Dodge Dart Swinger, Yellow, for sale in Charlotte, North Carolina, for $11,995.

We've all heard the legend of the little old lady special, a car that only went to the market and church on Sunday, but little did we know that we'd actually find such a thing. Well, here it is, a 1975 Dodge Dart Swinger with just 31,271 original miles and in remarkably original condition. And it's a hardtop no less! A cool survivor or an ideal rust-free blank canvas for whatever Dart-based monster you can dream up? You decide, the price certainly isn't holding you back.

I'll be the first to admit that I love original cars, even the beige 1975 Darts of the world. No, it's not a 1-of-1 oddity or a factory hot-rod, but it is a beautifully maintained and preserved car that will dominate survivor class judging at just about any event you attend. The paint is all original, so it has that great patina that you just can't get from a body shop, and the scratches and chips that it shows are now about history, not mere damage. Repainting this car would be a crime, because there's so much that other enthusiasts can learn. The only real flaw on the car is the broken grille, but that's probably an easy fix with a trip to Hershey next fall, or the Mopar Nationals, or even a quick scan of eBay. The chrome is certainly ready to hit the show field, all the lenses are not only intact, but bright and clear, and all the usual trouble spots are rust-free. Come on, you know you love it!

Climb aboard for a trip back to 1975 when striped fabrics were all the rage, including pants, shirts, and car upholstery. As beautifully preserved, the only demerit is a slight tear in the driver's seat cushion that can probably be invisibly stitched by a good upholstery shop. Otherwise, this interior is practically showroom fresh. The dash pad and gauges are excellent, the door panels are unmarked, and the original carpets look like they haven't seen a wet shoe or a winter snowstorm-ever! This modest Dart didn't get a ton of options, but the original AM radio remains in the dash, and remember, this one is all about originality. The original mat is still in the trunk, and that's probably the original spare tire underneath.

Chrysler's rugged slant-six provides the power, and with 225 cubic inches, delivers sprightly performance in the lightweight Dart. That sure looks like original paint on the engine, and it has never been out of the chassis. Correct maintenance has kept it running like new for nearly 40 years, and all the original equipment is intact. A 3-speed automatic and a 3.23 gearset out back are great travelling companions, and the Dart is an agile handler when you need it. Nobody does dog-dish hubcaps like Chrysler, and they look great inside a set of appropriate whitewall radials.

So this Dart is cool because it's original, and it's cool because there's no end to the possibilities.