1968 Dodge Dart

Description

Some of our favorite creations are the cars that the factory could have built but didn't. This 1968 Dodge Dart is such a machine, a street version of the Hemi drag cars Chrysler built to dominate the strip. With 472 cubic inches of raw HEMI power, Viper Red paint, and a power-to-weight ratio of, say, a cruise missile, it's one man's ultimate Mopar.

Dodge's flyweight Dart proved the old adage that taking weight out was just as effective as putting horsepower in. But what if you did both, then painted it bright red? Well, you'd have this incredible Dart. Built from a rust-free V8 car, it was treated to the best of everything, professionally engineered, and fully sorted for the mean streets. The little Dart is one of Chrysler's best styling efforts, clearly Mopar, but not ashamed to be mid-sized. The Viper Red paint means that keeping it on the DL is going to be a challenge, and with that gaping garage door of a hood scoop, you need to be careful that the Hemi doesn't inhale any small birds. All the chrome was refinished to show standards, the chrome was polished, and experts will note the front marker lights were removed to make this one look like its wearing one of the fiberglass front ends from the Hemi racers.

The interior is anything but race car basic, wearing fresh upholstery by Legendary, which includes a pair of simply gorgeous bucket seats. The Dart's original dash was retained and all the gauges rebuilt, but they're augmented with a column-mounted AutoGage tach and a set of auxiliary instruments under the dash, a good idea with almost 700 horsepower on tap. There is no radio and I'm disappointed that you'd even ask, because the sound of the Hemi should be more than adequate, especially with the electric cut-outs that give you an instant trackside soundtrack with the touch of a button. A "Turbo Action" Cheetah shifter has been mounted between the seats and works even better than the old SlapStick setup you might have received when this car was new. The trunk is rust-free and carries the battery, because there's just no room left under the hood.

The reason for that is the 472 cubic inch crate Hemi that's rated at a mind-boggling 680 horsepower. With a Mopar Performance cross-ram intake, dual 850 Holleys, and a lot of chrome, it's both scary fast and beautiful to look at. The inner fenders and firewall have been smoothed and painted, and all the extraneous plumbing and electrical bits have been stashed out of sight. And while there's no power steering or brakes, the car remains quite street-friendly. The transmission is a 727 TorqueFlite with a reverse manual valve body and Continental torque converter, and an 8.75-inch rear axle with 3.55s and a Sure Grip plants the power. Strange heavy-duty discs and rear drums make up the braking system, and the custom exhaust system is a work of art all by itself. No rust, no patches, no signs of abuse, just a clean Mopar with devastating power. It even captures the vintage race vibe with the Torque Thrust wheels and fat Uniroyal radials.

With build documents and photos, this is one brutal performance car that you can buy with confidence and enjoy with impunity. Call today!