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This or That: 1967 Buick GS 340 versus 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340
By Matt Litwin on Nov 17th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
1967 Buick GS 340 (top); 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 (bottom). Photos by the author.
comments: 134
In This Article
Category: Featured posts
We've all had that "if money was no object" dream; a foggy utopia where we gleefully theorize amassing a collection of vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles based on visual appeal, power, styling, comfort, rarity - or any combination thereof - all housed in a climate controlled complex complete with car lifts, workshop and 2,000-sq.ft. of living space above. Sounds better if it were a reality, but what if someone threw a monkey wrench into that dream, limiting you to adding just one vehicle a week from a matchup completely out of your control? There's a second catch: your collection was purely for enjoyment rather than an investment? This or That - our new feature - puts your ideal "money no object" collection building dreams to the test.
In our first installment of This or That, we pair a 1967 Buick GS 340 against a 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340; both former feature cars in our Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine.
Although Buick had introduced the Gran Sport name to the Skylark line as an option in mid-1965, its affordable-yet-muscular stable mate didn't appear until the 1967 season. The GS 340 was fitted with a four-barrel version of Flint's 340-cu.in. small-block engine that was rated for 260 hp and 365-lbs.ft. of torque. It was backed by a choice of a two-speed automatic or a three-speed manual that was linked to a 3.23 open or Positive Traction rear gear; 3.36 or 3.90 gear sets were offered. A beefy suspension was standard (the Sport Pac suspension was optional), as were 14-inch wheels shod with 7.75-14 tires. Power front disc brakes were optional. As to its appearance, the GS 340 was offered in White or Platinum Mist trimmed with red hood scoops, wheels and wide side stripes. Production of the one-year-only model (it became the base GS - a.k.a. GS 350 - in 1968) appears to have been a little over 3,600 units.
As to the Dodge Dart Swinger 340, it was introduced for the 1969 season as the division's A-body budget Scat Pack muscle car (its small-block sibling, the Dart GT, was introduced prior with a smaller displacement engine). Tipping the scales at just under 3,200 pounds in base trim, it was furnished with a 275 hp version of the 340 from the LA-series of V-8 engines, which also touted 340-lb.ft. of torque. A three-speed manual was standard (a TorqueFlite automatic and four-speed manual were on the option chart), as was the Rallye suspension, 14-inch wheels, front disc brakes and a 3.23 open of Sure Grip differential (3.55 and 3.91 gear sets were optional). Visual exterior performance features included hood scoops and a bumble bee stripe, and aside from its standard array of available colors, five "high-impact" hues were available off the option chart.
Which would you add to your stable and why?
By Matt Litwin on Nov 17th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
1967 Buick GS 340 (top); 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 (bottom). Photos by the author.
comments: 134
In This Article
Category: Featured posts
We've all had that "if money was no object" dream; a foggy utopia where we gleefully theorize amassing a collection of vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles based on visual appeal, power, styling, comfort, rarity - or any combination thereof - all housed in a climate controlled complex complete with car lifts, workshop and 2,000-sq.ft. of living space above. Sounds better if it were a reality, but what if someone threw a monkey wrench into that dream, limiting you to adding just one vehicle a week from a matchup completely out of your control? There's a second catch: your collection was purely for enjoyment rather than an investment? This or That - our new feature - puts your ideal "money no object" collection building dreams to the test.
In our first installment of This or That, we pair a 1967 Buick GS 340 against a 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340; both former feature cars in our Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine.
Although Buick had introduced the Gran Sport name to the Skylark line as an option in mid-1965, its affordable-yet-muscular stable mate didn't appear until the 1967 season. The GS 340 was fitted with a four-barrel version of Flint's 340-cu.in. small-block engine that was rated for 260 hp and 365-lbs.ft. of torque. It was backed by a choice of a two-speed automatic or a three-speed manual that was linked to a 3.23 open or Positive Traction rear gear; 3.36 or 3.90 gear sets were offered. A beefy suspension was standard (the Sport Pac suspension was optional), as were 14-inch wheels shod with 7.75-14 tires. Power front disc brakes were optional. As to its appearance, the GS 340 was offered in White or Platinum Mist trimmed with red hood scoops, wheels and wide side stripes. Production of the one-year-only model (it became the base GS - a.k.a. GS 350 - in 1968) appears to have been a little over 3,600 units.
As to the Dodge Dart Swinger 340, it was introduced for the 1969 season as the division's A-body budget Scat Pack muscle car (its small-block sibling, the Dart GT, was introduced prior with a smaller displacement engine). Tipping the scales at just under 3,200 pounds in base trim, it was furnished with a 275 hp version of the 340 from the LA-series of V-8 engines, which also touted 340-lb.ft. of torque. A three-speed manual was standard (a TorqueFlite automatic and four-speed manual were on the option chart), as was the Rallye suspension, 14-inch wheels, front disc brakes and a 3.23 open of Sure Grip differential (3.55 and 3.91 gear sets were optional). Visual exterior performance features included hood scoops and a bumble bee stripe, and aside from its standard array of available colors, five "high-impact" hues were available off the option chart.
Which would you add to your stable and why?
