1972 dodge dart images5/3/2024 ![]() This included Rallye wheels, hood scoops, chrome exhaust tips and chrome hood/fender moldings. The Crestview cars also received “special trim,” as all have this hand scrawled on the bottom of the broadcast sheets. However, all were early to mid ‘71 build dates. The 340 engines in these 1971 Swinger Specials were painted blue and were not built on the same day or built in the same plants as witnessed by the different stampings on a number of the original engines on these cars. They also had H2XW hand written in red marker on all their broadcast sheets even though the tag and sheet showed L2X9. All of the sequence numbers and order numbers were sequential and all of the fender tags and broadcast sheets indicate L2X9 coded interiors (however the Crestview cars were all upgraded to the H2XW interiors). The Crosstown cars had a scheduled build date of 507 (May 7th) while the Crestview cars were 513 (May 13th). Crestview got 18 and 2 additional units went to a unknown dealer in Ft. Since Crosstown spearheaded the project, they got the bulk of them with 63 units showing up. According to records and in-depth research, 83 Swinger 340 Specials were produced in 1971. It has been said though that the term “Special” for these cars does not actually denote the special run, rather it denotes the base or bottom line of the Dart model. These new Swinger Specials had a unique VIN prefix of LL23H1R (L=Dart, L=Low, 23=2 Door Hardtop, H=340, 1=71, R=Windsor, Ontario Plant) and carried the very coveted Y39 special order code as indicated on the broadcast sheets. Needless to say, with the sales numbers that they had, Crosstown had some serious pull with corporate. On top of the high amount of performance cars that came out of Crosstown ( like our dealer demo 1971 Charger R/T for example), it has been said that more Hemi cars came out of Crosstown, per capita, in North America compared to anywhere else. At the time, Crosstown under the guidance of owner Zane Feldman, grew into the largest volume dealership in the late ’60’s to the mid ’70’s. With this in mind, Crestview Dodge in Regina, Saskatchewan and Crosstown Motors in Edmonton, Alberta teamed up and did something no one else did or could they somehow pulled some strings with Chrysler Head Office and ordered a very limited run of factory built hi-performance low buck Dart Swinger 340 Specials for 1971. ![]() With the lack of a 340 Swinger for 1971, it left many enthusiasts empty handed. With 16,637 Swinger 340s produced in 1969 and 13,785 in 1970, it was no question that they were good sellers, especially in Canada. This change meant the biggest engine available for the 19 Darts was the lowly 230 horsepower 318-2bbl. In 1971, the fastback Demon 340 had replaced the popular Swinger 340 in the Dodge performance lineup. When you think of the 340 powered Dodge Dart Swinger, your mind usually goes to the ’69 and ’70 examples but what many don’t know is Dodge actually built a factory 340 powered Dart Swinger in 19.
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