I have a 1969 Dart Swinger race car that we are currently wrapping the build on but we are having a problem on what the grille and headlight bezels should look like. The car came with both bezels and grille bare polished with no black paint on them. Looking online for the last month I can not decide which is correct. I see some with black and some just bare and polished. pictures with answers would be appreciated.

Brian

I believe there are at least two paint schemes for 1969. I know there are two for 68.

170 and Swinger get one style

270, GT, GTS get the other.

I think there is a picture in one of the books in the Library section of

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/dealerships/1969DealershipDataBook-05.shtml

I believe the factory book is wrong. It shows a Dart GTS. And the regular Swinger is the 170 type grille.

the "Premium" & "Special" cars: GT "LP23/27" & GTS "LS23/27" got a blacked out grill

VS.

the lower priced people movers: Dart "LL41", Swinger "LL23", Swinger 340 "LM23" & Custom "LH23/41" had more "shine" showing

Interestingly "LM" Swinger 340 isn't even listed in the factory parts catalog: sections 7-16-11 Radiator Grille & 08-34-40 Headlamp Bezel, and with the "data book" picturing the GTS nose & tail with Swinger 340 captions - I'm sure it's lead to some of the confusion.

Both have a combination of bright work with argent & black paint.

are you going off that picture in the factory book or unrestored originals? The Dealership Data Book gives conflicting info.

That picture shows a 69 Swinger 340 with a rear aluminum finish panel that we all know is incorrect.

The text that accompanies those pictures says it has bright trim like the lower models.




That accompanies this







accompanies this

The 1969 Chrysler Parts Catalog Jan. '71 printing
shows two "radiator grilles" (section 7-16-11):
2898242 correct for LP & LS
2898114 correct for LL & LH
* no listing is shown for LM (Swinger 340)

it also shows two headlamp bezels (section 8-34-40):
2898252/2898253 correct for LP & LS
2898144/2898145 correct for LL & LH
* no listing is shown for LM (Swinger 340)

HOLLANDER show two "grille screens":
2898242 correct for GT & GTS (LP & LS) with footnote "same as others but portions are painted dark gray"
2898114 correct for others (LL, LM & LH) pictured

HOLLANDER show two "headlamp doors":
2898252/2898253 correct for GT & GTS (LP & LS) with footnote "same as others but portions are painted dark gray"
2898144/2898145 correct for others (LL, LM & LH) pictured

per these two sources and the data book pictured above, they are all in agreement:
black grille is GT & GTS ONLY
bright aluminum grill is Swinger, Dart, Swinger 340 & Custom
vintage magazine ads/road tests agree & I've edited my above post

that good-for-noth..... art department

Nice photoshop fix.

Actually that side view is wrong too.

It shouldn't have top of door molding, drip rail molding, or wheel well molding standard. Top of door molding was not optional. Drip rail molding came with optional vinyl top or A46 molding group that included wheel well molding.

May have been mid year or special packages that applied to Swinger 340 too.

I don't think the Swinger two door (maybe 4 door too) should have drip rail molding either.

thanks for the help guys!! Here is the pic of the car. Grille and bezels are the last of it.

Brian