When people think of Mopar’s muscle legends, names like Charger, Challenger, or Road Runner usually dominate the conversation. Yet there was another class of Mopar performance quietly proving that size is not everything. Built on the A Body platform, compact cars like the Dodge Dart, Plymouth Duster, and Valiant often outperformed their reputation. These lightweight bruisers could surprise their bigger rivals on both track and street. Here is an in depth look at 10 Mopar A Bodies that truly punched above their weight, with production data, engine specs, performance highlights, and current collector values.
Dodge Dart GTS 340
The Dodge Dart GTS of 1968 and 1969 was a sprightly performer powered by a 275 horsepower 340 cubic inch small block that hammered rivals with heavier platforms. In 1969 alone Dodge built about 3,733 GTS models with the 340 engine among approximately 6,285 total GTS units. The GTS was the top line Dart featuring sport suspension and even an available 383 V8. Today clean GTS examples typically fetch between 25,000 and 45,000 dollars and rare convertibles of which just 403 were made in 1968 can push values even higher.
Plymouth Duster 340
Launched in 1970 the Duster 340 became a legend of efficient performance. Equipped with a 275 horsepower 340 cubic inch V8 it weighed nearly 300 pounds less than comparable muscle cars and could blast through the quarter mile in the low 14 second range. In its debut year Plymouth produced 24,817 Duster 340s out of a total of 217,192 Dusters making it a rare and desirable find today. Collector values for clean Duster 340s range from 35,000 to 55,000 dollars.
Dodge Demon 340
The Dodge Demon was essentially a rebadged Duster marketed under Dodge. In 1971 roughly 10,098 Demon 340s rolled out of the plant. Dubbed a budget muscle car it offered the same heart as the Duster in a more aggressive outfit. Today its rarity and bold graphics help values hover around 30,000 to 45,000 dollars.
Dodge Dart Swinger 340
Another Dart variant the Swinger 340 offered all the performance hardware in a smaller and lighter body. In 1969 roughly 16,637 Swinger 340s were built more than the GTS that year making it a popular and attainable A Body muscle. Strong examples trade for 25,000 to 40,000 dollars depending on condition.
Plymouth Scamp 340
This compact coupe shared the Dart’s platform but when optioned with the 340 became a sleeper muscle machine. Specific production numbers are scarce but its rarity and performance mix put desirable versions in the 20,000 to 35,000 dollar range..
Dodge Dart Sport 360 1974
Even as muscle car horsepower began falling in the mid 1970s the Dart Sport 360 arrived with a healthy 245 horsepower output. In a lightweight A Body it still sprinted past many contemporaries. Though production numbers were lower than earlier models clean examples often sell for 15,000 to 25,000 dollars offering vintage power for a modern buyer’s budget.
Plymouth Duster 360 1974
Replacing the 340 the 360 cubic inch engine made 245 horsepower and delivered strong performance thanks to the car’s compact proportions. In 1974 Plymouth built 3,969 Duster 360s out of over 277,000 Dusters. Today values generally range between 20,000 and 30,000 dollars depending on condition and originality.
Dodge Dart Hemi Super Stock 1968
This is the rarest of them all. Dodge built fewer than 100 Dart Hemi Super Stocks in 1968. These were factory built drag machines with the legendary 426 Hemi shoehorned into a compact Dart shell. These beasts ran quarter miles in the 10 second range and are considered unicorns among muscle cars. When they surface they command 300,000 dollars and up.
Plymouth Barracuda Formula S A Body Years
Before evolving into E Body muscle the mid 1960s Barracuda sat on the A Body and could be optioned with 273 and later 340 V8s. Though overlooked today compared to later Cudas Formula S versions quietly outpaced contemporary Mustangs and Camaros. Clean A Body Barracuda coupes sell for 30,000 to 50,000 dollars based on engine and originality.
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