And at the back of the car, a second broad bumper splits the difference between polished exhaust tips and a custom, Charger-inspired valance. Dodge's customary Bumble Bee Stripe looks great leading a molded steel spoiler that, judging by its weight, custom shop build history and intricate restoration, has been traditionally leaded in. A requisite Chrysler Pentastar floats on a clean hull that's decorated with small markers and a familiar Flip-Top Fuel Filler. Behind that cowl, a chopped greenhouse reflects painted mirrors, which cap slick doors that stack frameless glass on custom inboard handles. Behind that grille, a pinned hood centers a jet-inspired 'triclops' scoop in front of a filled cowl that's been relieved of its wiper arms. At the front of this clean coupe, a broad bumper frames a deep, Charger-style grille, which hangs ornate driving lamps between square Cibie headlights. That resulted in cars that were equal parts style, power AND presence. It's almost as if the Big Three had struck a perfect balance between the lavish, hand-tailored designs of the late 1950s and the ubiquitous, content-driven designs of the early 1970s. There's just something inherently cool about late 1960s Detroit metal. And today, this classic rolls as a stunning tribute to everything great about vintage Detroit muscle! Juliano, in his typical style, restored the car using 100% original and NOS components. So, after disappearing for quite a while, it found its way to legendary MoPar collector Steven Juliano. Not so with the Dart Swinger 340 concept! Being a largely cosmetic creation that was one of over 60 customs assembled by a reputable automotive shop, this Dart has always been fully functional and fully streetable. In fact, concept cars are often so compromised that any sell to the public would be a liability for their parent corporation. The logic is simple: concepts, especially concepts assembled in corporate studios, are generally purpose-built show cars that pay no mind to usability. Once the spotlight fades, these mavens usually suffer the fate of being stored indefinitely, getting scrapped immediately or, worse yet, being totally forgotten. The sad thing about concept cars is they tend to literally embody the principle of 15 minutes of fame. Developed by Chrysler and built by Detroit's own Alexander Brothers Custom Shop, this classic was officially introduced at the 1969 Chicago Auto Show and, like its kin the Rapid Transit quartet, eventually wowed spectators on a publicity tour across America. Enter this beast: the Dodge Dart Swinger 340 concept. The only thing the division needed was a flashy way to introduce their newest offering to the public. The Swinger name was eventually applied to almost all Dart hardtop models and, like every MoPar of the era, would feature a full catalog of great colors and cool striping options. Less extreme than the famed Hemi Darts of 1968, and less content-heavy than the brand's newly introduced Challenger pony car, the Dart Swinger would, in essence, be a fun way to introduce the brand to new buyers. Looking to toss their entry-level Dart into the bullseye of the muscle car wars, Dodge decided to create a new model that would be too tempting for consumers to pass up. And today, fully restored to original condition with New Old Stock parts, it represents the ultimate opportunity for the ultimate MoPar enthusiast to experience one of the purist Dodges in existence! Are you a serious collector who's looking for an historic, one-of-a-kind classic? Here's your chance to own one of the coolest muscle cars of all time! After decades lost in the abyss, the car joined the very private and exceptionally exclusive Steven Juliano Collection. In 1969, a sanguine Chrysler Corporation introduced the Dodge Dart Swinger 340 concept to preview the newest addition to their growing roster of legendary muscle cars. And very rarely, the literal concept itself survives generations of storage, leadership change and corporate purge to find its way into the care of adoring collectors. Fortunately, some of those concepts make their way to production virtually untainted by ergonomics, economics and regulations. Ask any major auto exec and they'll tell you that concept cars and design studies are the ideal artistic embodiment of how corporations want their brands to be perceived. Authentic 1 of 1 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 Concept Car 340 V8 4-speed PS PBīeing an auto enthusiast and having a great understanding of how concepts influence production goes hand in hand.
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