Now that 'Cuda and Challenger prices are through the roof, where are true-blue Mopar fans to go for their performance fix? How about this slick 1969 Dodge Dart? With all the styling cues that make its bigger brothers so striking, plus potent performance with a 340 inch small block, this is a car to be respected on the street. The bronze finish is a perfect 1960s hue that's back in fashion today, and the ultra-straight flanks on the Dart wear it incredibly well. The two-stage urethane has an almost impossible shine, and it looks sleek and slippery with a great glow in the sunlight. These guys spent a lot of money getting this car into shape, and you'll note that the door gaps are excellent and the twin scoops on the hood plus the bumblebee stripe give it a definite Mopar performance look. Even the grille is excellent, the chrome has been shined up, and tinted windows make it look extra slick. A lot of these were mere grocery-getters, but when you dress it up properly the way this one has been, it definitely has presence. Even the stance suggests speed and performance, and the whole car looks a lot more expensive than it is. The interior is where the Dart's economy-car roots are most evident, but that only meant that you could afford the hardware that mattered when you walked into the showroom in 1969. Nobody did big performance on a budget like Chrysler Corporation. The original bench seats have been reupholstered in tan vinyl, which looks awesome with the bronze paint. There are also correct door panels, relatively recent carpets, and a wide instrument panel with basic gauges. The steering wheel is a wood-rimmed Grant piece that adds a bit of upscale class to the Dart's passenger compartment, and the under-dash A/C system is period-correct and effective. There are also some white-faced auxiliary gauges underneath the dash plus the original Music Master AM radio with Mopar's favorite thumbwheel controls. The Dart also offers a surprisingly roomy trunk, with the one in this car featuring a new mat and a relocated battery, as well as an original jack assembly. The Dart's real claim to fame, however, is under the hood. No need for a big block when you have a lightweight shell, but the date-code correct 340 has been punched out to 383 cubic inches with a balanced stroker kit inside. It means the light weight handling remains but there's a bunch of low-end torque and a viscious snarl from the dual exhaust. An Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and 750 CFM carburetor handle the intake side, assisted by Edelbrock aluminum heads, a big camshaft, and Keith Black pistons. There's a billet serpentine belt drive system, a big Be Cool radiator with electric fans, and a cool Mopar Performance dress-up kit, too. It's backed by a TorqueFlite automatic built for combat and a 3.73 gearset out back, as well as upgraded disc brakes and a set of sway bars front and rear, so it's quite manageable at any speed. Traditional chrome Cragars wear 195/65/15 front and 215/65/15 rear Pirelli radials. A very cool compact with big money spent in all the right places, documented by $25,000 in receipts. Forget the big names, the Dart will show them how it's done. Call today! This vehicle is located in our Dallas/Fort Worth showroom. For more information, please call (817) 764-8000 or toll free (855) 877-2707.
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