Why don't late A's get any respect

[toolmanmike]

So I have this 75 dart swinger, very clean car. Rust free south west car.

The previous owner had a T boned 75 dart SE and this car which is a base swinger. So the Previous owner swapped in the 318 and v8 k frame from the wrecked SE to this car.

So here i am years later and I finally located a slant six spool mount k frame which is an item that is much harder to find in 2022 than many would think. I am swapping this car back to a slant six because I like the way it was originally optioned and I actually want another slant car.

So while I'm working on swapping the k frame I had 3 different mopar buddies stop by at different times and every single one of them said the same thing.

"THIS CAR NEEDS AN EARLIER DART FRONT END TO LOOK BETTER"

WHY!!! would you do that to a complete and rust free car with a perfect grille!!!

I don't understand why the hate towards these later 73 and up cars which are actually rarer cars in 2022 than most would think. Parts for these cars that are unique to the 75 and 6 are getting to be non existent.

As Rodney dangerfield would say:
No respect, no respect but why

View attachment 1715956907

@Fred Scigliano built himself a beauty! It's a crowd pleaser where ever it goes! Fred, how about a few photos?

 

[RustyRatRod]

So I have this 75 dart swinger, very clean car. Rust free south west car.

The previous owner had a T boned 75 dart SE and this car which is a base swinger. So the Previous owner swapped in the 318 and v8 k frame from the wrecked SE to this car.

So here i am years later and I finally located a slant six spool mount k frame which is an item that is much harder to find in 2022 than many would think. I am swapping this car back to a slant six because I like the way it was originally optioned and I actually want another slant car.

So while I'm working on swapping the k frame I had 3 different mopar buddies stop by at different times and every single one of them said the same thing.

"THIS CAR NEEDS AN EARLIER DART FRONT END TO LOOK BETTER"

WHY!!! would you do that to a complete and rust free car with a perfect grille!!!

I don't understand why the hate towards these later 73 and up cars which are actually rarer cars in 2022 than most would think. Parts for these cars that are unique to the 75 and 6 are getting to be non existent.

As Rodney dangerfield would say:
No respect, no respect but why

View attachment 1715956907

I like the car a lot, btw. I think it's super cool.

 

[RustyRatRod]

@Fred Scigliano built himself a beauty! It's a crowd pleaser where ever it goes! Fred, how about a few photos?

Yes he did!

 

[318willrun]

I don't know if it's a "respect" thing, but it is true "most" have the opinion the '70-72" have a better-looking front end. I share that opinion. But it's just opinions. Nothing wrong with liking the beak cars (I've owned them).

 

[FISHYPETE]

It would be a bit boring if Mopar didn’t change things up every few yrs

 

[Daves69]

........As Rodney dangerfield would say:
No respect, no respect but why

IMO, If one lives and participates through a particular vehicle era and sees it wan, newer vehicles may be considered less acceptable or even inferior.
I myself tend to equate later model dated cars to decreased performance. I still do for no good reason. But resistance to change is real.
As I recall, emission standards, fuel grades and prices, and insurance companies bitchin' were all issues on the rise in that time frame. So many labeled these newer cars as dogs and something to shy away from.

One of my RTC examples: At points in time style comes into play. I've owned a '68, '69, and '72 Road Runners from HS and through the late 70's.
The '74 Road Runner was the last RR body style that appealed to me. The '75 RR much less. And when they took it to Volare' style, it became just plain hideous. That even made the '75 style a bit more appealing to me!

Now if one lived and ran that Volare' RR, they might just view those '68-'69 RRs as lard *** tanks out of the past.

 

[toolmanmike]

Your to kind Mike

Thanks Mike just don't look to close it's a driver not a show queen.View attachment 1715956963

It's a beauty Fred.

 

[FISHYPETE]

A driven show queen

 

[Frodee]

@Fred Scigliano built himself a beauty! It's a crowd pleaser where ever it goes! Fred, how about a few photos?

View attachment 1715956962

Thanks Mike just don't look close it's a driver not a show queen.

 

[toolmanmike]

The later A's are like the 63-66 A's. There is many that don't like them (especially the 66 Darts)
I like the 64's best but with the right wheels the 66's can be pretty sharp. I think anyway.

 

[Frodee]

In my younger years a Scamp was an old mans car and would have never restored one but now that I'm an old man it fits me just fine. lol

 

[67Dart273]

I did not "previously" love the looks of the "beak" cars until "now that I have one," the 74 Scamp. I'm not "getting anywhere" with it partially because health problems have limited progress. The ONLY real complaint I have on these cars is the extra weight, bulk, and general nonsense of the bumper mountings. They are HEAVY

 

[Mr. Sinister]

My ‘74……Yup!

 

[missing linc]

So I have this 75 dart swinger, very clean car. Rust free south west car.

The previous owner had a T boned 75 dart SE and this car which is a base swinger. So the Previous owner swapped in the 318 and v8 k frame from the wrecked SE to this car.

So here i am years later and I finally located a slant six spool mount k frame which is an item that is much harder to find in 2022 than many would think. I am swapping this car back to a slant six because I like the way it was originally optioned and I actually want another slant car.

So while I'm working on swapping the k frame I had 3 different mopar buddies stop by at different times and every single one of them said the same thing.

"THIS CAR NEEDS AN EARLIER DART FRONT END TO LOOK BETTER"

WHY!!! would you do that to a complete and rust free car with a perfect grille!!!

I don't understand why the hate towards these later 73 and up cars which are actually rarer cars in 2022 than most would think. Parts for these cars that are unique to the 75 and 6 are getting to be non existent.

As Rodney dangerfield would say:
No respect, no respect but why

View attachment 1715956907

I think it's a great looking car, do it your way and enjoy it, to hell with other peeps "opinions".

 

[YY1]

Truthfully, I'm not crazy about the 73-76 Dart front end.

To me the same years Plymouth is much more appealing.

That said, the aforementioned Dart (Sport in particular) benefits similar to the 70 Coronet from:

Wide rear tires and an aggressive stance.
HIP colors and factory stripes.
Sport hood.

Add those up and the result is WAY more appealing than a brown or green car with skinny rear tires sitting low in the rear.

I've also seen some grill blackout treatments that really change the look in a positive way (IMO).
To the point of "why didn't they do that from the factory"?

 

[barbee6043]

I love the taillites in the bumper era thing, but the later taillites are OK. I agree the real distraction is the bumper deal/
Right now, I have a 75 AMC Hornet with those shock absorber protruding bumpers. I have seriously considered beating that damn shock into oblivion to tuck those bumpers IN!
It ain't just the shock deal that is heavy, its that heavy chunk of steel behind the bumper!

 

[YY1]

This one's pretty bad-*** and only has 2of the 3 things I mentioned-

[FOR SALE] - 1973 Dodge Dart Sport 340

 

[MidnightSwinger]

The beak front Darts look like a Mopar Villain car to me. Like something you would see the bad guy drive in Batman. Of course the 70 Dart is iconic and beautiful, but those later cars look evil when done right. I dig that.

 

[TF360]

1974 was the most popular year for the Duster 280,000 sold. People loved them, and everybody had one in their family. They are getting very popular. Most did Not have the beak, and benefited from better front suspension w/disc brakes, big bolt pattern wheels, Electronic Ignition, a safety beam inside the driver and passenger doors ect. They are the best A-bodies!

 

[33IMP]

Same reason as late B's. More weight, less motor.

 

[MidnightSwinger]

My work in progress

 

[TT5.9mag]

Anything after 74 here in California get much less love simply because of our ridiculous smog laws. No one wants them. I personally don’t like the beak cars but have no problem with someone else liking them. The black car above looks fantastic but I still don’t like the beak.

 

[barbee6043]

I had a 76 Feather Duster once. What I really hated was the cheap A pillow inside PLASTIC trim. I drove 3 hours to a bud and gave $100 for the excellent condition but damn crap trim!!!
I have had some 73, 4 Dusters, Dart Sports and I admit I did not care for the dash trim on them either but thats all small potatoes.
I love the shape of the car from the side and whats makes it is the color to me as in most any model.

 

[jos51700]

@Fred Scigliano built himself a beauty! It's a crowd pleaser where ever it goes! Fred, how about a few photos?

View attachment 1715956962

It's a beauty Fred.

Thanks Mike just don't look close it's a driver not a show queen. View attachment 1715956964

I agree that car is sexy as hell

But are you going to lie to me if you tell that those bumpers are 100% stone stock in the stock location?

versus

 

[33IMP]

Not much more evil looking than a black car with doggie dishes.
I still remember a 66 satellite with a hemi and black paint and doggies, cruising Colorado Blvd, new years eve, many years ago.
Evil looking, even more evil sounding......