Muscle Car of the Week: 1968 HEMI Dart

Photo Credit: parachoquescromados.wordpress.com

In 1968 the production model Dodge Dart was okay; classic design, decent power. Of all the '68 greats it is probably not at the top of your muscle car rebuild wish list. But, as we all know some of best muscle cars of the era were not designed for public consumption. The mad scientists gave them the Frankenstein treatment to create track and drag strip monsters.

That is exactly what happened when Hurst Performance gutted a Dodge Dart and fitted it with a 426 HEMI, fiberglass hood and light weight steel fenders and bumpers. Less than 80 units were sent to Hurst to be Frankensteined for the track. And Hurst didn't worry one bit about making them pretty. The cars were delivered with no rear seats, reinforced cargo van seats in the front, primer grey; mean and ugly basically. And damn effective. The 1968 HEMI Dart hit 10 seconds in the quarter mile with ease. And how about that HEMI. The street version of the 426 dyno tested out at over 430 bhp. Just imagine what those modified drag racers cranked out. Man, we would love to hook one up for testing in our garage!