonville and the salt air of the beaches here in Washington St (the wagon was bought in Jacksonville in the summer of ’64 and we lived there for a year and a half roughly in 68-69 before moving back to Washington State).
Other than the transmission dying on us coming back from Yakima in Eastern Washington in I think 1973, it’s been super reliable most of the time we had it. Got their monies worth out of it!
Thanks for another great write-up Michael – amusing and informative as always!
Thanks
Also…Maybeline? In a 70’s car?
Doesnt work for me, I would got with Mongo Jerry, in the Summertime.
These were great, great cars. As BigOldChryslers will attest during the 1980’s there seemed to be one in every other driveway in our area.
The slant six and other mechanical bits were bomb proof and would last forever.
Bodies were good for about 10 years in the salty north. What was really amazing about A-body cars was how little metal could be left and they would still be on the road. Once the torsion bar mounts rusted out that was it. We used to regularly see Darts in their death throes with one front corner scraping the ground.
As Iacocca said, they never should have stopped making them.
I agree completey
I think (meaning the car is in my friend’s mom’s garage and I have not seen it for 6 years) I own one the same color. 318,disc brakes, 80k. CA car..Maybe i should see if it still there?
Ahhh…Monument Valley – my wife and I loved it when we visited in 2002.
The rear bumper with the single lights on each side originated with the 1970 Dart. My parents had one, in dark green (of course!) with a dark green vinyl interior (of course!).
My law school car in the mid-80’s was a 1972 Valiant 4-door, Slant Six, Torqueflite, power steering but manual brakes (two feet on the pedal for a panic stop!), pale yellow with the dark green vinyl interior. It had over 150K miles, would start in the coldest weather no problem, but would not re-start if it was warm. I used to carry an extra key and just lock it and leave it running when I did short errands. Either that or wait a half hour for it to cool down enough to start. Loved that car!
I think I shared this clip before, but it is time to bring it up again since it has a Dart! This red one is downtown all the time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3uqENJsYzM
This clip also has a Dart as well as some other cool rides that I often see parked outside a local Mopar restoration shop downtown. I need to ask them if I can come inside some time to shoot some of their projects,
My first car was a Dart, 1965, a milk truck had rammed it in the back, it had sat outside for 2 years in Westchester County, fallen laves had etched themselves into the roof. I drove it for a few months in the city, unregistered with some old plates on it,. I was young and really ignorant about registering cars. I then got a 69 Dart (sort of metallic blue) that literally saved my life in a blizzard by not conking out even when the engine room was filled with snow. … -20° in Quebec , the thing started without a cough. I sold it for personal reasons, the buyer crashed it. I had a Mustang that was a piece of crap, I lived under it fiddling, fiddling, then another 67 Dart…. I lent it to my idiot sister telling her to check the oil and the tranny oil as well, she brought it back after a month or so and said there was a light on the dash that didn’t go out, 50 miles later the heap was at the junkyard (it was dark green) … Last one was a 73 Swinger like the one in the pic, same color, same start-up pimp look, not as great as the older Darts… When I moved to Europe, some BMW owner bought it from me as his winter car. Yes, it was good in winter. I worked an early shift at a radio station in New England… Early, like 5 a.m., and that car took me safely there all the time…. My wife drove it mostrly though. I also had a Saab 97 I found at a junkyard.
Dodge Darts … When America still made cars.
I have driven VWs since, excellent vehicles, 50 mpg. And a Merc van, 25 mpg. And now a Citroën .. all good… without the nostalgia factor (except the Merc, which I drove for 15 years)
Just sounding of nostalgically… sorry 🙂
Just got mine less than a week ago. Planning on lowering the front & possibly lifting the rear to give it a raked look. Under the hood I will be adding some bling, i.e. polished air cleaner, Edelbrock Endurashine manifold, polished valve covers, braided hoses, aluminum radiator, etc…
Interior mods may include an aftermarket steering wheel at the least 🙂
As to your question about buying another one – I fear the maintenance on these would be a challenge if I still owned mine today. I only wish I had taken more than just the handful of photos of mine that I did. Lousy film camera era. Where was digital when you needed it!