If you are talking “off the shelf”, I think the ’74’s are hard to beat.
1. Disk brake cars are BBP.
2. Spool motor mounts
3. Better sway bar
4. Thru bolt idler
5. Available 360 motor (not a ’71 340, but better than a ’72).
6. Better seatbelts (hate the ratchet, but at least it isn’t one hanging from the roof).
Granted, style isn’t the best due to the stupid bumpers, and never been a fan of the Dodge nose in those years (which pushes me towards the Dusters). And you couldn’t get the rally dash.
If you are talking something to modify, for me, probably the 70-71 Duster. Of them all, they have my favorite grill and tail lights, available rally dash, and I think the side marker lights rock. Swap the later k-frame, BBP brakes and get the best of both worlds. Add the fact that a ’69 RR Airgrabber hood grafts onto the earlier Duster hood so well, and it’s a win-win. Only real drawback I can see is retrofitting real seatbelts, but a 6 point cage and harness would fix that.
Have to say that the style of the ’68 Dart has always grabbed me, though. And they do seem to be proportioned better. Never like the tail lights, though.
Used to have an early A, and still like the look, but just seemed like everything needed to be updated to get where I would want to be.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that the car that got me into Mopars was my brother’s ’71 340 Duster with an Airgrabber hood. So, I might be a little biased in my opinion.
