1970 Dodge Dart Swinger in Top Banana Yellow & 340 Engine Sound on My Car Story with Lou Costabile

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On "My Car Story" we're in the Suburbs of Chicago IL on 5-12-18.
We're looking at a 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger in Top Banana Yellow Paint. This car features the 340 CI engine. The 340 CI was the largest engine offered for this car that year.
The car's Owner is Jerry Kusch. Jerry’s had this car since 2008. Jerry shares he always liked the light car body with a large engine, and this car was the right one for him.
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[@user-ui8or8cq7l]

It was 1986. I had a 70 340 Swinger. I added an Edelbrock Torquer II aluminum intake, a Holley 750 double pumper and nothing else. They were building a highway near my house and it was closed to the public until done. Near us was a pure stretch of straight highway road and every weekend everyone went there to drag race until the cops came. The only car I ever lost to was an older guy with a 76 Valiant Police Car with a 360 he built to the max. At least it was a MOPAR. 340s can run. Picked up a 72 Duster 340 later on. Both cars were 4 speeds with high 3 gearing, I just can't recall exactly. Funny thing was to me, the 70 felt to be about it's claimed figures before I changed the intake and carb (and used a freer flowing air cleaner, too) of about 275 HP and the 72 was closer to 300 with the smog changes. Meh, who knows? Miss those days.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Ketch, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@salcurcio2791]

This is the car I had right before I went into the Navy. Mine was black with a red stripe . Loved that car.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Sal, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@martinliehs2513]

What a classic! When I grew up in the 70's, it seemed that everyone we knew had a Dart, Valiant or Duster at one point, and within a couple of years, the front fenders would be rusted through. This 1970 Swinger is a neat looking tribute to that era (thankfully without the rusty fenders).

[@loucostabile]

Hi Martin Liehs, Glad this one brings up those 1970's car memories :-) And you're right, they all rusted out, Lou

[@Red-rl1xx]

My dad bought a 340 Dart new in '69. It was blue with a white stripe. It was our family car for 10 years. He put a set of Thrush mufflers on it. Sounded awesome!

[@loucostabile]

Good times Red 13, good times :-) Lou

[@davidthompson62]

They use to crush these in the late 80’s not because the engines were dead but because they rotted away. As every Chrysler fan knows, that 340 engine was one of the best Chrysler ever built. Good luck trying to find original parts for one of these; I personally know 2 people who attempted to restore one of these but gave up because replacement parts were impossible to find. Funny for us old timers to say “nice car” to a dodge Swinger.

[@loucostabile]

Hi David, Thanks for viewing and sharing you knowledge. Cars have an amazing way of looking better with age, Lou

[@leroycaudill96]

These were a very strong motor the 340 wife drove one same color same stripe but I think the one she drove had a 318 I could be wrong been a long time Thanks Lou God Bless.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Leroy, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your wife's car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome. Blessings received. God bless you, Lou

[@markdrukenbrod9475]

Thanks, Lou. I had forgotten how really good looking these cars were. Where I grew up in PA, these cars (with a slant 6,) were standard issue for elderly Mennonite ladies. Kinda makes you re-evaluate your definition of swinger, hunh?

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mark, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome, Lou

[@stripervince1]

Awesome body style. 340 rocks!

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy this car :-)

[@belloviper]

I had the same car but with black top and slant 6. Would of kept it but Michigan winters rusted badly. Was a very reliable car. Now I drive a newer Challenger. I like how easy it was to work on the dart. Lots of room

[@loucostabile]

Hi j, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@TheGunfighter45acp]

Another nice & rare find, Lou! All the extra goodies in the trunk were great, too.

[@loucostabile]

Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Glad you enjoy this hard to find in good shape one, and happy to read you enjoy the "trunk & treats" too :-) Lou

[@Chuckles9191991]

Thx for the great video Lou. Gotta say I never really paid attention to this model all that much. Never really noticed how nice a car it truly is. Love the rear window.

[@loucostabile]

HI Chuckles9191991, Glad you viewed and sounds like a new found appreciation. Car's have an amazing ability to get batter looking with age, Lou

[@wiliamkirkpatrick1532]

1970 340 Swinger Hood scoops were functional when manufactured.

[@loucostabile]

HI Wiliam, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@anthonyc1883]

"Or, they were smashed." LOL! Good one, Jerry.

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@clyde7059]

Thanks, again, Lou! I imagine that car moves pretty well with that 340 in such a small car. At first, before he really got it started, I wasn't sure how much I'd like it's sound, but then when the exhaust note kicked in,... WOW! That was a sweeeet sound! Gotta' love that sound!

[@loucostabile]

Hi clyde7059, Glad to receive a "WOW!" from the sound of the 340 (Big Motor) for this car :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@user-hj8xg8gg5w]

My favourite US car!! The 70/72 dave London England. ❤

[@loucostabile]

Hi Dave, Happy to read his is a favourite of yours :-) Lou

[@Duececoupe]

Wouldn't mind one of those....another great find Lou! 👍👌👏

[@loucostabile]

You don't see them often Duececoupe as few people saved them :-) Glad to share this one with you on the Channel, Lou

[@timmccreery3646]

I bought a 70 Dart Swinger 340 4bbl in Sub-Lime (a bright green color) after high school in 1974 for $1600 from Harbor Dodge in Costa Mesa. It had broken mirrors when I looked at it on the lot but the dealer replaced them with dual Dodge Challenger remote control mirrors. The spec chart you showed in the trunk of this car listed the compression as 8.8:1. I know from experience it was much higher- I've seen 10.5:1 listed, and I know if you put less than 94 octane in the tank you'd pay for it! I have very fond memories of that car- 140mph indicated on the speedo on a highway in New Mexico.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tim, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@elizabethcherry920]

Heres a little trivia, the dart and valiant was popular world wide, In some South American markets they had special variants of this car and those were called the Chrysler Charger and LeBaron, ones made in Australia were special versions of the Valiant. I hope some day you come across one of these oddities from other countries.

[@loucostabile]

HI Elizabeth Cherry, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge, Lou

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

The 340 in an A body could shut down many big blocks. Great car Lou

[@loucostabile]

You're right on the 340 being a surprise to the Biggies.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Hey Lou. Awesome looking 1970 Dart 340 Swinger. I've always loved the styling of the 1970-76 Dodge Dart. :)

[@loucostabile]

Hey Jason, Glad you thing the looks of this one is "awesome" :-) Lou

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I agree. I also like the Dart memorabilia, brochures, books, model cars, etc.

[@loucostabile]

Glad you enjoy the trunk treats :-) Me too.

[@tippey2011]

Thanks Lou! I like old darts! Top banana is a neat color. I did notice over spray on the paint but it is nice car I live the literature in the trunk! Sounds healthy and optioned with power brakes no power steering. Nice old dart though.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Steve Flad, Glad you like the car and the color on this one :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@scottbrady7499]

my grandmother's friend, rose rizzo, took us to see a re-release of "the sound of music," and drive her yellow dodge swinger accidentally down the wrong side street that was one WAY: (the other way).. a mid week day in 1975, she lucked out and- no other vehicles! my grandma genny, just said: "I don't think this is the right way." today at that same intersection, it would have to be 4AM to luck out in that fashion. straight six swinger. '72 or so. probably a 2800 dollar car. her husband was a SURGEON. the other vehicle in the driveway was a Mercedes of one kind or another..

[@loucostabile]

Hi Scott, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Grandmothers Friends car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@mfmf100]

Very cool and looks better with that color than I’d have guessed.

[@loucostabile]

HI mfmf100, Cars have unique way of getting better looking with age. This one (in my opinion) looks better now than in 1970, Lou

[@randybiby9757]

Ya have to love yellow street machines. And that 340 sounded great.

[@loucostabile]

Nice :-)

[@hishamelfiki8111]

HI LOU how are you doing . Wish you all the best. This amazing awsome swinger dart Should be classified as a classic collectable . It is a one of a kind . This car is hand crafted with great precession and engineering. Today they do not know how to make like this great car. Thanks LOU for sharing a wonderful extremely important car during the seventies. LOU appreciate your hard work sharing all great classics. Please have a great successful day. Incidentally it sounds great. Kind regards HISHAM ELFIKI

[@loucostabile]

Hi Hisham Elfiki, I'm going to be focused on sales for awhile :-I But they will come :-) Glad you have "high praise" for this one :-) How are you? Hope you have a great week, Lou

[@garrrrrryyy]

i love 70 swinger but for me 69 was the swinger wow

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gary, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@deniseb3897]

My very first car when I was 16 back in 1976 was one of these, but it was green with a black vinyl top. It came with the 340 of course, power disc brakes (4 piston type), power steering, a.c., 727 column shifted Torqueflite, 8 3/4 rear with SureGrip and 3.23 gears, flat black hood with hood pins. Stock except for a bigger carburetor, a Carter AFB 750 cfm, I hit 130 mph. I loved the Rallye gauge package with the 150 mph speedometer and fuel, temp, oil pressure and alt charge. No tachometer though. Everything worked great, except the a.c. It had only 42,000 miles on it when I bought it. Because of the OPEC embargo and rusted quarter panels, back bumper, and trunk lid I only paid $350 for it. It wasn't very pretty, I guess, but it sure beat a lot of pretty cars. It was my daily driver and fun mobile for 2 1/2 years. I raced it constantly in the 1/4 mile and freeway racing and won most races, against small blocks Unbelievably tough motor. Loved that car and then one night I hydroplaned and totaled it. A great first car that I probably wouldn't have survived in except for those excellent front disc brakes. They saved my butt on many adventures! Lots of fun memories!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Denise B389, Happy to read this car / video brings back memories of your 1st car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and I hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you'll enjoy, Lou

[@trainroomgary]

Hi Jerry & Lou / I have this car 🚗 in a die cast medal but a Dart / Like the concave rear / the model look great in the trunk / very cool ride / Cheers 🥂 from Michigan 🚂

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gary, Agreed, the back windows is cool :-) Glad you enjoy the model too, Lou

[@timhiltonsuperstar]

Great car...made in Canada! My home and native land...

[@loucostabile]

Hi tim hilton, Glad you enjoy this "great" one, and made in your homeland too :-) Lou

[@elm7666]

All H code darts were built in Windsor Ontario in 70'.

[@SamsterOne]

Hamilton!

[@wickedfirefly13]

Dassa one-a hot a-swingin banana, issa make-a smoothy ride... I like!! I can't help lovin this ride, n just a hoot seein the brochures n I spent way too much time enjoying em! Cool stickers n love the flower emblem. Scoops are cool lookin n gotsta have the stripe... really sets it off! Great sound widda big banana blastin rev! Awesome! Lotsa fun watching this video! Thanks!!🍌🐒

[@loucostabile]

Hi WickedFireFLy13, "Dassa one-a hot a-swingin banana, issa make-a smoothy ride" Just when I think, OK, she's gotta let her brain cool from putting together SOOOOOO many perfect car after car after car comments, AND you come up with this line...………………………….YOU ARE AMAZING! You have a God given talent in writing. I'm so blessed and glad you're along for the ride. I thank you and you're welcome, Lou

[@edb.3313]

Cool car for sure Lou!👍

[@loucostabile]

Hi Ed B, Glad you think this one is cool :-) Lou

[@CarloRinomatoJr]

Lou a thank you a Mopar a special as always

[@loucostabile]

You're welcome :-) Going to the MOPAR Nationals in Carlisle PA this year, so stay tuned Carlo Rinamato Jr, Lou

[@OldNewSweetRides]

Top quality muscle car!

[@loucostabile]

Glad you enjoy this one John :-) Lou

[@ollehaggman70]

Nice car. I like it.

[@loucostabile]

Glad you like this one :-)

[@Thirdgen83]

Cool car.

[@loucostabile]

Glad you enjoy this one :-)

[@estpst]

nice car, not many Darts on the road. Saw one a couple months ago in good shape.

[@loucostabile]

Hi estpst, Glad you think this one is nice, and you're right, you do not see many on the road as most rusted out, Lou

[@MrBohank]

I had identical car, same color.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jessie, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@MrBohank]

@@loucostabile just subscribed. I'm 63 now but when I was 16 I had this and a 69 roadrunner. My poor neighbors, myself and 3 brothers driving big block mopars. My brothers drove 69 coronet R/T. The other two drove GTX 440. Good times and wow those headers sounded great.

[@kriskirby1387]

one of my favorite american models

[@loucostabile]

Videoed a winner for you Kris Kirby :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@72dodge340]

Love the car and the color. Darts are my favorite cars. I have 2. I've never seen that 340 emblem on the trunk lid on the many many many that I've seen, and I'm pretty sure it's not original. But, who knows. Maybe someone was messing around at the factory on this one.

[@72dodge340]

I also noticed it's missing the usual Dodge badge on each quarter panel (above the Swinger). And the car has been repainted. All evidence that the emblems can't be trusted to necessarily be original. YES, I'm just nit-picking. It's a really nice car. I'd love to have that one.

[@loucostabile]

Hi 72dodge340, Glad to share a favorite of yours :-) You're right, based on what was available in the "bin" would be what was added to your car, Lou

[@stripervince1]

Hey Lou, since you love muscle cars so much, do you own one? Just curious. I have a 1997 cobra svt super charged beast.

[@loucostabile]

Hey stripervince1, Here is my car (which you see at in the "end screen" of the videos since September 2019) and YES! I'd like a 1960's muscle car, so let's hope the Channel grows to the point where I can share "Lou's new muscle car!" episode :-) Enjoy! Lou kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZS5f4arat2pbLs

[@cardon905]

Hi Lou! I have a 14 mustang gt and a 71 chevelle. When you back out to Arizona contact me for some videos!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Car Don, Will be back in AZ last week in June & first week in July. Plan to be at Cars & Coffee @ Mayo 101. If you see me say hello, Lou

[@garbage854]

Nice :)

[@loucostabile]

Glad you enjoy this one :-)

[@douglasholloran6513]

i believe the seats fold flat in the swinger just the kind of thing a swinger needed would have been nice to confirm this rumor perhaps someone out there will say yes or no .

[@marvingross8151]

Nope, dont fold flat.

[@loucostabile]

I don't recall them going flat.

[@theoriginalmungaman]

Nice car but the bumble bee stripe is wrong. The stripes were straight across the top of the trunk lid.

[@elm7666]

The stripe is correct for the 70'. The 68 and 69 had a straight stripe. -FYI-.

[@michaelcowan6254]

Rapid Transit Stripe

[@loucostabile]

Hi theoriginalmungaman, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@user-ch3nv5uy3k]

Ok

[@loucostabile]

Ok

[@professorpatpending8731]

G'day Lou, Not seen this model release before. Here is an Aussie variant of the Dart and the Duster in many aspects ... the Valiant Charger made in Australia. www.whichcar.com.au/features/360ci-1973-chrysler-valiant-charger-xl-reader-car and www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/feature-cars/1510/vh-valiant-charger-r-t-e49-australias-greatest-muscle-car-series-3 and www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/muscle/218201-1972-vh-e49-valiant-charger.html Mopar muscle ! Cheers

[@loucostabile]

Thank you Professor Pat Pending for doing your homework, and bringing it in on time. You get a 100% score, Lou

[@wiliamkirkpatrick1532]

Swinger not Dusted!!

[@loucostabile]

Dusted?....Duster :-)

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

those were more 'beaters' kind of cars not mini roadrunners as chrysler insistedt hey were, front suspension is totally scary past 90mph , mainly because of the bars and the caster problem....but still i wish the big 3 still build beater like that instead of fwd 4cyl tupperware marvel

[@marvingross8151]

Properly lined up with good tires and nothing worn out these things steered excellently , had mine well over 100 mph many times years ago.

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

Ha. I had my duster past 90 a few times and neither of us broke a sweat. I think you're confusing this with some brand x junk

[@marvingross8151]

@@fubarmodelyard1392 Yep, with proper alignment , parts not worn out and decent tires these things handled great at any speed.

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

@@marvingross8151 and they certainly weren't beaters. Better than anything in their class

[@loucostabile]

Hi Ragimund Vonwallat, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@oregongaper]

No radio, heater delete, power disc brakes...I'm thinking this car was bought to go a 1/4 mile at a time.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Al Terego, Seems like a logical deduction, and I think you're right :-) Lou

[@cprolland1539]

i would put a hurst 4 on the floor...........

[@loucostabile]

Hi Cp Rolland, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thought. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@ANDREWSAMY562]

Now go look at a 2018 Dodge "Dart". You'll hate yourself lol

[@loucostabile]

PLEASE DON"T MAKE ME :-)

[@josephliptak]

Id take a 1970 Dart all day long over the 2018.