It only took 37 years....
Well, it's time to start the build thread for my '73 Swinger.
But first, a little back story....
I fell in love with Darts when I was 9 years old. My older cousin Holly got a Swinger for her 16th birthday, and I remember visiting the family in California and seeing that car for the first time. It was powder blue, and I thought it was the neatest car I'd ever seen. Over the years I became a car nut, and while I never did get a Dart, it would always pop into my head.
Throughout the years, I have owned a LOT of cars....way too many to list here, but some that stand out as my favorites:
My first car that was really all mine: 1977 VW Bug.
My first car that I bought myself: 1983 Toyota Pickup (I've owned 4, and I'm about to get my '03 Double-cab Taco back from the ex....I have missed that truck)
My first FUN car....believe it or not....1973 Volvo 164e - That car had a Fuel Injected straight 6 and was fast, handled great, and yes, it was safe. I got a first hand demonstration of just how safe when I plowed it into the back of a 3/4 Ton Chevy pickup doing about 35...nobody in the car was wearing seatbelts...everyone walked away.
My First FAST car: 1979 Trans Am 6.6...'nuf said. I loved that car, and miss it to this day.
My first infatuation: 1973 Gran Torino Wagon....I have been looking for another one for about 10 years....surprisingly hard to find.
My first vehicle that was STRICTLY a toy: 1986 Jeep CJ-7, built for wheeling
The first vehicle that I can say I built myself: 2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ Rock Crawler...I have LOTS and LOTS of stories to tell about this Jeep, and I'll post some pics of it later....sadly, it went to it's new home last week...
Other vehicles I've had that are worth mentioning:
'72 Ford E100 Van with a 302 and a 3-on-the-tree.
'90 Ford Mustang LX 5.0
'78 Ford Bronco on 37's
'84 Ford Bronco II on 32's
'90 Ford Bronco on 35's
'78 Lincoln Mark V
(yes, I was a Ford guy for a long time....don't shoot me):toothy2:
I currently own a 2001 Suburban LT 1500 with 206K miles still going strong (and which I've owned since it was brand new), a 1995 Lincoln Continental (got it from my mom when she couldn't drive anymore...scary fast car for a FWD),
And now....my beautiful (to me) 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger!
All that time, and all those cars, that Swinger of my cousin's was never far from my mind.
Already, I know I'm going to have a love affair with this car. I haven't even picked it up yet, but already I've started gathering parts. The very first thing I got for it was new plates! All my fun cars have had personalized plates, and this is no exception. I thought it was perfect for my new car, and I truly can't believe I got it, especially here in CA where most good plate combos are gone:
Next up, new tires and wheels are already ordered: American Racing Torque thrusts in a 15x7 flavor and 245/60R15 BFG Radial TA's for the rear and 225/60R15 for the front. Also on its way is a MagnaFlow Tru-X x-pipe kit with some nice stainless 14" Magnaflow mufflers. These will be nice with the (brand unknown) 318 headers that came with the car (uninstalled...yes, I know, it will be a ***** getting them on the car...nothing I can't handle)
I'm going junkyarding on Saturday to find some stuff for the interior, and an AC setup. A couple weeks ago I saw a 4-door Valiant almost untouched in the pick-a-part with a 318 and all the AC. Hopefully it's still there.
That's all I have for now...more updates to come when I get my car....58 hours and counting.....
Well, it's time to start the build thread for my '73 Swinger.
But first, a little back story....
I fell in love with Darts when I was 9 years old. My older cousin Holly got a Swinger for her 16th birthday, and I remember visiting the family in California and seeing that car for the first time. It was powder blue, and I thought it was the neatest car I'd ever seen. Over the years I became a car nut, and while I never did get a Dart, it would always pop into my head.
Throughout the years, I have owned a LOT of cars....way too many to list here, but some that stand out as my favorites:
My first car that was really all mine: 1977 VW Bug.
My first car that I bought myself: 1983 Toyota Pickup (I've owned 4, and I'm about to get my '03 Double-cab Taco back from the ex....I have missed that truck)
My first FUN car....believe it or not....1973 Volvo 164e - That car had a Fuel Injected straight 6 and was fast, handled great, and yes, it was safe. I got a first hand demonstration of just how safe when I plowed it into the back of a 3/4 Ton Chevy pickup doing about 35...nobody in the car was wearing seatbelts...everyone walked away.
My First FAST car: 1979 Trans Am 6.6...'nuf said. I loved that car, and miss it to this day.
My first infatuation: 1973 Gran Torino Wagon....I have been looking for another one for about 10 years....surprisingly hard to find.
My first vehicle that was STRICTLY a toy: 1986 Jeep CJ-7, built for wheeling
The first vehicle that I can say I built myself: 2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ Rock Crawler...I have LOTS and LOTS of stories to tell about this Jeep, and I'll post some pics of it later....sadly, it went to it's new home last week...
Other vehicles I've had that are worth mentioning:
'72 Ford E100 Van with a 302 and a 3-on-the-tree.
'90 Ford Mustang LX 5.0
'78 Ford Bronco on 37's
'84 Ford Bronco II on 32's
'90 Ford Bronco on 35's
'78 Lincoln Mark V
(yes, I was a Ford guy for a long time....don't shoot me):toothy2:
I currently own a 2001 Suburban LT 1500 with 206K miles still going strong (and which I've owned since it was brand new), a 1995 Lincoln Continental (got it from my mom when she couldn't drive anymore...scary fast car for a FWD),
And now....my beautiful (to me) 1973 Dodge Dart Swinger!
All that time, and all those cars, that Swinger of my cousin's was never far from my mind.
Already, I know I'm going to have a love affair with this car. I haven't even picked it up yet, but already I've started gathering parts. The very first thing I got for it was new plates! All my fun cars have had personalized plates, and this is no exception. I thought it was perfect for my new car, and I truly can't believe I got it, especially here in CA where most good plate combos are gone:
Next up, new tires and wheels are already ordered: American Racing Torque thrusts in a 15x7 flavor and 245/60R15 BFG Radial TA's for the rear and 225/60R15 for the front. Also on its way is a MagnaFlow Tru-X x-pipe kit with some nice stainless 14" Magnaflow mufflers. These will be nice with the (brand unknown) 318 headers that came with the car (uninstalled...yes, I know, it will be a ***** getting them on the car...nothing I can't handle)
I'm going junkyarding on Saturday to find some stuff for the interior, and an AC setup. A couple weeks ago I saw a 4-door Valiant almost untouched in the pick-a-part with a 318 and all the AC. Hopefully it's still there.
That's all I have for now...more updates to come when I get my car....58 hours and counting.....
