I have a decade+ long resto project nearing completion, so it seems fitting to start documenting the journey.
I guess it began all the way back in 1970, when my dad special ordered his first new car. A Dodge Dart Swinger, 225 slant six, 3 speed manual on the floor, rallye suspension, disc brakes, sway bar, green with tan interior, tinted glass... a bit of an odd ball combo that that I bet was pretty damn rare. Being a father of 3 young boys all under age 5, he opted for a bit of practicality over his true desire to check the 340 and the 4-speed boxes.
Nonetheless, it was a great car which served the family well for years. As a testament to its virtual indestructability, years later the car survived three teenage boys learning to drive a stick shift, and then driving a stick shift. My dad reclaimed posession of his car from the kids somewhere in the late 80's. He was using it as a commuter when one day the car decided it was done... a leaking fuel line led to a massive engine fire that took the car out of service.
Though we were definately fans of Mopar muscle back then, neither one of us were in a place where we even thought about restoring this car. Instead, dad sold it for $100. Yep, $100. What a gold mine in parts for only $100!
Anyway, as we rolled into the late 90's, the Mopar itch flared up, and my dad and I started shopping for a joint venture "investment". We landed a '69 Road Runner that was maybe 70% restored, and completed that project resulting in a clean cruiser that usually does well in the local shows.
I guess that B-Body, nice as it is, didn't really scratch the old Dart itch for us. I think it was '02 when we found our subject car for this thread: A 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger, 340, 4-speed car.... the car dad would have bought new if he had the means. This one had lived a hard life. Rust was not it's problem. The body was a bit beat down, some glass was missing, and the interior was non-existent. The electrical system was totally butchered. There was a partially disassembled 273 under the hood... but the numbers matching 340 short block was in the passenger compartment, and the original 4 speed 883 and 8.75 rear were in place. Most importantly, the fender tag proved it was an original 340 4 speed car, in B5 blue, with bumble bee stripe, performance hood paint and more. And so began the undertaking of our biggest resto project to date.
I guess it began all the way back in 1970, when my dad special ordered his first new car. A Dodge Dart Swinger, 225 slant six, 3 speed manual on the floor, rallye suspension, disc brakes, sway bar, green with tan interior, tinted glass... a bit of an odd ball combo that that I bet was pretty damn rare. Being a father of 3 young boys all under age 5, he opted for a bit of practicality over his true desire to check the 340 and the 4-speed boxes.
Nonetheless, it was a great car which served the family well for years. As a testament to its virtual indestructability, years later the car survived three teenage boys learning to drive a stick shift, and then driving a stick shift. My dad reclaimed posession of his car from the kids somewhere in the late 80's. He was using it as a commuter when one day the car decided it was done... a leaking fuel line led to a massive engine fire that took the car out of service.
Though we were definately fans of Mopar muscle back then, neither one of us were in a place where we even thought about restoring this car. Instead, dad sold it for $100. Yep, $100. What a gold mine in parts for only $100!
Anyway, as we rolled into the late 90's, the Mopar itch flared up, and my dad and I started shopping for a joint venture "investment". We landed a '69 Road Runner that was maybe 70% restored, and completed that project resulting in a clean cruiser that usually does well in the local shows.
I guess that B-Body, nice as it is, didn't really scratch the old Dart itch for us. I think it was '02 when we found our subject car for this thread: A 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger, 340, 4-speed car.... the car dad would have bought new if he had the means. This one had lived a hard life. Rust was not it's problem. The body was a bit beat down, some glass was missing, and the interior was non-existent. The electrical system was totally butchered. There was a partially disassembled 273 under the hood... but the numbers matching 340 short block was in the passenger compartment, and the original 4 speed 883 and 8.75 rear were in place. Most importantly, the fender tag proved it was an original 340 4 speed car, in B5 blue, with bumble bee stripe, performance hood paint and more. And so began the undertaking of our biggest resto project to date.
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