Mopar appreciators' thread

Post by **Blacklab467** » 25 Jan 2022, 16:17

[EDIT] I broke this off from BlackLab's CV axle replacement after I shamelessly hijacked the topic. I'd asked him about the car in the background, seen in the photo below -- Matt [/EDIT]

Its a '70 Charger R/T 440 survivor car, original everything including paint. I don't really get to work on it because it doesn't need anything. I probably have a much better relationship with the Volvo!

Post by **matthew1** » 25 Jan 2022, 16:33

Oh my goodness. Incredible. Awesome. Is it a 6-pack carbs?

Post by **matthew1** » 25 Jan 2022, 16:36

I used to know my old Mopar Challengers vs. Chargers, but Fiat messed that up 10 years ago when they made a 4-dr Charger and 2-dr Challenger, which threw a monkey wrench into my car brain.

Apologies for the hijack, BL. I had a '71 Dodge Dart Swinger in that excellent, bright yellow, with a black hardtop and a 318. I changed the radiator fan on it circa 1994, that being my first real car repair. I think I owned two screwdrivers, one adjustable wrench, and a hammer. Somehow those were enough to do it.

My grandfather bought the car new off the lot here in Denver in '71.

Post by **Blacklab467** » 26 Jan 2022, 13:14

Hey Matthew,
I've always liked the Chargers but never really considered ownership due to admission costs, and I'm incredibly fussy about condition and thought that something I would be satisfied with would be well over 100K.
Anyway, this car came available from the widow of the original owner and was bought at the dealership 3 miles from where I live. He drove it till 1974 as a company car and then parked it in the garage when he bought a Chrysler Newport 1975. It had 55000 miles on it. They polished it up in 1999 and started taking it to local car shows and collected a lot of wins. The original owner died in 2007 and the widow kept it around and put about 300 miles on it per year. She decided to start downsizing and decided it was time to let the car go but had a deep sentimental attachment and wanted to keep it local. She was very against putting it on Ebay or any of those sites, knowing full well that she could get a premium for it in the US market.
I saw it, drove it , and had to have it! She included every piece of documentation imaginable, including pictures from the dealership new and all through the years, bill of sale, build sheets, etc.
It's a 440 4 bbl R/T 3.55 axle, sounds mean with original exhaust, and hauls ass! It looks like a 5 year old car because it kinda is, most would think it was restored but it isn't, you cannot replicate the look of single stage acrylic lacquer paint.
I also like those Darts but they rusted out pretty bad up here unfortunately. Actually the P-2 Volvos are the most incredibly rust resistant cars I've seen. Unless there is collision damage/ repair, they are about the best corrosion protected cars I've known!

Post by **matthew1** » 26 Jan 2022, 13:53

You have an absolute, no questions asked gem. What a great backstory that car has. 440-Six-Packs were faster to 60MPH than the Hemis, if memory serves, but not as fast at the 1/4 mile. I know yours isn't a Six Pack now, but who cares. That 440 is a complete monster in any case. Just wow.

If you'd want to post photos of it when you have time, I'd sure appreciate it.

Dart rust - yes, after my uncle usurped the car from me around 1997 (he pulled rank... it was a family car at that time and it was his dad who bought it off the dealer lot), he used it as a daily. It got rust in the rear quarter panels, low, behind the wheel where water collected.

Then he sold it, not telling me it was for sale until it was over. Luckily it went to a Mopar lover in Nebraska or Iowa, I forget, who took (takes?) good care of it.

The Dart had "Rally" wheels, not the hubcap wheels. When I got it in ~1993 it had 77k miles. Back then it wasn't a collector car, but it was special because of the wonderful color and great condition.

Sigh.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 26 Jan 2022, 17:07

Back in 1974, when I was under age and living with parents, I wanted a 340 Duster. Dad said no and the stars never aligned for such a car for me. A few years later, when I could and did make my own car buying decisions, I had matured (?) enough to buy more sensible cars without big engines.
But I never out grew the sense of wonder for these great muscle cars.
volvolugnut

Post by **BlackBart** » 27 Jan 2022, 15:35

Bobby Isaac, 217 mph at Bonneville, and it was orange.

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SOURDOUGHJIM · Post by **SOURDOUGHJIM** » 15 May 2023, 05:47

Interesting story. Brother still owns his 70 Charger R/T. 440, 4 bbl, A833 4-speed, Dana 60 3.54 ratio. Sublime green and black vinyl top. Bought in 1979. I overhauled the engine at that time when I was in Vo Tech. A couple years later we put a pair of 915 heads on it. That's the only modification.

Post by **matthew1** » 23 Dec 2023, 11:21

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My '71 Dodge Dart Swinger 318 in background, '97 Accord LX 2-dr 5sp in foreground, with gf. I sold the Accord a year later to buy my first Volvo... '97 850 T-5. Photo 1999.

Post by **Blacklab467** » 03 Jan 2024, 06:45

That's a good looking Dart Swinger and probably well equipped if it had the rallye wheels, do you remember if it had A/C? I liked the yellow that was offered on those too! Here are a couple pictures of the Charger from last summer, I put 843 miles on it in the last 2 years and took off the tires when I first got it home ( Goodyear Polyglas white letter 1973 date code! ). The widow told me they were the car's third set of tires.

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