This vehicle is one of the few of the 119,618 Dart Swingers built in the US and Canada in 1972 to be shipped to the UK in 2003. Prior to being dispatched from the States it had been modified for Street & Strip action. This included the addition of an Erson cam to the 318ci (5.2lt) V8 engine, Weiand single plane inlet manifold, Holley 650 carb, removal of all the air conditioning components, Hooker headers and 3:55 gearing in the rear axle. The engine was, and remains, chained to the chassis which is a safety requirement on US drag strips.
A power brake servo was fitted at some point but essentially this set up remained until June 2005 when after an “incident” that broke the crankshaft and put a con rod through the sump the car was dispatched to Burnham Autos. The engine was torn down, a new block purchased and out bored to + 60 thou to take it to 328ci (5.4lt).
The rebuild included TRW flat top pistons, lumpy camshaft, high volume oil pump, double width timing chain and a rebuilt sump. The original top end components were reinstalled after the block had been treated to some Hemi Orange and the chassis some gloss black paint. An MSD 6AL ignition set up was added mated to a Master Blaster 2 coil along with Moroso Blue Max HT leads. A high performance starter motor has been installed as has a Cool Flex chrome plated top hose.
The off white interior is as it left the factory with the exception of the oil pressure gauge, rev counter and CD player.
This Dart has been rebuilt. Better than it was before.
Better...Stronger...Faster.
Thanks to:- Paul Burnham and the Crew at Burnham Autos, Real Steel, USA Imports, Mopar Muscle Association, especially all the members on the web forum for help and advice, Autoholics, Kev Greenwell for selling it to me & Cherie for putting up with me.
Owner: Steve Edwards
