1969 Dodge Dart

Dodge Dart is a line of automobiles marketed by Dodge from the 1959 to 1976 model years in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets.

The Dart name originally appeared on a 1956 Chrysler show car featuring a streamlined body designed by the Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ghia that was later modified and renamed the Dart Diablo. The production Dart was introduced as a lower-priced, full-size Dodge in 1960 and 1961, became a mid-size car for 1962, and then was a compact from 1963 to 1976.

This car stands tall, the exterior paint appears to be older and shows excellent as it lays flat and shows deep and glossy. The body exhibits good fitment through. The interior is wonderful. The original seats, dash, door panels, headliner and package tray all show excellent and is complemented with newer carpet.

The 440ci V8 produced 375 horsepower when new and is equipped with a four-barrel carburetor and an electronic distributor.

Taking a big engine from a big car and cramming it under the hood of a mid-size car is what kicked off the whole muscle car scene in the early years of the 1960s.

But the 1969 Dodge Dart GTS 440 shows just how far automakers were prepared to push that idea by the decade’s end, and how many safety and convenience compromises they were prepared to make to deliver that muscle to the street.

One aspect about these show cars is that they sometimes premiered ideas from the styling studio. There is consideration that some of this Swinger’s concepts were based on the upcoming 1970 reworking of the Dart, such as the grille framing and hood hold-down pins. Picking the final touch on any show car can be a challenge, but the now-hardened lines of the Swinger concept did not require anything delicate.