Regardless of which Dodge Dart you are considering, both eras of the vehicle have a reputation for being well-built cars. The badge was resurrected in 2012 for a short-lived line of Fiat-derived sedans. The Dodge Dart was a moderately successful line of vehicles that sold through most of the 60s and 70s. The first would be a vintage sedan dated as far back as 1960, or it could be a modern badging of the Dodge Dart available from 2012 to 2016. The SSA you see here was based on the range-topping Swinger 340, so it came with both the 340-cubic-inch V8 rated at 275 horsepower and the dual-scoop hood.When searching for a Dodge Dart for sale, you could be looking at two different eras of vehicles. The bundle also included air conditioning, power steering, radio, and undercoating.Īs for power, the SSA was available with any engine, be it an inline-six or a V8. The latter was included at no additional cost, which made the SSA almost 6% more affordable than an identically-equipped Dart outside the Chicago area. You'll also notice traces of "SSA" badges on the rear fenders.Īside from that, the Dart SSA was also shipped with a Rallye dashboard, wheels, and an automatic transmission. The paint on this blue car is too far gone to see the side stripes, but some of the graphics (including the S/SA roundel) are still visible on the upper trunk lid. What makes it special compared to the regular Swinger? Well, the SSA package is mostly about graphics, as the Chicago special got unique pin striping on the sides and the trunk lid. Discovered and documented by YouTube's "Auto Archaeology," it's one of only two or three still known to exist. The derelict example you see here is one of the early 1970 cars. There are no records on how many Dart SSA cars were built, but we know that Dodge introduced the regional model in 1970 and kept it in showrooms through 1972. And most Mopar enthusiasts haven't even heard about it. In fact, this car is so rare that only a few of them are still known to exist. It wasn't available with any special V8 engine, but it's rarer than all the aforementioned high-performance gems. It's called the SSA, which is short for Super Swinger Automatic. In 1971, Dodge made a unique version of the compact for the Chicagoland Dodge network. However, the legacy of limited-edition Darts did not end with the GTS 440. Like most Mopars, the Dart lost its high-performance engines when the Malaise Era settled it. Not surprisingly, all four emerged during the golden muscle car. And this is how they rank from rarest and most valuable to the most common: 1968 Mr. Norm and assembled by Hurst.Īll told, there are four high-profile Darts that Mopar collectors are chasing to throw big bucks at nowadays. Only 640 cars were made, all engineered by Mr. It arrived in 1969 and went into the history books as a one-year wonder. Norm's limited run eventually inspired Dodge to release its own 440 edition based on the GTS. They all got "GSS" badges for Grand Spaulding Sport. The dealership sold about 50 440-swapped Darts in 1968. While Dodge was busy putting together the drag-spec Dart, Norman Kraus of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago dropped the even bigger 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB in the compact. The limited-edition model did not return beyond 1968, which makes it a one-year gem. Developed and assembled with help from Hurst Performance, the HEMI Dart saw daylight in 1968 units. The first one was the LO23, a drag-ready version fitted with the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8. Sporting a more aggressive design aimed at the entry-level muscle car market, the nameplate got a GTS model with a high-output 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8.ġ968 brought two of the rarest and most desirable iterations of the Dart. The third-gen Dart (1963-1966) was rather lackluster beyond a 273-cubic-inch (4.5-liter) V8 rated at 235 horsepower, but things changed with the arrival of the fourth-generation car in 1967. It was the very first Dodge fitted with the said mill, and only 55 were made. While the full-size model wasn't particularly impressive in this department, the 1962 midsize version got the 413-cubic-inch (6.8-liter) Max Wedge V8. Although it's not as celebrated as other Mopar nameplates from the era, the Dart spawned a few desirable performance cars over the years.
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