I know the question has been asked many times. I have an original 1969 dart 340 swinger all matching numbers that needed new quarters. It belonged to my uncle and was given to me at 13 after. I've had it 20 years he died last year and I decided it was time to do something with it. I decided to have it mini tubbed and wanted to know how hard it will be to undo that if I should ever want to. I have the original motor and transmission although I also have another 340 and trans that I'm going to use in it. I want to make it my own but I don't want to do anything that can't be undone even though I don't plan on ever selling it. Any thoughts and opinions appreciated. Thanks.
to be original or not
- Thread starter steves69
- Start date
-
67 Power Wagon
Hemi Pawr or BUST!
my 2 cents worth comes down to one question..............how much time and money you plan to put into it to keep it numbers matching, and if you do customize it, putting it back would be reverse time and money maybe even more money due to part availability....
Something to ponder...
Something to ponder...
OldmanRick
Well-Known Member
I love the Mini tub on the 67-69 Darts.....It's a great "racy" look. But, it's not a easy mod to pull back. Value wise, what are the options on the car? If you have the Fender tag, post it, just incase it's a rare Swinger by chance.
I may sound like a bit of a hypocrite hear because I'm building my current '69 Dart to be my own as I want it. But mine started life as a run-of-the-mill 270, not a 340 Swinger.
And I owned an original '69 340 Swinger that I bought used in November 1969. I did the stupid thing of cutting it up to make a race car out of it back in the mid-70s - remember they weren't worth anything back then because they were just viewed as a used car and nobody then even considered what they may be worth in the future. I've kicked myself over and over for, first, turning it into a race car and, second, selling it 20 years ago.
My suggestion is to keep it original since it's currently numbers-matching. They're only original once and the 340 Swinger is such a great car as it came out of the factory. The value should only increase in stock form, but will definitely go down if you modify it.
Find yourself a lower-model '69 Dart and modify the devil out of it if you want since the collectible value isn't there for a Dart Custom or Dart 270 - and the 2-door hardtops all use the same great-looking body.
And I owned an original '69 340 Swinger that I bought used in November 1969. I did the stupid thing of cutting it up to make a race car out of it back in the mid-70s - remember they weren't worth anything back then because they were just viewed as a used car and nobody then even considered what they may be worth in the future. I've kicked myself over and over for, first, turning it into a race car and, second, selling it 20 years ago.
My suggestion is to keep it original since it's currently numbers-matching. They're only original once and the 340 Swinger is such a great car as it came out of the factory. The value should only increase in stock form, but will definitely go down if you modify it.
Find yourself a lower-model '69 Dart and modify the devil out of it if you want since the collectible value isn't there for a Dart Custom or Dart 270 - and the 2-door hardtops all use the same great-looking body.
Dartnut
Don't hate me because i'm beautiful
I would say to limit your modifications to bolt ons only.
Rocky_JS
'cuda
Not sure what else you're wanting to do with the car? I would leave it alone since it is a numbers car. You can get enough tire under it to make it hook, as is, into the low 12's or better.
Bringing them back is not an easy task and everything will need redone again to do it and can stall the current value of the car. Ultimately it is your car to do what you please with it.
Bringing them back is not an easy task and everything will need redone again to do it and can stall the current value of the car. Ultimately it is your car to do what you please with it.
I do have the fender tag as well as the broadcast sheet from the back seat and decoded it at one time. I didn't see anything that made it anything more than your basic 340 swinger model in 69. I have the original motor and 4 speed transmission and I believe the original rear end to the car was just found but don't know how to prove that one. It's gold (t3) with the swinger stripe. The motor for whatever reason is blue I'm assuming a repaint at one time it currently has a bent rod but the block, crank and x heads seem to be okay. I have a 71 340 for the car and another trans if I want to use it. I don't want to ruin the car but I don't know that i can afford 1 original and 1 for fun. I wanted to mini tub and relocate the springs and tie the frame rails together. I already decided if I do these that they are permanent but i wanted some opinions as is at the shop and I don't know if the tubs have been started. Thanks again.
69_340_GTS
Well-Known Member
Some 340s were blue in '69. My numbers-matching '69 GTS has a blue 340.
They are only original once. In my mind, you have enough sentimental reasons to keep the car stock. If you want to hack one all to pieces, buy a slant six car.
furyus2
Well-Known Member
You will kill the value. I have one of these cars also, and am trying to restore it as close as possible, due to the numbers matching engine. I feel tubs in a car hurt the value. I have a friend that keeps buying them to flip, and he ends up sitting on them for years.
WildCat
Well-Known Member
If you don't care that you lose value for the mods then do it. But there are a lot of people that have cars not worth a lot that do this.
Your car has value and a personal connection
How do you think your uncle would like it? Did you ever talk to him about it? Bent rod, did good old uncle do that then give it to you?
I would not do anything that could not be reversed with bolt ons.
You never know when NEVER comes. You say you will NEVER SELL, but if push comes to shove and family comes 1st the toys are the 1st to go. If you invest the time and effort to build the car it is best to build it for the most value unless you have nothing to worry about money wise. Since you say you cannot have number match and mod car I would guess that isn't the case.
What it comes down to is it is your car and money, you are free to do as you wish
I hope whatever you do you do not regret it later.
Your car has value and a personal connection
How do you think your uncle would like it? Did you ever talk to him about it? Bent rod, did good old uncle do that then give it to you?
I would not do anything that could not be reversed with bolt ons.
You never know when NEVER comes. You say you will NEVER SELL, but if push comes to shove and family comes 1st the toys are the 1st to go. If you invest the time and effort to build the car it is best to build it for the most value unless you have nothing to worry about money wise. Since you say you cannot have number match and mod car I would guess that isn't the case.
What it comes down to is it is your car and money, you are free to do as you wish
I hope whatever you do you do not regret it later.
It's your car, make it of it what you will.
X2!!
Take a look at a F.A.S.T. class car. You could easily build a fast car and still hold true to original.
It is your car and you should enjoy it.
I personally like original cars but can appreciate someone wanting to improve on their car.
You may or may not hurt the value but you'll never get your "investment" back on an A-body, even a cool one like yours.
I personally like original cars but can appreciate someone wanting to improve on their car.
You may or may not hurt the value but you'll never get your "investment" back on an A-body, even a cool one like yours.
Drache
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger
+1
My '71 Dart started life as a plain /6 car with no options at all. Thus it was built in a custom car.
If I owned a 340 or 383 car with the original engine and transmission, I'd keep it numbers matching. Especially if it was a GT/GTS model as they are a little rarer.
My cousin has a '69 Mustang Mach 1 that was numbers matching. He wanted a lot more power from the engine but didnt want to risk the numbers block or transmission. So he swapped them out. Easy enough to swap back in.
-
Similar threads
