1970 Dodge Dart

The 1970 Dodge model year was comprised of the full-size Polara and Monaco, midsize Charger and Coronet, all-new Challenger, and compact Dart available with an array of high-performance goods. The new Challenger was becoming the 'sports model,' so the A-body Dart Swinger 340 became portrayed as the 'economy muscle' of Dodge's product line.

Dodge introduced its Dart in 1959 and would remain in production until 1976. In 1967, both the Dart and its sister model, the Plymouth Valiant, were substantially redesigned. Along with new styling, the car's steering system was revised, and a wider front track, frame rail spacing, and redesigned K-members allowed for larger engines. The Dart would wear this basic form until the ned of A-body production in 1976 for North America (1981 for South America).

The Dodge Dart's appearance and styling were brought closer inline to the full-size vehicles in 1970, through contour and grille changes. In the back were a wedge-shaped bumper and new rectangular taillights. The trunk continued to offer 14.1 cubic feet of storage, and 14-inch wheels became standard equipment. The 170 cubic-inch slant-6 was replaced by a larger 198 cubic-inch version that used the same block as the 225. It had solid valve lifters, four main bearings, 8.4:1 compression, and delivered 125 horsepower at 4,400 RPM.

The two-door Swinger hardtop listed for $2,470 for the six-cylinder version and nearly $2,600 with the optional V8. The base V8 was the 318 CID version with a two-barrel carburetor, five main bearings, and delivering 230 horsepower at 4,400 RPM.

The Dart Swinger 340 hardtop, priced at $2,800, was powered by a 340 cubic-inch V8 and backed by a three-speed manual transmission with a 3.23 rear axle ratio. The V8 had overhead valves, a cast-iron block, hydraulic valve lifters, five main bearings, a four-barrel Carter 'Thermo Quad' carburetor, and delivered 275 horsepower at 5,600 RPM. To cope with the power, the Dart Swinger 340 came standard with front disc brakes, Rallye suspension with Firm Ride shock absorbers, and E78-14 blackwall fiberglass bias-ply tires wrapped around 14 x 5.5 steel wheels. The Dart 340 nameplates were placed on the front fenders, and the hood had functional hood scoops with 340 emblems. The standard bench seat could be replaced with all-vinyl bucket seats, with which a center console could also be optioned. The hood could be upgraded with hood tie-down pins and scoops painted flat black. Wire wheel covers and Rally wheels were also optional, as were the power steering, power-assisted brakes, a 6,000 RPM tachometer, and a vinyl roof covering in white or black.

The Swinger hardtop was the most popular with 119,883 examples built in 1970. Next came the sedan with 35,449 examples built, followed by the exclusive 340 Hardtop with 13,785 sales.

The Dart Custom was the top trim level, available as a hardtop or a sedan, and added wheel lip moldings on hardtops, bodyside moldings on sedans, pile carpeting, dual horns, a steering wheel with partial horn ring, and Dart Custom name, in block letters, on the sides of the front fender. The sedans had vinyl and cloth bench seats. Six- and eight-cylinder options were available. The six-cylinder Dart Custom sedan had a base price of $2,650 and the base V8 version at $2,760. The hardtop coupe listed for $2,675 for the six and $2,790 for the eight. The sedan was the most popular with 23,779 sales followed closely by the coupe with 17,208 sales.

The total Dart production for 1970 was 210,104 units, including 169,117 Darts and 40,987 Dart Customs, a significant increase over the previous year's circa-86,400 examples built.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021