Ask the average enthusiast to name a compact muscle car and most will inevitably say ""Falcon"" or ""Nova"". Ask a MoPar guy that same question and you'll hear a proud recitation of the history of the Dodge Dart. Best known for its tough GTS model and rare Hemi option, the Dart has proven an excellent platform for building impressive, neck-snapping performers. But big power isn't everything. And in the world of collector cars, most folks want the whole package, as in: more power, more style AND more fun. Take this awesome fourth gen drop-top, for example. The product of a 3-year rotisserie restoration, it backs 490 cubic inches of Indy Cylinder Head Hemi with custom upholstery, a tough Tremec 5-speed, an upgraded suspension and brilliant Viper Yellow pigment. And if you're a discerning enthusiast who wants incredible power that's wrapped in head-turning style and poised for years of topless fun, it's just the ""more"" you're looking for!
BODYWORK/TRIM
First impressions are important, and this vivid Dart certainly makes a strong one. For starters, Dodge did a great job whittling Exner's artistic Forward Look fuselage into a universally appealing profile that directly supports the brand's performance and practicality. That profile, stripped bare during this convertible's nut-and-bolt, rotisserie restoration, was fitted with a composite Hemi Hood and fresh mini tubs. Once those surfaces were fully prepped and carefully aligned, bright Viper Yellow 2-stage was accented with Gloss Black war paint. And today, this sweet A-Body can be summed up as audacious, intense and flat out wicked!
There's just something about a broad-shouldered Dodge that appeals to pretty much everyone. Whether it's 'wow factor', a sense of strength or simple surface detailing, this resto-mod's hard-edged, modernist panels convey classic Chrysler charm via clean and chiseled aesthetics. At the front of the car, a broad bumper frames a black-trimmed grille, which hangs crystal clear parking lamps next to bright halogen headlights. Behind that grille, a pinned Hemi Hood fronts a filled cowl, which fronts tinted glass that's framed in dent-free stainless. That cowl splits the difference between a cloth roof and a clean hull, which founds factory door handles between polished mirrors and a painted fuel cap. And at the back of that hull, a second broad bumper frames ""DODGE"" branded trunk trim, which floats seamlessly between clean taillights.
ENGINE
Backing 610 dyno-proven horsepower with 578 lb./ft. of pavement-scorching torque, the 490 cubic inch Indy Cylinder Head Street Hemi is a high-octane monster that easily transitions from flattering to flat out scary! Inside the scoop, a polished air cleaner floats a reusable filter element over a coated Demon carburetor, which is sequenced to a compact Holley regulator and a matching Holley pressure gauge. That carb feeds a polished Indy intake, which charges free-breathing heads that are fitted with quality Comp lifters, polished valve covers and polished MoPar breathers. At the front of those covers, an MSD Pro-Billet distributor sequences spark between MSD 6AL ignition, an MSD Blaster HVC coil and proven FireCore50 wires. That distributor is jolted by a big Comp cam, which spins amid reliable Clevite bearings and tough Diamond Racing pistons. At the front of that cam, a Comp Cams timing set lurks beneath a billet serpentine drive that's positioned around polished power steering, a polished alternator and a polished ProFlo water pump. In front of those ancillaries, a beefy radiator makes excellent use of a big Derale puller fan. And exhaust duties are handled by nests of long-tube, large-diameter headers. While this mill's main purpose is to go straight at a very high rate of speed, it's still very impressive to look at. Crisp yellow 2-stage slinks through the whole engine bay, highlighting a massaged firewall, slick fenders and beefy strut braces. And overall, everything from the car's braided fluid lines to its polished thermostat housing is well-planned and professionally executed.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Crawl under this A-Body and you'll find a highly detailed chassis that's characterized by a whole roster of 'no compromises' hardware. The Hemi funnels power to a Keisler-prepped Tremec TKO500 5-speed. That transmission spins a Strange-supplied Dana 60 axle, which hides 3.54 gears and a Truetrac limited-slip differential in a narrowed, LPW-capped housing. That axle pushes a modified rear-clip, which strings polished Carrera shocks between Magnum Force subframe connectors and aftermarket leaf springs. Opposite that clip, a heavily modified front-half hangs a tubular Magnum Force K-member, complete with QA-1 adjustable coil-overs, behind a splined sway bar and polished power rack-and-pinion steering. Stops are provided by red Wilwood calipers, which squeeze an impressive quartet of drilled and slotted rotors. Exhaust rolls through rowdy FLO-PRO mufflers. And momentum comes courtesy of polished Billet Specialties wheels, which wear 215/45ZR17 Nitto Neo Gens in front of 285/40ZR17 Nitto NT555 Extreme ZRs.
INTERIOR
Open the doors and a custom leather and suede interior combines serious hardware with sophisticated aesthetics to serve as a perfect Jekyll to the car's 490 cubic inch Hyde. The first thing you'll notice is an integrated roll bar that stiffens the chassis immensely. Between the seats, a tweaked console frames an angled shifter. In front of that stick, a tasteful dash frames a full suite of stylish Auto Meter telemetry. Beneath that dash, fresh carpet anchors 2-point Impact safety harnesses inside modified Dart GT door panels. In front of the driver, a factory steering wheel laps a standard column. And behind the passengers, a Viper Yellow trunk hides an Optima yellow-top battery next to a polished fuel cell.
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
Engine specs
Dyno sheets
A copy of the car's Cam Card
A small stack of build receipts
Brutally fast and visually stunning, this awesome Dart should make every enthusiast smile. With the potential to scorch almost any stoplight challenger, and top-notch craftsmanship that's good enough to land big trophies, it's ready to blister the blacktop and stop the show! We've built quite a following in the Chrysler community, which means red-hot MoPars tend to sell as soon as they hit our website. How fast is your reaction time?
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a 3-year, nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration
477 cubic inch Indy Cylinder Head Street Hemi / Bored to 490 cubic inches / 610 dyno-proven horsepower
