My New Find

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I just wanted to share with you fellows my new Find!I had ran across a original 1969 Dodge Dart 340 Swinger about 12 years ago setting on a showroom Floor of a local Dodge dealership.I stopped in to ask about the car to see if it was for sale.The Gentleman I spoke with told me no it was just on display,said it was his first car and he drove it to high School and would never sell it.Well to make a long story short His Dad is selling the Dealership after 54 years in business,the son has no where to keep the car so he decided to let it go to a new home.It is coming to my home!It has 47000 original miles,originally a 340 with 4 speed but was converted to an auto in 1971.The owner raced it in 1972 - 1985 off and on locally in SS/I in NHRA sanctioned races.Car has all original interior that is perfect except for one small tear in the backseat,all rubber on car is all original except for the tires,and all is in excellent shape,all glass is perfect,All chrome is original and never replated and is in excellent shape,all original gauges work,factory radio,and antenna delete.Car only has a heater! The owner installed Super Stock springs,sox and Martin adjustable pinion snubber.It has headers and auto in the floor.It is going to go well setting next to the 67 SS Chevelle.Underside of car is like new.Car was not driven on the street or track for 20 years.It stayed in an extra building at the dealership in the back,it was cranked and driven on the dealership property only.Was alternated between the showroom and the building it was housed in for many years.Car is not immaculate but is SUPER NICE!I will try to get my soninlaw to take a couple of pictures of it and get them posted if interested.We were cleaning on it today and changing some thing up to our satisfaction.I am really excited abou tthe car.I have wanted a nice 69 Swinger for many years and I am glad I ran across this one.It is Black on Black with rear white stripe.It has been painted before and the paint is pretty nice.Should have a couple of pics soon for those that like the old dodges.

Thanks

Bobby Dodson

[Seattle Sam]

Bobby, cool car! Here is a web page for the Swinger 340 if you have not seen it already, it includes the picture below:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/f.bevil/home.html



- Sam

[JoeG]

That is too --Hope you got some photos at the Dodge Dealership---Very period car------------

[budnate]

congrats..very cool car!...when set up right those 340 cars are wicked fast...

[hvychev]

Very cool Bobby! Post them pics!

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I will get some pics up soon,it is raining like cats and dogs here today.Going back to the dealership and talk more with the owner Monday.He was not there when I bought the car Friday.I had to deal with his Dad,nice older fellow but hard to deal with.He was not budging on the price of the car not one penny!Once I had inspected it up on the rack etc.I just went ahead and paid his price,which was very reasonable I thought.But it don't hurt to ask for a little better deal!LOL I guess that after being in the car business 54 years he knew he had me hooked like a big ole fat fish.I hope his son may have some of the original parts and papers on the car.Some old photos or something.I going to drive my Chevelle and once he sees it he will know the Swinger went to a good home and may be willing to dig around a little more.Heck I may even take him for a ride and buy him lunch.Will be back soon with some pictures.Of course I will have to e mail them for someone to post on the site.Still trying to learn how to operate the computers,My daughter is trying to teach me but She says I am too old for new tricks!

Bobby Dodson

[Belair62]

Nice Swingers and Demons are pretty tough to find !!! Try finding a Mr Norms GSS Dart !!!

[442w30]

The car in the pick is a '70. The '69s are much different looking. What color is the car?

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I went back today and talked with the owner Mike Cessna of Cessna Motors of Cleveland Texas.He had some good stories.The car is black on black and was that way originally,But it also came with a GREEN VINYL top with paisley flowers,he said his Dad ordered it that way,and it was BUTT UGLY!He said that he immediately removed the vinyl top and painted the top black.The car was sold new to a James Lewis,then repossed by the dealer.Mike told me that he had a Hemi Charger,and that one night he was racing a GTO Judge and the police started chasing him.He said the Judge stopped but the police kept after him,he said that they finally caught him but theu blew the engines on 3 police cars trying to catch him.Of course he said he went directly to jail where his Dad had to bail him out.His Dad took the Hemi away from him and gave hime the 69 Swinger as punishment,he said it was either the Swinger or walking or riding the school bus.Mike said he hated that car and did his best to blow it up so his Dad would give him something else,he said it would not blow up!He said he will look for anything on the car to see if he can find something but said he did not think he had anything.There was a book at one time and it contained a lot of pictures etc but that someone took it out of the car and he has not seen it in years.They did keep records at the dealership but mikes Dad said he did not know where to even start looking!So I may not get anything.I do have the original 1969 title sold to James Lewis,title date issued is 07/18/69,date of lein where it was financed through Chrysler Credit and Cessna Motors is 06/06/69 On the rear of the title the lein was released by Chrysler Credit on 11/27/70.Mike did tell me he would file for another title so I could keep the original.He was pretty impressed with my 67 Chevelle and knows the Swinger went to a good home and will be well cared for.The Car has been repainted some years ago and has a few blemishes here and there but is a really nice driver with the exception of the rear gear.I believe it is a 4:56.The other 69 Swinger I have has a 3:55 I believe so I a going to probably swap Chunks.The blue 69 Swinger I have is all lader bar rear suspension and I am going to let my soninlaw race it at the track to have some fun.Should have some pictures by weeks end for you to see.

Bobby Dodson

[njsteve]

You should be able to document via the fender tag that the car had that wierd vinyl top. It was called the "Mod-Top" option and is probably one of the rarest trim options there is. There was also a matching interior option in the same fabric. You could have a one-of-one car. Now the impossible part would be trying to find that vinyl top material!