 |
The 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger never wore a big-block badge, but do not let the compact A-body fool you — Dodge tucked a 240-horse 340 V8 under that unassuming hood for buyers who knew what to look for. Add in a mid-year facelift and sales north of 200,000 units across the Dart lineup, and you have got one of Mopars most underrated sleepers hiding in plain sight.
The Dodge Dart Swinger was engineered to deliver real V8 acceleration without wearing any of the badges that made insurance companies pay attention, and the 1973 model year brought a new front end, electronic ignition across the range, and engines from a 198 Slant-Six to a 318 V8. Its compact dimensions and leaf-sprung rear axle explain why an A-body smokes its tires so easily. Read on for what changed in 1973 and why the regulation behind it mattered.