1972 Dodge Dart At A Glance |
| Demon 340 |
 |
- Performance model
- 2-door only
- 340 V-8
- 3-speed manual on floor; optional 4-speed manual
- Distinguishing marks: 340 stripe runs body of the car; dual hood scoops; Demon logos
- Rallye suspension is standard; Rallye instrument cluster
- Purists would call this a Plymouth Duster with a Dart front end, and they would be right
|
| Demon |
 |
- Modest performance
- 198 slant-6, 225 slant-6 or 318
- 3-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
- No distinguishing characteristics
- Purists would call this a Plymouth Duster with a Dart front end, and they would be right
|
| Swinger |
 |
- Economy trim level
- 2-door only
- 198 slant-6, 225 slant-6 or 318
- 3-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
|
| Swinger Special |
 |
- Economy trim level
- 2-door only
- The Swinger Special was designed for a tight budget
- 198 slant-6, 225 slant-6 or 318
- 3-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
|
| Dart Custom |
 |
- Economy trim level
- 4-door only
- 198 slant-6, 225 slant-6 or 318
- 3-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
|
| Dart Sedan |
 |
- Most basic trim level
- 4-door only
- 198 slant-6, 225 slant-6 or 318
- 3-speed manual or 3-speed automatic
|
| Dartography: How To Spot Em |
 This is an exceptionally subtle styling change. Notice that the 71 has a split grille,
while the 72 has a 1-piece grille. The 72's parking lights are slightly larger. |
| Safety Equipment |
| Safety equipment remains more or less unchanged: lap and shoulder belts; headrests; collapsible steering column. According to Chrysler
literature, safety belt retractors are now standard on the 72s. In retrospect, many experts admitted
that this was a step backwards, because the retractors often didn't retract, thus compromising
the effectiveness of the retraints. Although less convenient, the belt-and-a-bolt systems
that preceded the retractors were often much more robust. (GM retractors, often derisively called window-shade
retractors, were by far the worst culprit of their time.) |
| What Changed Since Previous Year |
| Nothing
|
1972 saw essentially no change in the Dart
family. Dodge continued to mix the Plymouth Duster--called the Demon--in with its Dart
cousins. The Demon 340 was still the only performance option in the Dart lineup; the other
Darts were assigned the 318. Of course, the 198 and 225 Slant-6 engines soldiered on. Once again,
the traditional Dart bodies were limited to just 4 models: the Swinger, the Swinger Special,
the Dart Custom, and the Dart.
