Vehicle Description
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, this Plymouth's 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
Keisler-prepped Tremec TKO500 5-speed manual transmission
Narrowed Strange Dana 60 rear axle / Truetrac limited-slip
differential / 3.54 gears
Custom leather and suede interior
Heavily upgraded suspension
Power rack-and-pinion steering / Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
17-inch Billet Specialties wheels
Viper Yellow paint / Painted stripes / Cloth top
Sale includes engine specs, dyno sheets, a copy of the car's Cam
Card and build receipts
