Now that I finished up my FAST 340 roadrunner, on to the next project!
Story:
When my dad and I were restoring a 70 charger r/t back in 2000 (I was only 10 years old) a neighbor suggested that we could use a 70 charger 500 in the pasture as a parts car. In the course of 3 years of going back there and getting parts, Id likely play around i the other cars and trucks laying around and my favorite car was always a 69 dart. I would always tease my dad that I was going to fix it up someday and his response was always that I was an idiot…
After years on bs-ing with the owner about cars and what-not, he mentioned to me that that dart was a real 340 4 speed car! I was shocked to say the least, because even at the ripe age of 10, I was still a number cruncher and never even looked at the vin on this car..
Car history:
The dart was bought back in 78 by my neighbor Curt. The Dart came out of Minneapolis pretty much already set up as a drag car, sporting a stout 440 4 speed, fender well headers, cheap black paint and custom seat covers. Curt drove it around and raced it at the local track at Rockfalls Raceway getting times in the 11’s IIRC. One day on his way home, the car got sideways going around a corner and took out the ¼ panel. I think his plan was to fix it up and he had a bunch of parts taken off and stored in a barn for the time being. Well the barn burnt down taking the parts with it and the rest of the car was parted out, drive train put in another dart and the hull was condemned to the pasture.
The car:
The Dart came from the factory as a no frills swinger, wearing F8 green paint, black bench interior, black bumble bee stripe, am radio and of course the 340 and 4 speed. Given the car sat since 1980, rusty would be an understatement. Its going to need ¼’s floors, trunk, inner/ outer rockers, front frame stub, and rear rail work just to sum it up.
The plan:
Its going to be put back to its original ‘hot rod’ theme that the car was pretty much born with, think day 2 resto.. It will go back to the original color scheme with out doubt. Since I had such a good experience working with Jeff Patterson on my FAST 340 build, I will be hiring him to build me a not so stock small block for it. I plan on utilizing US car tools body stiffening, probably mini tubs and also toss around the idea of hodchkins suspension.
I’ve accomplished what I feel is a decent OE restoration and now Im craving to mix it up and do a resto-mod/ day 2 car. I’ve done quite a bit of metal fabrication in the past and look forward to show casing my abilities on this car. There is no time frame to get it done, just when money is available. Ive purchased a few things already including a bulge hood and clean trunk lid. My goal is to purchase a bunch of AMD metal some time late summer and make welding my winter project. Should the car be parted out? with out a doubt! Will I let it? simple answer, no.. Hope you enjoy!
.Keep us posted with pictures and updates and I cant wait to see this car restored like your super sweet 71 340 Road Runner did. 
i found on craigslist a very clean new mexico 69 dart shell for 1600 an hour away. VERY tempting to use that as my donor. Hes taking it to the iowla show tomorrow to try and sell unfortunately. Hopefully it doesnt and i will have a crack at it. My funds are a wee tight to get it right now, timing just aint right..
