The mid-1970s was a difficult era for US carmakers. New fuel consumption and emission regulations sent muscle cars into retirement, while the global recession moved drivers away from large, powerful vehicles. Small European and Japanese vehicles were gaining traction, and the Big Three were focusing on compact cars to get a piece of the pie.
The newly redesigned Ford Mustang, now based on the Pinto, was met with great enthusiasm and sold a whopping 386,000 units in 1974, its best year since 1967. The Pinto was even more successful, with 544,209 examples made. Chevrolet compacts were just as successful. The Nova moved 390,000 units, while the Vega found 460,374 homes.
Chrysler wasn't doing bad either. Its A-body cars sold nearly 570,000 units in 1974. But nearly 460,000 vehicles were Plymouth Valiant and Duster models, with the Dodge Dart trailing behind at only 109,348 examples. Looking for ways to increase Dart sales, Dodge introduced a series of limited-edition models and special packages. The "Hang 10" was one of them.
Aimed at surfers, it was based on the Dart SE, a more premium take on the compact. The "Hang 10" made use of the Convertriple package, which included a fold-down rear seat and security panel that gave the vehicle a 77.2-inch-long (two-meter-long) trunk area. The Dart was big enough to accommodate a surfboard behind the front seats.
The "Hang 10" also came with many extra features, including a unique stripe package. A pair of red and blue stripes ran the entire length of the beltline, ending in wave-riding surfer graphics on the quarter panels. The theme continued on the rear fascia and the front hood.
The interior was just as unique, thanks to orange shag carpet treatment on the floor, orange accents on the dashboard, and striped swimsuit fabric on the seats and door panels. It was quite colorful and exotic at the time. However, the "Hang 10" didn't catch on, and it was discontinued in early 1975 after only about 700 units sold.
Naturally, many of these cars didn't survive to see 2023 in one piece, so "Hang 10" Darts in solid condition are pretty rare. I'd venture to say it's one of the scarcest Mopars of the mid-1970s, but it's not as desirable as the low-production number may suggest.
And that's precisely why I get excited whenever I see a perfectly restored example at local car shows. If you haven't seen a "Hang 10" in a while, a 1974 version made a spectacular appearance at the 2023 Mopars with Big Daddy.
And I say "spectacular" because this rig is as complete as they get. It has a surfboard in the trunk, an interior draped in swimsuit fabric, and what appears to be a numbers-matching 318-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) V8 under the hood. And it looks spotless from every angle. It's time to hit the play button below and yell, "Cowabunga!"
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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