1969 Dart Swinger 340 - Glove Box Trim?

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Stranglehold

Stranglehold

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Question, was the glove box trim panel available on 69 Swinger models? I thought it was only part of the GT/GTS trim packages. The dash I have in my car I believe came out of a 67 as I don't see any holes where the dash VIN would have been 68 and up. Question is more for accuracy of the restoration. I have the trim for the whole dash (radio/heater section needs fixed or replaced), glove box door has the holes for the trim. I like the looks of it but would get the correct trim if I really wanted it to be a Swinger trim package. I'll get some pics of the trim and dash up later today. Thanks.
 
Not overly sure. Do you have the build sheet or fender tag for your car or are you doing a clone? My GTS has the full dash.
 
In 1969, the swinger and swinger 340 (LL23 and LM23) did not have the glove box trim.

These vehicles were considered base model and intended to be inexpensive.

In 1969 the dart custom, dart GT and Dart GTS had the extra trim LH23, LP23/7, and LS23/7
 
It's been a few years, but I remember that the '69 340 Swinger I had did not have the glove box trim, and I don't believe it was even available on the "low line" Swinger.
Oop, Rani beat me to it!
 
dano said:
Not overly sure. Do you have the build sheet or fender tag for your car or are you doing a clone? My GTS has the full dash.
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Unfortunately no. I bought the car from a friend 20+ years ago. Had no VIN, fender tag or broadcast sheet. He got a state patrol inspection and the state issued a new ID/VIN which is correct for a 340 Swinger. My intention was to restore back to factory appearance best I can even though it isn't a #'s car. It's a legal vehicle, I am the last registered owner and I'm confident is was a factory 4 speed 340 car. Swinger or GTS? Who knows. I guess without proper documentation it will basically end up being a clone :( will still be cool though :). Do I go GTS or swinger...
 
Princess Valiant said:
In 1969, the swinger and swinger 340 (LL23 and LM23) did not have the glove box trim.

These vehicles were considered base model and intended to be inexpensive.

In 1969 the dart custom, dart GT and Dart GTS had the extra trim LH23, LP23/7, and LS23/7
Click to expand...

Kinda what I figured. I guess it would be weird if I restored it as a GTS since the state issued ID clearly shows Swinger.

VIN.jpg
 
Stranglehold said:
Unfortunately no. I bought the car from a friend 20+ years ago. Had no VIN, fender tag or broadcast sheet. He got a state patrol inspection and the state issued a new ID/VIN which is correct for a 340 Swinger. My intention was to restore back to factory appearance best I can even though it isn't a #'s car. It's a legal vehicle, I am the last registered owner and I'm confident is was a factory 4 speed 340 car. Swinger or GTS? Who knows. I guess without proper documentation it will basically end up being a clone :( will still be cool though :). Do I go GTS or swinger...
Click to expand...

In the end, there isn't much difference between a GTS and Swinger other than badging, trim here and there, and I think most Swingers got a bench seat.

My car isn't numbers matching either, is missing the fender tag too, so I built it my way, it looks like a GTS inside and out but I upgraded the suspension, brakes, etc to handle modern traffic speed. I think your in a good position to build it anyway you want.
 
Stranglehold said:
Unfortunately no. I bought the car from a friend 20+ years ago. Had no VIN, fender tag or broadcast sheet. He got a state patrol inspection and the state issued a new ID/VIN which is correct for a 340 Swinger. My intention was to restore back to factory appearance best I can even though it isn't a #'s car. It's a legal vehicle, I am the last registered owner and I'm confident is was a factory 4 speed 340 car. Swinger or GTS? Who knows. I guess without proper documentation it will basically end up being a clone :( will still be cool though :). Do I go GTS or swinger...
Click to expand...
A little detective work will help-
Is it a bench seat car? Swinger.
Is it column shift automatic? Swinger. (edit: most likely Swinger, there were column shift GTSs, though. I stand corrected.)
Bucket seats or (meant to say *with*) console (4spd. or auto)? GT/GTS.
etc.
 
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Professor Fate said:
A little detective work will help-
Is it a bench seat car? Swinger.
Is it column shift automatic? Swinger.
Bucket seats or console (4spd. or auto)? GT/GTS.
etc.
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Not necessarily. I know of a couple late build 69 Swinger 340's with factory buckets but no console. I know of a couple of GTS's with column shift, early build. Definitely post more pictures of the dash and interior. Does it have torque boxes? Trunk trim? DODGE on the hood and trunk lid?
 
Professor Fate said:
A little detective work will help-
Is it a bench seat car? Swinger.
Is it column shift automatic? Swinger.
Bucket seats or console (4spd. or auto)? GT/GTS.
etc.
Click to expand...
The console was extra cost so if the original buyer didn't want to pay for that option then it got a column shift even if it was a GTS.

I have a 68 GTS like that. Bucket seats which were standard in GTS and column shift
 
God only knows what built on Friday or Monday or if a parts bin was empty and a quota was to be made and that is if you were sober. Then there were VIP cars.
 
Princess Valiant said:
The console was extra cost so if the original buyer didn't want to pay for that option then it got a column shift even if it was a GTS.

I have a 68 GTS like that. Bucket seats which were standard in GTS and column shift
Click to expand...
Agreed- my point was that if it has a console, then it's a GT/GTS- Consoles weren't available in the Swinger.
 
Professor Fate said:
A little detective work will help-
Is it a bench seat car? Swinger.
Is it column shift automatic? Swinger. (edit: most likely Swinger, there were column shift GTSs, though. I stand corrected.)
Bucket seats or (meant to say *with*) console (4spd. or auto)? GT/GTS.
etc.
Click to expand...

Bench seat car, at least that is what was in it, 30 years after it was born. Floor shift 4 speed no console, no signs of the 4 speed hump being non-factory. This car has minimal history, but to me doesn't make any less cool.
 
Stranglehold said:
Bench seat car, at least that is what was in it, 30 years after it was born. Floor shift 4 speed no console, no signs of the 4 speed hump being non-factory. This car has minimal history, but to me doesn't make any less cool.
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One fun fact about a swinger 340 in 1969.

In the vast majority of the car world for decades the 3 speed manual was the "standard", what you got if you didn't pay for anything extra, the bare minimum. The 4 speed has always been an extra cost option and usually an expensive option.

The 1968 roadrunner and 69 swinger 340 were two of very rare occourances that the 4 speed was the standard equipment. If you didn't pay any extra or specify, it got a new process 4 speed. The automatic with column shift (Because they all had benches) was extra cost.
 
HemiSSDart said:
Not necessarily. I know of a couple late build 69 Swinger 340's with factory buckets but no console. I know of a couple of GTS's with column shift, early build. Definitely post more pictures of the dash and interior. Does it have torque boxes? Trunk trim? DODGE on the hood and trunk lid?
Click to expand...

So, the car is gutted at this point. Wish I had more pics from 20 years ago when I was driving it. I can confirm torque boxes front and rear, 4 speed hump that appears factory, the bench seat? Who knows, but no evidence of holes for buckets. Floor pan is in pretty good shape, a little pitting on the front passenger side, probably a heater core leak. Hood/trunk emblems were non existent when I got the car, but I swapped out the deck lid for a better one years ago, and the hood, good condition bulge hood I'll have to see if emblem holes were filled at some point. Here are some pics of the dash and trim. Thanks for the input.

IMG_6171.JPG


IMG_6172.JPG


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IMG_6176.JPG


IMG_6179.JPG


IMG_6180.JPG
 
Princess Valiant said:
One fun fact about a swinger 340 in 1969.

In the vast majority of the car world for decades the 3 speed manual was the "standard", what you got if you didn't pay for anything extra, the bare minimum. The 4 speed has always been an extra cost option and usually an expensive option.

The 1968 roadrunner and 69 swinger 340 were two of very rare occourances that the 4 speed was the standard equipment. If you didn't pay any extra or specify, it got a new process 4 speed. The automatic with column shift (Because they all had benches) was extra cost.
Click to expand...

Awesome fact to know! I don't really mind the bench seat. With the speeds trans have now (auto and manual), the 4 speed manual has a cool mystic about it!
 
You might want to get a 69 dash frame.

The 67 has a significantly different glove box door set up. 67 has really bulky spring loaded glove box door hinges made to keep the door shut with the spring and there is no button just a pull knob.

The 68 dash frame is more similar to the 69 but the 68 has holes and indentations for the 68 only lower dash pads.

The 69 dash frame is optimal. No mods, just bolt it in and everything will look and work as it's supposed to.
 
The other reason to get a 69 dash frame is the 67 has a knob style radio. 68 and 9 have a much larger opening and different bracket mounts for the thumbwheel radio
 
Princess Valiant said:
You might want to get a 69 dash frame.

The 67 has a significantly different glove box door set up. 67 has really bulky spring loaded glove box door hinges made to keep the door shut with the spring and there is no button just a pull knob.

The 68 dash frame is more similar to the 69 but the 68 has holes and indentations for the 68 only lower dash pads.

The 69 dash frame is optimal. No mods, just bolt it in and everything will look and work as it's supposed to.
Click to expand...

That was rolling around in the back of my mind. Happen to have one available? :D I remember that about the springs and knob, which I still have for a 67 owner out there. Do you happen to know if 67 barracudas used the same dash?
 
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