The 1975 Dodge Dart and Swinger (Valiant, Duster, and Scamp were similar)
For 1975, the Dart continued essentially unchanged in most of its essentials. Cosmetic changes were minor, with a new, less pointy grille; new lower deck trim applique and up-and-over stripes on Dart Sport and Dart 360 Sport; new fabrics (including velour), new seats (including various buckets), and new colors (silver, red, two golds, and cinnamon).
Following the success of the Plymouth Valiant Brougham and Dodge Dart SE, which provided an upscale feel and appearance to the aging but still competitive small cars, Dodge continued selling four-door SE sedans and two-door SE hardtops. New for all SE models was a chrome plated grille, and red vinyl roof (added to the existing green, white, black, and parchment options). More colors were available for the color-keyed SE wheel covers.
Valiant, Duster, and Dart together claimed a whopping 28% of America’s compact car market — well more than double Chrysler’s overall market share.
The essentially identical 1976 Dodge Dart Sport hit 121.8 miles per hour in a Car & Driver test, easily beating the Ford Mustang II Cobra (106 mph) and Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (118 mph). It was, in fact, beaten only by the Chevrolet Corvette L82, which only went up to 124.5 mph.
| Car & Driver, 1976 | Dodge Dart Sport | Corvette L82 | Trans Am | Mustang II Cobra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 360 automatic | 350 automatic | 455 manual | 302 manual |
| 0-60 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 8.9 |
| 0-100 | 26.4 | 19.9 | 22.3 | 40.0 |
| Quarter mile | 15.7 @ 88.3 | 15.3 @91.9 | 15.6 @ 90.3 | 17.0 @ 78.0 |
| Braking from 70 | 201 ft | 195 ft | 175 ft | 214 ft |
| C/D mileage | 13.5 / 15.5 | 14.5 / 16.5 | 12.0 / 13.0 | Not recorded |
| Cost, as tested | $4,825 | $10,053 | $5,722 | $5,884 |
| Weight | 3,650 | 3,655 | 3,820 | 3,305 |
Engine lineup
Functional changes for 1975, the last full year for the Dart under its current name, included:
- Dart's heating and defrosting system had a 14% greater heating capacity; the fresh air system was standard on all models
- The vent fan moved from two speeds to three
- 2.45 to 1 economy rear axle ratio was made standard on 318 V-8 powered models.
- A catalytic converter was standard on most models.
- A resonator to reduce exhaust noise is standard on all 318 V-8 models, and was part of the optional sound-insulation package on six-cylinder models.
- 2-speed windshield wipers with electrically operated windshield washers were standard on all but SE models, which had 3-speed wipers standard.
- New molded dash liner for quieter car interior.
- Automatic speed control was a new option.
- A thermostatically controlled heat valve in exhaust manifold of all engines sped warm-up.
- Dual electric horns were standard on S.E., optional on all other models.
1975 Dodge Dart models
Base engine on all models was the 225 slant six or 318 V8; the Dart 360 models of course came with the 360 V8, which was closely related but tuned for performance. Carburetors were single-barrel on slant six, two-barrel on 318, four-barrel on 360.
DART SWINGER SPECIAL 2-DOOR HARDTOP
- Dodge nameplates in grille header molding and lower deck panel
- "Swinger" and "Special" names on front fenders
- "Dart" nameplate on rear quarter panels
- Bright windshield and rear window moldings, argent finish grille, bright grille surround molding
- Bumper guards standard, front and rear
- 6.95 x 14" black sidewall tires with six-cylinder engine; D78 x 14" black sidewall tires with V-8 (minimum-size tires required with six-cylinder engine with air conditioning)
DART SWINGER 2-DOOR HARDTOP
Dart Swinger 2-door hardtop has all the Dart Swinger Special 2-door hardtop exterior and chassis features, except:
- "Dodge" name on rear deck applique; "Dart" nameplate on front fenders instead of rear quarter panels
- "Swinger" nameplate on front fenders
- Bright roof drip-rail moldings, bright body side molding with black paint fill
DART S.E. 2-DOOR HARDTOP
Same as Dart Swinger 2-door hardtop, except:
- "S.E." medallion on rear roof pillars
- Chrome-plated grille, bright belt moldings, bright wheel opening moldings, wide, bright sill molding
- Vinyl roof with vinyl roof moldings; bright hood center-line molding with folding "S.E." medallion
- Thin body side tape stripe, gold or red
- Color-keyed wheel covers and E78 x 14" white sidewall tires
DART SPORT 2-DOOR COUPE
- Dodge nameplates in grille header molding and rear deck applique; Dart and Sport on front fenders
- Bright windshield and rear window moldings, grille surround, wheel openings
- Argent finish grille
- Bumper guards
- 6.95 x 14" black sidewall tires; D78 x 14" black sidewall tires (minimum-size tires required with air conditioning)
DART 360 SPORT 2-DOOR COUPE
Dart Sport plus:
- 360 nameplate on front fenders
- Up-and-over stripe available in parchment, black, white, or "light" gold.
- Automatic transmission standard
- Heavy-duty suspension with front anti-sway bar and heavy-duty shock absorbers
- E70 x 14" bias-belted, polyglass black sidewall tires
- 360-cubic-inch, 4-barrel V-8
DART 4-DOOR SEDAN
- Dodge name on grille header molding and lower deck panel; Dart on front fenders
- Bright windshield and rear window moldings and grille surround
- Argent finish grille
- 6.95 x 14" black sidewall tires with six-cylinder engine; D78 x 14" black sidewall tires with V-8 (minimum-size tires required with six-cylinder engine with air conditioning)
DART CUSTOM 4-DOOR SEDAN
Dart sedan plus Custom nameplate on front fenders, Dodge on rear deck applique, bright roof drip-rail moldings and body side molding with black paint fill
DART S.E. 4-DOOR SEDAN
Dart Custom sedan plus:
- "S.E." medallion on rear roof pillars; no Custom nameplates
- Chrome-plated grille
- Thin body side tape stripe: available in gold or red
- Vinyl-textured B-pillar molding (between front and rear doors)
- Bright door-frame upper moldings, wheel opening moldings, front and rear, sill moldings, hood center-line molding with folding"S.E." ornament
- Vinyl roof with vinyl roof moldings
- Color-keyed wheel covers
- E78 x 14" white sidewall tires
Transmissions
The Darts’ most popular transmission to use the three-speed TorqueFlite, with a part-throttle kickdown to eliminate the need to floor the gas, providing greater responsiveness, smoother driving, and lower gas consumption. It was an extra-cost option on all but SE and Dart 360, and was generally column mounted. The Dart Sport and Dart 360 Sport (when equipped with bucket seats and consoles) used the same transmission, but mounted in the console, with a button push required to move from Drive to lower gears, and from Neutral to Park or Reverse.
Three manual transmission options were available, all synchronized in all forward gears; The base three-speed had either the traditional column mounted shifter or a floor mount; the floor mounted shifter was an extra cost option. A four speed with a Hurst shifter was available on the Dart Sport with Rallye package, and included a reverse warning light.
Interesting options for 1975 included a crank-operated metal sun roof (which tilted open) on most models; a folding rear seat for extra storage on Sport (increasing hauling capacity to 35.6 cubic feet), with included trunk floor carpeting and side trim panels; the Fuel Pacer, which illuminated the fender mounted turn signal light when the car was given too much gas; electric and forced-air rear defoggers; and Sure-Grip differential (similar to Posi-Trac in that when one rear wheel lost grip, power was transferred to the other), which required either disc brakes or a V8 engine. A heavy duty suspension, standard on Dart 360 Sport, was optional on all models, with heavy duty front torsion bar springs and rear leaf springs, and a front antisway bar. Three-speed electric wipers and washers were available on all models as an option.
Instrument panel
The instrument panel on all Dart models had simulated wood-grained trim on the instrument panel cluster; it went across the full instrument panel, including the glove box door, on SE, Custom, and Swinger. The instrument-panel padding was non-reflecting. Gauges were provided for engine temperature, alternator and fuel, with lights for low oil pressure and brake malfunction. Ventilator doors under the dash could be opened to allow fresh air to flow in (unless air conditioning was installed).
Packages
Code A55
- Front Anti-Sway BarStandard Dart S.E. and Dart 360 Sport models
- Special Body Tuning System
Hang Ten Package (Code A63)
Available on Dart Sport and Dart 360 Sport only. Not available with other exterior colors, interior trim, vinyl side molding, stripes, manual transmission or with A65, A66, A68, or A88 packages.
- Eggshell White (EW1) Exterior Paint (Must Code)
- Tape Stripes (K2H) for Body Side, Hood and Hood Closure Panel
- Hang Ten Decals on Hood Closure Panel and Front Fenders
- White Vinyl Bucket Seats with White Door and Quarter Trim Panels with Multi-Colored Woven Vinyl Inserts (J6VW)
- White Console with Orange Top Treatment and Orange Shag Carpeting on Sides
- White Door and Quarter Trim Panels with Multi-Colored Woven Vinyl Inserts (J6VW)
- Orange Instrument-Panel and Glove-Box Appliques with Simulated Wood-Grained Instrument-Cluster Trim
- Orange Shag Carpets including the rear of the Rear-Seat Back, Kick-Up and Security Panel
- Rear Armrests with Ash Receivers
The Full or Canopy Vinyl Roof was available only in white (V1W) or (V4W). Required equipment included FoldDown Rear Seat (C73), Rallye Road Wheels (W21), D7B x 14" White Sidewall Tires (T62) on Dart Sport only, and E70 x 14" Tires with Raised White Letters (T76) on Dart 360 Sport.
Rallye Package Code A66
(Dart Sport with 318 V-8 only. Not available with Basic Group Code A04 or Custom Package Code A68.)
- 4-Speed Manual Transmission
(Must Code 021)*
- Power Steering
- Heavy-Duty Suspension
- Rallye Road Wheels
- E70 x 14" Raised White Letter Tires (Code T76)-(Must Code)
- Deluxe Vinyl Seat (Code 02)(Must Code)
- Dodge Lettering on Quarter Panel*-Parchment (KOL), Gold (KOY), White (KOW),
Black (KOX), or delete Lettering (KOB)-(Must Code)
- "Tuff" Steering Wheel
Dodge Dart vs the competition
Other 1975 Dodge Dart specifications and information
| Basic dimensions | 2-door coupe | 2-door hardtop | 4-door sedan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 108" | 111" | 111" |
| Overall length | 200.3" | 203.2" | 203.2" |
| Overall width | 71.8" | 69.6" | 69.6" |
| Overall height | 53.1" | 52.7" | 53.9" |
| Track-front | 59.1" | 59.1" | 59.1" |
| -rear | 55.6" | 55.6" | 55.6" |
| Headroom -front | 37.2" | 37.3" | 38.3" |
| -rear .. | 36.4" | 36.6" | 37.2" |
| Legroom-front. | 41.6" | 41.6" | 41.6" |
| - rear | 29.8" | 31.7" | 35.6" |
| Shoulder-room -front | 55.4" | 55.4" | 55.4" |
| - rear | 55.0" | 55.0" | 55.5" |
Wheels were 14 inch diameter, 4.5J or 5.5J width; the 5.5J was standard with the 360, optional otherwise. Tires were polyester bias-ply, except with the 360 (polyglass), with steel-belted radials and polyglass also optional; the SE, Hardtop, and Sedan came with whitewalls (E78). Swinger, Custom, Sport, Swinger Special, and Dart Sedan came with 6.95 x 14 tires for the slant six, D78 for the 318 (except 318 Sport which came with the base tires). The ER78 steel-belted radials used with the 360 were also optional on all other models. With air conditioning, the minimum tire was the D78.
Axle Assembly, Rear-Semifloating flanged axle. Hypoid gears, 2-pinion differential. - Choke: Controlled by engine temperature, carburetor air velocity and vacuum diaphragm. Heat-sensing coil is recessed in exhaust manifold on 6-cylinder engines, located in exhaust crossover on V-8s. Both coils are assisted by an electric heating element.
- Circuit breakers kept vital electrical units operating even when "shorting" occurs on headlights and windshield wipers. A fusible safety link between battery and ammeter protected main electrical circuits.
- Clutch (Manual Transmission)-Outside diameter: 225 Six, 9.25"; 10.5" on 318. Release bearing was permanently lubricated ball bearing.
- The ignition switch was on the steering column. When the mechanism was in the lock position, the steering wheel could not be moved. A warning buzzer reminded the driver to remove the key if it is still in place when opening the driver's door.
- Light pressure to the turn-signal lever allowed for flashing signals for a moment, for lane changes.
- Other standard features such as electronic ignition, electronic voltage regulator, torsion-bar suspension, unibody construction, impact-absorbing bumper systems, and other features are or will be covered in detail in our "1975 Engineering" feature.
- Front door vent windows were standard on most models; the Dart Sport and Dart 360 had swing-out rear quarter vents.
- Closed circuit crankcase ventilation system was standard on all models. Crankcase vapors are routed to the combustion chambers through a PCV valve located in the valve cover. Vapors are burned before being expelled into the air through the exhaust system.
- Power: 34 amps on six, 41 amps on V8, 50 amps with air conditioning, 65 amps optional or with electric defroster.
- Electronic voltage regulator was standard. Battery was 305 amps standard, 440 on 360, 500 optional. Electronic ignition was standard across the board along with aluminized steel mufflers and tail pipes (dual on360). Chrysler designed and built alternator.
- Engines used induction-hardened exhaust valve seats for lead-free gasoline.
- Engine Fan: 17.5" diameter 4 blades on slant six; 18" diameter with air conditioning. 4 blades, 18.5" with 318-5 blades 20" with air conditioning, 7 blades 20" with 360.
- Two fuel filters with all engines. Woven plastic 40-micron filter in gas tank. 15-micron filter between fuel pump and carburetor.
- Transmission fluid: Chrysler claimed that with their internally mounted filter, transmission fluid oil and filter never neeed changing “under normal driving contions.”
- Fuel Tank -16 gallons.
- Lubrication System- Positive-pressure, regulated and filtered. Normal pressure, all engines; 45-65 p.s.i. @ 2000 r.p.m. Oil cap., all engines: 4 quarts; when changing filter, add one extra quart.
- Lubrication, Suspension and Steering-Four front suspension ball joints require lubrication at 35,000-mile or 3-year intervals, the only lube points in the suspension system. Steering linkage joints are lubricated and permanently sealed at the factory.
- Muffler, Exhaust-Six and 318 V-8: Aluminized steel, reverse-flow, 3-pass triple wrapped. Muffler and tail pipe are aluminized, inside and out. 360 V-8, dual exhaust.
- Oil Pump - Rotary-type, positive displacement.
- Water Pump-Centrifugal-type, sealed ball bearing-all engines. No lubrication required.
- Seat Adjustment, Front-Manual, two-way. Adjustment limit: 4.5" front-torear. 5.5" adjustment on bucket seats.
- Shock Absorbers-Hydraulic, double acting, telescopic.
- Starter- Reduction gear, high torque, low current draw. Solenoid shift for positive engagement-starter gear remains engaged with engine flywheel until ignition key is released. Designed and built by Chrysler.
- Manual Steering-Low friction, recirculating ball-nut gear. Symmetrical idler linkage with equal-length tie rods, low-friction ball joints. Gear ratio, 24.0 to 1. Overall ratio, 27.6 to 1. Number of steering wheel turns, full left to full right, 5.3-standard ratio.
- Power Steering. Gear ratio, 15.7 to 1. Overall ratio, 18.02 to 1 hardtops, sedans. 18.10 to 1 on coupes. Number of steering wheel turns, full left to full right, 3.5.
- Torsion bar suspension up front - .85 inch except heavy duty (.89). .80 inch diameter front sway bar with Rallye suspension. Rear leaf springs – 55 inches, four leaf on slant six, five on 318, six on 360.
- Transmission, TorqueFlite-3-speed automatic with torque converter. . Maximum torqueconverter ratio, 2.2 to 1.
- Planetary-gear ratios: first 2.45 to 1; second, 1.45 to 1; reverse, 2.20 to 1. Maximum overall ratio, 5.39 to 1.
- Turning Diameter (Curb to Curb)-37.32' coupes: 38.22' sedans and hardtops.
- Wiper blade length, 15 inches.
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