1972 Dodge Dart Swinger 225 Slant Six from North America

Summary:

Excellent classic for a budget restoration!

Faults:

Minor rust damage that needed to be repaired.

Brake master cylinder was shot and needed replacement.

Old gas had turned into goop and clogged the sending unit in the fuel tank.

Front seats are worn beyond belief.

Front wheels were out of alignment and had ruined the set of tired that was on it.

Assorted other minimal things that were easily fixed.

General Comments:

First thing that I had to do when I bought this car was sand and primer all the top surfaces of this car. It must have sat under a tree for some time, as it had literally no paint left on the trunk lid or hood. Luckily it was just surface rust, which I fixed easily. The car had a vinyl top which had been removed already (thank goodness!), so the top was quite clean and rust free. After I had the paint situation covered I had to use an air compressor to blow the clog out of the sending unit, which was a pain. I haven't driven it a terrible long time yet, so things still may go wrong, but I know it's got a reputation as a reliable car and it has been living up to it so far. It's not the most comfortable car around, but I'm lucky to have power steering in mine, which helps a lot. The 3.7 slant six is a good motor with enough power for daily use, but it's far from a sporty motor. One thing that I truly like about this car, aside from the fact that it's a '72 Dart!!, is that I feel safe on the road. I mean you're surrounded by thick American steel, not a bunch of composite materials and "crunch zones". Overall I'm loving this car and intend to do a full performance restoration in the future.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st August, 2004

25th Aug 2004, 17:22

I am the writer of this review and I would like to comment that the mileage is just what is shown on the odometer. I am positive that the mileage is in excess of mechanical limits, meaning it has probably rolled over at least twice. Making the total mileage a more practical 200,000+.

1972 Dodge Dart Swinger 225 slant six from North America

Summary:

A desirable budget collectible that can be used as a reliable daily driver

Faults:

The cylinder head was cracked and exhaust guides badly worn.

General Comments:

This is a sleek 2-door hardtop with a reasonably economical drivetrain. Even with engine damage, it never failed to start and get me from Point A to Point B. The 4-wheel drum brakes are not acceptable for use on modern roads, but the front brakes can be converted to discs. Handling is excellent for a car of this era. Controls are simple, but functional, and the A/C is powerful and efficient. The Slant Six is in general, an extremely durable engine; someone must have driven my engine with a severely overheated condition, because Slant Sixes can be driven for hundreds of thousands of miles without major repairs.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th December, 2003