Swing me! A 1969 Dart Swinger 340 4speed in Austria, Europe

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lordoffrisco

lordoffrisco

Lord and man of honor
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
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Location
Vienna, Austria
Dear gearheads,

there was an addition to the family...:D

After careful consideration, an ongoing struggle against reason and a lot of back and forth I became a proud owner of a matching numbers 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 4speed.

I found out about the car 'cause of a good friend of mine. He owns the local Mopargarage (Doc Stinger's Mopargarage in Voitsberg, Austria - he owns and drives the Funny Car Challenger Stinger II). The story sounded adventurous: the car is in Slovenia, supposedly matching, cheap (too cheap?), but a lot needs to be done ... Somehow weeks passed and I couldn't get the car out of my head - I grew up in my fathers matching numbers 1971 Duster 340. I love this car - fast as hell! For me the best combination of performance and agility (cornering). The demand for performance was suddenly there... and finally I agreed with Doc Stinger and he drove to Slovenia to take a look at the car, because I couldn't do it (damn work) - all the numbers were checked and everything was matching. Really big thanks to Doc Stinger for the help:thankyou: - he drove to Slovenia, checked everything, checked the floor, trunk, all numbers and called me (I stood whispering in the archive at work ^^), he sent me a lot of pics... And then it was clear - he loaded it on the trailer and took it with him.

Big thanks also to my dear Mr. Papa, who helped me to undermine my reason.:thankyou:


So now to my car:
It is a real LM23 P code. LM is therefore a real swinger, the Dart Muscle Car par excellence, because the GTS had a problem with an entry price of over $3,000: the RR with $2,800. So a cheap version was needed for the young buyers: The Swinger. Cheap but fast:)

My Dart has drum brakes, no brake booster, but power steering a 340 with the 4speed transmission...

He has his strengths and weaknesses. The chrome is still very good and all the moldings are there. But the paint is really dull - but at least I can park relaxed in front of the supermarket for the first time in my life.:D

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ori look was quite different:
E55: 340-4Barrel 69-73
D21: heavy Duty 4Speed Manual Transmission
LM23: Dodge Dart/Demon - Swinger - 2 Door Hardtop
P9B: 340 275HP 1-4BBl 8Cyl - 1969 - Hamtramck
373959 Sequence Number
Farbe: F8
D2X: Deluxe - Vinyl Bench - Black
X9: Black Upper Door Frame
509: Built 5/09/1969
R11: Music Master Radio AM
V1X: Full Black Vinyl Top
V8W: Transverse Stripe White


The engine compartment still looks wild, but I already have the original air cleaner, orignal manifold, original valve cover, original intake... Thanks to Muggi's spare parts warehouse and that from my father^^ ... so the aim is: back to the original Look (terrible battery tray, that aweful heating hose, ...)
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So the first things on the to do list are: engine and the interior. Because the engine compartment is currently causing eye cancer. :( For the next years the Dart stays rocked blue, he gets old patinated Cragar: Muscle Car Day Two Look ^^ His great weakness: left rear side - there he once had a graze shot ... frame wasn't damaged.

It will certainly look like the Fender Tag again, but it will stay that way for the moment. The aim now is to bring the engine back into shape (back to an original look), as well as the interior. In the trunk is still the ori spare tire from 1969 - great condition (but of course unusable). The Dart came from Los Angeles (6400 Regio Ave; Buena Park CA 90260) to Slovenia - I sadly don't know very much about the car.

Found this pic in FABO - this is more or less like the Fender Tag and how my Dart should look. Someday my Dart will have this look again.
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I'm really looking forward to drive my 340 4speed - my first "thoroughbred" muscle car. The transverse stripe will be changed to the swinger stripe again, so that I can say: "My name is Marvin, and I'm a Swinger Guy!":D:D
 
Great story and a great starting point for sure.....It would be rude to ask what you payed for your gem but can I get a ball park of what a car in that condition sells for in Slovenia. Here that car is 15K all day long in my opinion.
 
That's quite a stable of American iron in your pictures. You are probably the envy of anyone in your area that wants American muscle.
 
Great find, my friend! Is the stripe on the car added seeing as you have a swinger? Many people would refinish the paint and keep it original unless there are issues I can't see. In case you didn't know the original exhaust manifolds for you car are quite valuable, much more than the headers on your car. It looks like you have a wonderful friend with vast mechanical knowledge. My concern is with the aftermarket intake and headers, your engine may be built to where it won't be happy with the original intake and exhaust. Just some observations to help keep you from making a mistake. Your car is already the envy of many!
 
This is DISGUSTING LOLOL Heck there are few shops that look like this in the US, either that neat or with that many cool rides!!!

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69conv said:
Great find, my friend! Is the stripe on the car added seeing as you have a swinger? Many people would refinish the paint and keep it original unless there are issues I can't see. In case you didn't know the original exhaust manifolds for you car are quite valuable, much more than the headers on your car. It looks like you have a wonderful friend with vast mechanical knowledge. My concern is with the aftermarket intake and headers, your engine may be built to where it won't be happy with the original intake and exhaust. Just some observations to help keep you from making a mistake. Your car is already the envy of many!
Click to expand...

This car was originally ordered with a white transverse stripe, but someone changed it to the GTS stripe. I want the Swinger Stripe.

Luckily I have the original exhaust manifolds - I know, they are quite expensive!:) Sadly I can't do much at the car at the moment, 'cause of corona we have a curfew in Austria...:BangHead:
 
I bet that tile floor is murder with a floor jack! I trust that good 'ol lead based paint buffs right out. I grew up here in So. Cal and never realized the "LA" plant was in Buena Park..that's actually Orange County....SE of LA County, home of Knott's Berry Farm and me!
 
lordoffrisco said:
That's our local Mopargarage (yeah there is 69 Firebird in the picture...). Check Doc Stinger out - a real cool guy!!!
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Austria ROCKS! Thanks for sharing. Many pretty big car clubs in the US can't boast that kind of a collection.
 
...Well, a lot of time has passed... and it was a challenge - but it's done!!!

Briefly the flashback:
The car came to me in February/March 2020 and the plan was to get the car back on the road in autumn 2020. But that was probably too utopian, since the car had been left standing since 1995 (last registered in California and then it was in a hall in Long Beach)... And how I cursed this car - I'll admit it honestly. I almost lost interest in the hobby for a moment. My dream of a matching numbers 340, 4speed... two personally very turbulent years privately later... I have "paid my dues" and learned a lot.

Thanks to:
But at this point I have to thank several people in advance:
1. My parents - especially my dear Mr. Papa helped me with parts and above all mentally - my dear Mrs. Mama shook her head several times - understandably.
2. Muggi - Doc Stinger's Mopar Garage in Austria. It would have been impossible without him. So much accommodating, work and parts etc. It is and will always be an amazing place to go and I am so happy to have this workshop in Austria. Such a personable knowledgeable friend and down to earth!
3. Chromwerk - Us Car Parts (especially Andi and Jockl) - helped me with parts at friendly prices and even some gifts - infinitely grateful here too.
4. Various friends who had parts. Helped me with parts from America - thanks Wolfgang here! Roger for mental coaching!^^

And, well I was frustrated and saw this season also cancelled (again for my Swinger)... - I had big problems becoming the car street legal, 'cause they didn't like the quality of the old 80s paintwork... I waited a long time... The licensing authority said to me: the paintwork is too bad, they wanted proof of the color and that the car will be painted in the next few years - which was out of the question for me because that's exactly how I wanted it... That was the point where I just wanted to get rid of the car for a short time out of anger... a lot of back and forth and I manged to get the car street legal. And last friday I got the papers and drove to get the car from Muggi back home. Roadkill special: without heating, with a Hoodie and f***ing cold feet, I drove home 130miles on the Highway at only 60mp/h... But I was just happy.

And now the car is with me - so I drove around 250miles with it over the weekend, always grinning big and it's what it is. Not perfect, yet perfect for me. A few little things will be done over the winter (e.g. fuel cap in body color or chrome, a door panel has holes - but only one ^^ ...)

What's it all about?
1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 , 4speed, 3.55 sure grip (all matching numbers!!!). The car had three extras: servo, vinyl roof (wasn't mounted when I bought it), the cheapest possible radio. Not a GTS, but a real swinger - the cheapest of the cheap... no trim, no blacked out grill, no nothing... well. Just engine and a "mighty boom".:p

And this lady is a hell of a ride - the engine has already around 450-500miles on it - the 340 with the 4 speed and 3.55 sure grip is brutal. And the day two look with the slot mags is my highlight... like in the high school parking lot in 1973 or in front of the Burger King or something like this...

but enough talking - some pics:
Engine when I bought it:
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Engine now (the ugly hose will be replaced, Fanshroud is already installed)
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The rotton interior back when I bought it:
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and now...
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And now the Highlight:
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(the '71 Duster 340 of my father)

Well, now I'm happy and have my first little racing machine, and it's rough and tough. Not something fine and shiny and that's a good thing. I have my #matching numbers street racer and I'm in love, the robust sound, the martially spartan look, the engine, the gearbox, the clutch for the leg workout...every tunnel knows I'm there.:p

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Great story!
My first Mopar was a '69 Dart Swinger that I bought used in November of 1969.
Just like yours except mine had a 727 auto trans and was R4 red with a white stripe.
I missed it after I sold it and ultimately picked up another '69 Dart that is hopefully going to be finished and back on the street soon.
Enjoy!
 
Thanks for the update!
Awesome car you have there and the story that goes with it.
Glad to hear you're having fun with it, and keep the updates coming...
 
Damn nice find! Best friend had a 69 GTS when we were in our teens, had so many good times in that car. Looking forward to hearing more about your new ride!
 
Congratulations! I remember seeing your videos a few years ago. Looked like you and your buddies were always having fun.

The struggles you had to license it are almost unbelievable. Paint quality? Color? Ha! You should see the junk running around Ohio.

Chrysler actually recommended the 340-4 speed-3.55 as the best all around combo.
 
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