1969 Dodge Dart

The 1969 Dodge Dart has always been a weapon of simplicity, small, light, and viciously effective. This example, built from the ground up by SS/AFX (Super Stock and Factory Experimental), turns that blueprint into a full-on street-strip predator. Finished in a blinding high-impact yellow, and armed with serious Hemi power, it's a purpose-built street-strip machine that proves the smallest car in the lineup could still throw the hardest punch. The body shows a race-focused presence. The bright yellow paint makes no attempt at subtlety, giving the car a commanding presence that fits its purpose. A fiberglass lift-off hood features a super stock scoop, while minimal brightwork and its purposeful stance underline the car's all-business attitude. The Cragar S/S wheels, narrow fronts, and wide Mickey Thompson ET Drags fill the wells exactly as they should, setting the tone before the engine ever fires. From every angle, the car projects the kind of intent that made Chrysler's A-bodies feared fixtures at drag strips across the country in the '60s and '70s. Power comes from a 528-cubic-inch Hemi built on an Indy aluminum block with Stage V heads and a Holley EFI system cleverly disguised as a cross-ram dual-carb setup. A Freddy Brown-built A727 Torqueflite handles the fury, fitted with a trans brake, line lock, and full manual valve body. Shifts are controlled through a multi-lever setup that makes every gear change a deliberate mechanical event. Exhaust is routed through an electronic valve-controlled system that can dump out the sides or flow through the rear outlets, depending on how civilized you're feeling. Power transfers through a Dana 60 rear axle with 4.56 gears and a spool differential, all suspended by traditional leaf springs. Up front, an AlterKation front end features tubular control arms, adjustable Viking coilovers, Wilwood disc brakes, and updated steering components for sharper response and improved stability. The stance is all business, with 15-inch Cragar S/S wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson ET Drags at the rear and BFGoodrich Silvertowns up front. It's the look every late-1960s drag racer dreamed about, updated with professional execution. Inside, it's stripped to essentials but finished with care. A padded six-point roll cage wraps a pair of lightweight bucket seats with 3-point harnesses, and a custom center console houses the 'Lightning Rod' style shifter and toggles for the trans brake, trans fan, and line lock. The console also integrates two USB charging ports, a cupholder, and a 12-volt power outlet, small conveniences that make the car usable without dulling its edge. The radio and heater have been deleted in pursuit of minimal weight, leaving nothing that doesn't serve the job at hand. A dash-mounted tach and auxiliary gauges keep the driver in tune with oil pressure, water temperature, voltage, and transmission temp. Every inch of this Dart speaks to intent. It's not pretending to be a survivor or a show car. It's a pure, mechanical expression of Hemi power, built for the quarter mile but civilized enough to live just outside the edge. Cars like this remind us why the A-body became a legend in the first place. They were compact, unapologetic, and brutally effective when pointed in a straight line. This one carries that legacy forward with precision and restraint, delivering the kind of raw, unfiltered performance that modern muscle only imitates. It proves that the old formula still works when it's executed without compromise. Key Highlights * Ground-up build by SS/AFX * 528ci HEMI V8 built on Indy aluminum block * Stage V cylinder heads * Holley EFI disguised as cross-ram dual carbs * Freddy Brown-built A727 Torqueflite 3-speed automatic * Dana 60 rear axle with 4.56 gearing * Spool differential * Manual valve body * Trans brake * Line Lock * Front Wilwood disc brakes * AlterKation front suspension * 15 Crager S/S wheels * Mickey Thompson ET Drags rear tires * 6