Is there anything special to look out for when inspecting a 1970 Dart Swinger?

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I paid ten for my dart
Other then old people dents it's never been hacked..
But here I am throwing $$$$$$ at it just to
Make it mine
 
If the body WAS done right everything else could be sorted out then it's not a bad price
Thats a big if
 
Its not too bad a deal I'm thinking, it would be nice if the trans linkage issue was addressed. As mentioned though a 727 904 etc can be rebuilt rather affordably if needed.
 
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It’s likely going to boil down to how badly you want a project car and for what price? Any older car will require fixing a few problems or unfinished business the previous owner(s) never tackled. The question is how many problems will you encounter and are they a reason why the seller is trying to get rid of the car?

That Dart looks like it’s been given some lipstick and is ready for another rip around the block before needing more applied.
 
On one hand yeah its been done up but on the other its 55 years old what do you expect for 15 K? It would cost alot more to buy a hulk H code swinger that's all there and "do it right..."this car ya buy it and drive it... and don't nit pick much...go to the cruise maybe even drag race it a few times...there is a modern day 2025 value here that not many are seeing.
 
I don't understand why the op is considering spending $12k or more on an unknown car with potentially big problems instead of spending the money on the car you already have and know well?

If it was me I would buy something that would get me through for the short term and work on the El Camino whenever time/money allows.
Just my .02.
 
Yeah that's sort of what I'm hinting at the cost of working on one vs buying one and driving it. I bought mine in the 90s when they were cheap I wouldn't consider doing a car now even if I was a young man not for what it costs today. Think about an unrestored 55 year old car today that wasnt garage kept even from arizona...it needs everything. But OP I think id check for frame rail rot...rockers etc. sometimes they bondo the frame rail not cool IMO
 
All, I appreciate al the feedback and comments. Some of the things pointed out were things I haven't considered yet and have given me much more food for thought.

I'll try and explain my thought process and interest in the car for those who are saying to "just buy a project car and do it yourself" or stating that the car for sale isn't worth more than $7,500. I'm in my mid-thirties with a young family (toddlers). I simply don't have the time or financial ability to do a project car of my own in the foreseeable future. I've had my El Camino since I was 15 and while it's mechanically sound, it is in desperate need of a repaint and new interior to make it what I want. I'm not trying to make anything show car worthy, but would like to have a car that I enjoy cruising in and is in decent enough condition to take to local cars & coffee gatherings. I would easily need to dump another $10k or more into my El Camino to get it to a state I'd be happy enough with it. Out here in California, just the paint and interior work that was done to this Dart was easily more than $7,500 (unless you have the ability to do this work yourself).

On the other hand, even in its condition, I think I could probably sell my El Camino for ~$10-12K given comparable ones I've seen for sale locally in the last year. So my original idea was that I could swap vehicles to one that is nearly done for a net investment of only a few thousand bucks more. Yes, there are some clear red flags with this Dart. It was obviously always planned to be a flip job by the seller given that he openly stated this in his ad. As of right now, I have no way of knowing if it actually had decent body/paint work done to it or if it was painted in his garage with a HF gun and implement paint from Tractor Supply. Unless the seller can provide receipts, I can only go by what he tells me and see how it looks in person. As to the styling of the car, I get that the seller made some interesting choices that veer far from OEM. Style is subjective and honestly I like some of the things the seller did to this car better than if it were restored to original design. The mechanical unknowns is what bothers me the most with this car. I agree with the comments that this seller looks to be an active car flipper. So I wouldn't be surprised if some shoddy works been done and I don't buy the "just need linkages adjusted" excuse for the transmission.

The Dart is a little over an hour away from me so I'm not sure yet if I'm even going to pull the trigger to go check it out. I'll be giving it more thought going into the weekend.
 
Yea i get it
My 69 was bought as a driver
Have a few project cars and just wanted a cool classic a could drive
Have the body done and drive
Tired of looking for parts for my shop truck that was bought as a driver...now the cab is off and everything has been stripped to the frame
My 50 pu can't find a brake drum to save my life
My autounion.never even seen a nother ..every thing is I search.....
Until the kid said we need a muscle car
Thats when I started shopping for a build
At least everything has been easy to find
So starting with a driver even if it needs sorting is easier then a build
 
Young family with toddlers, and don't have the financial ability to do a project car ? With all due respect, it sounds like you have way more to concentrate on than to buy a clapped out car with an asking price of 3 times what its worth. Save your money on this one.
 
kevink5516 said:
All, I appreciate al the feedback and comments. Some of the things pointed out were things I haven't considered yet and have given me much more food for thought.

I'll try and explain my thought process and interest in the car for those who are saying to "just buy a project car and do it yourself" or stating that the car for sale isn't worth more than $7,500. I'm in my mid-thirties with a young family (toddlers). I simply don't have the time or financial ability to do a project car of my own in the foreseeable future. I've had my El Camino since I was 15 and while it's mechanically sound, it is in desperate need of a repaint and new interior to make it what I want. I'm not trying to make anything show car worthy, but would like to have a car that I enjoy cruising in and is in decent enough condition to take to local cars & coffee gatherings. I would easily need to dump another $10k or more into my El Camino to get it to a state I'd be happy enough with it. Out here in California, just the paint and interior work that was done to this Dart was easily more than $7,500 (unless you have the ability to do this work yourself).

On the other hand, even in its condition, I think I could probably sell my El Camino for ~$10-12K given comparable ones I've seen for sale locally in the last year. So my original idea was that I could swap vehicles to one that is nearly done for a net investment of only a few thousand bucks more. Yes, there are some clear red flags with this Dart. It was obviously always planned to be a flip job by the seller given that he openly stated this in his ad. As of right now, I have no way of knowing if it actually had decent body/paint work done to it or if it was painted in his garage with a HF gun and implement paint from Tractor Supply. Unless the seller can provide receipts, I can only go by what he tells me and see how it looks in person. As to the styling of the car, I get that the seller made some interesting choices that veer far from OEM. Style is subjective and honestly I like some of the things the seller did to this car better than if it were restored to original design. The mechanical unknowns is what bothers me the most with this car. I agree with the comments that this seller looks to be an active car flipper. So I wouldn't be surprised if some shoddy works been done and I don't buy the "just need linkages adjusted" excuse for the transmission.

The Dart is a little over an hour away from me so I'm not sure yet if I'm even going to pull the trigger to go check it out. I'll be giving it more thought going into the weekend.
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If you like it, what's a few hours out your day to check it out? I say go for it. I don't think it looks too bad all things considered. If the body/paint was done well enough (not all can be show quality) and there's no hidden rust issues, most of the other little nit picky stuff some have noted can be redone at your leisure if that's your jam. Maybe do a compression test, make sure it shifts well with no abnormal rattles, or shakes. Do the brakes work, etc.? Maybe bring a jack and a couple jack stands to check out the underside. Look for rust, leaks, etc. I say go check it out. Worst case is you pass on it.
 
nutz said:
rust bad body work even if it need a trans think you could have it rebuilt for under 2k
get a paint meter to see how thick the paint is
check inner rear quarters for repairs ,rockers ,floors
check rad support for repairs , and then compression test ,how does it start cold,how dose it run hot ,........
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Completely agree, especially.. get a good paint meter and a good set of eyes.
 
Those front seats are out of a 70 Roadrunner and poorly done . The rear seat is even worse. Looks like a taxi cab rear seat. Not a fan of the door panels either. Unless you happen to like 70s style diamond pleat. Just my 2 cents.
 
Johnny Dart said:
Young family with toddlers, and don't have the financial ability to do a project car ? With all due respect, it sounds like you have way more to concentrate on than to buy a clapped out car with an asking price of 3 times what its worth. Save your money on this one.
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Johnny Dart says it best.
Pump the brakes on this car. Be patient and find a ‘no brainer’ for the same dough. They do come along every once in a while, you just have to keep on looking!
 
"clean title" doesn't mean ****

you want the plate and the last 5 of the VIN to run thru the DMV reg fee calculator online. that will tell you if any back fees are owed on the car and what it will cost to transfer and reg in your name.

if the seller's name isn't on the title, no go.
if the title has been signed by somebody else, no go
if it's been signed over and not dated from somebody else, no go

if it's not in system you need the title and the last known reg-- and they better match-- to get headed in the right direction.

if there's none of that, then you're gonna be jumping thru hoops.

vehicles no longer go off book in california after a few years. it used to be 7, it's now 10. and if any inquiry is made that flags the vin or the plate off in that time span-- even if hasn't been reg'd, the clock starts over.

if the seller won't give you the plate and the vin to run it: walk away.

all that being said, i think the price is high for what is represented in the photos. it looks a little slap dash and thrown together to flip. if you're going to spend that kinda dosh, there's much better examples out there.
 
kevink5516 said:
I'm in my mid-thirties with a young family (toddlers). I simply don't have the time or financial ability to do a project car of my own in the foreseeable future.
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i'd be very careful with that car then ity could be a real headache. i worry about the wiring behind that dash.. some real hacks out there won't know anything without seeing it in person.. those pictures suck. can see plenty wrong wich woudl scare me.... its a little over an hour away? thats nothing. go look at it in person. don't be afraid to just walk away.. he came down to 15k fast for a reason.. probably go lower too..

clean darts can still be found in that price range. it may take some time to find but they are out there.. i think i'd wait and find one a little more unmolested...
 
kevink5516 said:
I've had my El Camino since I was 15 and while it's mechanically sound, it is in desperate need of a repaint and new interior to make it what I want.

On the other hand, even in its condition, I think I could probably sell my El Camino for ~$10-12K given comparable ones I've seen for sale locally in the last year. So my original idea was that I could swap vehicles to one that is nearly done for a net investment of only a few thousand bucks more.
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I'd suggest looking up how many times the phrase " I wish I had never sold the car I had when I was 16" is used on this and many other automotive forums.
 
Well I mean really he's better off keeping the Chevy no? didn't he say its a 69? Id be finding me a 454 4 speed ...dropping it in...:)
 
4fortyDemon said:
Sounds like mechanically it's sound
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I understand wanting that Dart. But the Chevy is a nice piece will hold value . That Dart only thing Id be worried about is frame rot. Its obvious the body isn't "done right" and there is mud in it I don't think Id expect otherwise. I also don't fault it for 15 K bu tOP could take it colorsand and buff get it even more finished looking...that process alone would identify issues. The shiny er they are the more stands out.
 
Dartswinger70 said:
I understand wanting that Dart. But the Chevy is a nice piece will hold value . That Dart only thing Id be worried about is frame rot. Its obvious the body isn't "done right" and there is mud in it I don't think Id expect otherwise. I also don't fault it for 15 K bu tOP could take it colorsand and buff get it even more finished looking...that process alone would identify issues. The shiny er they are the more stands out.
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I meant the El Camino. Sorry for the mix up
 
To the OP @KevinK : Remember that old saying: "Better the devil you know..."?

In my Intro here I stated almost the same thing as you, that I'm not a Mopar guy, but I'm here to learn (yadda, yadda), and in my opinion, given my 18 months of "vast experience" (insert snicker here), my advice would be this: Run! Keep your Elko, and just run. I don't have a "Mopar eye", but even I can spot all sorts of issues with this thing.

And I get that "the heart wants what it wants"! Believe me, I do! But as so wisely stated somewhere above, you'll be trading your problems (your El Camino) for someone else's....

If you love the looks of this car, great! (I think they can be positively Bad ***, myself!) But in my opinion it all boils down to this: You don't know what's wrong with this car, you don't have Mopar knowledge and/or experience, you have a young family, and you do know what's wrong with your Elko/what it needs.

I dunno (sucking air through my teeth here). Seems like a "no brainer" to me.

Best of luck to you!

And, oh: Welcome aboard!

Jim
 
kevin said:
I'm in my mid-thirties with a young family (toddlers). I simply don't have the time or financial ability to do a project car of my own in the foreseeable future.
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i somehow missed this tidbit of information on the first pass.

buy the most complete and "done" car that you can. if you buy a project it will stay a project because your focus will be on your family.

in your situation a project car is black hole of financial ruin, lost time and frustration. pay bigger money on something better that's more original, complete and a driver.
 
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