Went to look at a 69 Swinger 340 today

[gtgto]

Basically I would have to sell my 70 340 4 speed Duster or get a divorce to purchase the Dart. My Duster is at the stage now that it needs bodywork and paint which will be a big dollar figure. So I went to look at the Swinger and its a matching number 340 auto on column. Painted about 10 years ago and also a new vinyl top at that time. The paint job looked great. I didn't see any dings or bubbles at all. Issues I saw were black painted trunk, needs headliner and dash pad. Under the hood was not pretty. Headers and chrome air cleaner and very dirty and grungy under the hood. Also front and rear bumpers needed to be replaced or re chromed. How much would you think is a good offer on the car if I did decide to part with my Duster and replace it with a Dart Swinger?

One more thing that I was shocked about. I checked the rear and it had a 742 Center Section. I asked what gear ratio and the owner didn't know. I asked if it was a sure grip and the owner didn't know. Shouldn't you know these things if you own a car for 27 years?

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

After 50 years, I'm sure that 742 was installed at some time. If he is not that mechanically inclined, he may not know the gear ratio or if it is a SG. But a test drive will tell if it is a SG. Or he's like me, OLD! Value? That is hard to tell without looking at it.

 

[Fgill]

just MHO, less your simpy tired of the duster or have always had a hankering for a 340 swinger and now is your chance, no way would I trade/sell a car you know well and have history with, for one thats a rather unknown. I may add, having been shopping for the 'right' demon again, for what seemed like forever, 70-71 dusters/ & 71-72 demons are becoming far less common than they once were and asking prices seem, at least to me, to be higher than for comparable darts, scamps, swingers,etc.

 

[j par]

It sounds like he's the look it's shiny kind of person. Definitely not into the Mechanicals and likely just goes to mechanics and keeps it running. Personally it's my taste that I would never trade my duster for a swinger! LOL not even my 73... I tried an automatic in my duster for a summer and that cured me...
But you got to make what makes you happy and that's all that counts...

 

[abodyjoe]

Nowhere near enough information for anyone to give you even a ball park figure.

Why are ya done with the duster? You just don’t want it anymore or because it’s at the body work stage.

 

[KB9GIB]

Nowhere near enough information for anyone to give you even a ball park figure.

Why are ya don with the duster? You just don’t want it anymore or because it’s at the body work stage.

Be careful who knows what under the paint might be worse than your Duster.

 

[abodyjoe]

Be careful who knows what under the paint might be worse than your Duster.

exactly.. plus it was obviously half assed if the trunk is black and the engine bay looks like crap.

 

[Demonic]

A divorce will make the paint job look cheap. You can't put a price on happiness, but you can try.

 

[a12]

The pictures are inconclusive

 

[Syleng1]

A divorce in CT will cost you over $100g if there are kids involved, a house, a awesome garage and it never gets easier with the ex... I say that with experience here in Connecticut.

With that- your in a partner ship and your partner needs to be on board. Present the facts and take them with you to relook at the car of you think this is the best course of action. A happy marriage is way better than a new (50 year old car) sitting in the garage.

I’m sure your are just joking but you wanted numbers. Trust me when I say- your better off to keep what you have, and make it how you want than dive into something new and unknown just for buyers remorse. This works for bother partner and car. Lol!

 

[moper]

So you know what your Duster has for issues - it needs body and paint. So you are willing to forgo the expense of the body and paint to start with an unknown, bought from someone who as you put it has no idea what his car has, and it's been done in the cheap git-er-dun fashion? No offense but that sounds entirely stupid. Depending on how bad your car is (are we talking body and paint, or full replacement of structure, etc, beyond the exterior skin or floor?) you have between $10-15K to spend, to be done with it. Not sure what the Singer is going for, but I'd bet at least 75% of that figure. So you're really looking at the difference between the purchase price of the Swinger, and the higher figure for the resto of the Duster. And you have to be able to address the issues with the Swinger (and there will be issues with it) for that money. I've found old paint and fresh paint are the two best hiders of further expense.

 

[pittsburghracer]

The blacked out trunk would have ended the deal for me. Ohhh wait a minute, I painted my trunk black.

 

[moper]

If you really want to get a figure I’d suggest posting full info on it. Or have someone look it over to see where you might be on it. In retrospect, I’d say I can’t put real numbers on either car without a lot more details on both. I still think “known” is better than “unknown” older work but the financial comparison really can’t be done without all the details...

 

[crackedback]

Swapping out a 4 speed car for an auto on the column car... NOPE!

 

[gtgto]

I am definitely a purist when it comes to old muscle cars. To reverse what was done wrong on the Dart is definitely going to cost some cash and the auto on the column is probably why the price of the car is somewhat affordable. Hes asking $15K or best offer. I was thinking in the 10-12 range myself. My Duster needs lower 1/4 work and dings and small dents repaired and a color change from FJ5 back to F8. Trunk and door jams and underhood were all changed to the wrong color. I have not lost interest in my car and love driving it even in its current state. Here'

s a couple of pics of the Dart I looked at

 

[abodyjoe]

Shouldn’t the wheels be body color with dog dishes. Black for full wheel covers.

 

[moper]

Not seeing what really matters (yours, or the key issues with the Swinger) and assuming you are more of a purist and not capable of doing anything yourself (not a cut, just an assumption for arguement's sake)...
The Duster needs probably $15K of work. Pull driveline, clear the interior enough to reach everything, prep the body and trunk, etc. The F8 material isn't going to be cheap either. You end up with a properly done '70 340 stick Duster with a "good" to "excellent" condition value of around $30K. Or, buy the Swinger for $12,500, spend another $4-5K to fix the known issues, and you wind up with a '69 Swinger 340 in a "good" to "excellent" condition value of around $30K. Simplified a lot, but you (I hope) get the idea. You're going to spend regardless. Spend less and get the same with the Duster.