92 PHR Reader Projects

'70 Dart Swinger • Jesse Weir • Scottdale, PA A 340ci Chrysler small-block was the driving force behind Jesse Weir's Dart project. His father purchased it from his uncle as a Christmas gift for Jesse when he was 15, but it ended being a garage decoration for the next 10 years as Jesse went through high school, the military, marriage, and his first child. After a move he needed a spot to store the 340 and his uncle offered his garage-provided Jesse buy a car for them to drop it in. After scoring a '70 Swinger for only $800, they began the typical bodywork battle with holes hidden under putty. There's still a long way to go, but Jesse intends to stay pure for his Dart; he refuses to ride in anything that might spoil his first ride in the Swinger.

'75 Dart Swinger Chris Holley Montgomery, PA Riding with his dad in a '74 VW, 5-year-old Chris Holley was mesmerized when a hot '69 Dart GTS with a rumpity idle pulled next to the van at a light. From that day forward he was enamored with A-Body Mopars and picked up a '69 Dart when he was 20 that became his weekend drag toy. These days, Prof. Chris at Pennsylvania College of Technology still has the 11-second '69, but has decided to build a '75 Swinger for daily driving as well. This one is nearly the polar opposite of the '69, since it's a factory Slant Six with power steering, disc brakes, and A/C. Not a fast car, but a killer cruiser.