1971 Dodge Dart Canadian Special 340. LL23H1R263395

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j061093409

1970 Dart Swinger 340 Reg
Joined
Nov 6, 2005
Messages
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Location
Wethersfield, CT
I purchased this Crosstown Special from the same owner of my 1972 Dart Canadian Special 340. I have been chasing these Canadian Specials since 1991. I started the D.A.R.T.S. Club in 1987 and published “ScatChat” newsletter which went all over the World as I advertised in Mopar Action magazine. I created a pen pal with Kori Alexander, owner of a 1970 Dart Swinger 340 - PINK car. He worked at a Dodge Dealership and started sending me photos of these cars that came in for service. All the photos that have been posted on the internet came from Kori to me and I sent showed them to Franco and he posted them on his website. I had Registries for 1967-1972 Darts & Demons. I have really only kept the 1970 Dart Swinger 340 active along with the Canadian Specials Registries. When the 1970 Dart Swinger 340’s were selling for $5000, these were selling for $8000 plus transportation costs from Canada to Connecticut in the US! My 1972 Special is almost complete, needs interior and glass installation so I have some time to document this restoration. Hope you enjoy my journey.

This car has been waiting since the Spring of 2013 to get my attention. I have been purchasing NOS parts for both cars since 2013. This is the last Crosstown car from the May 7, 1971 batch. The attached photos are from August, 2016 after showing the car @ Moparfest in New Hamburg, Ontario Canada. I hope to get the body into the body shop this Spring. The car is EV2, 4 speed, no hood scoop car.

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This car is originally Hemi Orange, EV2, with a black interior. As you can see the previous owners changed the body color. Parts have been added from several cars. I have a complete parts car for date coded glass, dash cluster with wiring and some parts that I don’t know what I will need! This car has a non-matching drivetrain. I will know more when it is removed. I am looking for original engine & transmission, assuming to to be in Alberta Canada!

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Cool. I just read about those in the latest Mopar Collectors Guide.
 
I have the original thermoquad carburetor, intake, radiator, NOS manifolds, master cylinder all ready for the car. I am looking for information on fenders for late 1971 built Darts. If you have original fenders on your Dart, I would like some photos of the bolt mounting to accompany the build date. Here is what I am looking for in the attached photos. These look to be early 1971 fenders as they look like my 1970 fenders

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This is going to be a great thread to follow! Sounds like you’re going to restore this Special to glory it deserves given how rare they are. The fact you’ve been interested/aware of them for a few decades is cool too. I spent a few years living in Edmonton in the 80’s and drove by the legendary Crosstown Motors dealership on a regular basis then.... many years after these gems were brand new on the lot.
 
I have the original thermoquad carburetor, intake, radiator, NOS manifolds, master cylinder all ready for the car. I am looking for information on fenders for late 1971 built Darts. If you have original fenders on your Dart, I would like some photos of the bolt mounting to accompany the build date. Here is what I am looking for in the attached photos. These look to be early 1971 fenders as they look like my 1970 fenders

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I have the original fenders on my EV2 70 Dart. I'm not sure if that'll help, but I can take pictures if you want.
 
Very cool indeed! Where did you ever find those fender emblems?
 
My 1972 Special has all NOS Parts plus all date coded! I travel the continent, US & Canada looking for Parts! I have Parts books so I look up the part numbers and start hunting. I have 35 years of NOS Dart Parts that I am starting to sell off to pay for these builds.

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Good stuff ! I also have a 71 Crosstown 340 Swinger Special. FJ6-GoGreen, auto. Engine is built. I’m also accumulating parts. The car is scheduled to go in for body and paint this fall. I’m setting it up to race at the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags.

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You're doing a great job restoring those rare Darts. I'll search in my stash, I might have som NOS parts for you.
 
Great to see your starting on your 71 Special Joel, I hope that 72 gets finished this summer so you can enjoy it while the 71 goes to the bodyshop. I don't know if we will ever be able to get your car or cars into the group shot

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considering we live so darn far apart. There is going to be a Western Canada Mopar show ( Western Mopar Madness – Western Canada All Mopar Car Show and Racing ) this summer where maybe we can double the length of this line of 340 Specials. I'll be watching your thread closely for any updates.

Cheers brother
 
Hey, hey, hey Joel - glad to see you starting your '71 Crosstown Swinger 340 Special build string here - will be great seeing the progress and the in's and out's of these ultra rare little Western Canadian only order 'H' code Swingers.
As everyone might know, the Swinger 340 was discontinued after the '70 model year but Crosstown Motor City in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada had the clout at that time to coerce a hand full of these '71 and '72 Swinger 340 Specials out of head office - making for some very rare muscle cars that weren't supposed to exist.

For everything you'd want to know about these little muscle Mopars, check out our website at:

www.swinger340specials.ca
 
Made a road trip to Pennsylvania on Sunday and traded my mint early 71 fenders for late model year Demon fenders. At body shop getting undercoating removed and getting Swinger Special emblem holes added.
 
Hey Joel
Cleaned that area you mentioned on the inner front apron on my 70 dart
Lo and behold there was the partial Vin
Matches trunk rail and build sheet
Thanks
See you at Carlisle
 
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