1968 Dodge Hemi Dart 426 Muscle Car Of The Week Video Episode 308

1968 Dodge Hemi Dart 426 Muscle Car Of The Week Video Episode 308
There were about 80 Dodge Darts factory up fitted with the 426 Hemi V8 back in 1968, and this one is a very well known example. Mickey Weise started off drag racing a big-block Camaro back in the day, but when the 426 Hemi cars were passing him at the big end of the drag strip, he eventually made the move to Dodge, first in a bigger ‘65 A990, and finally taking over his partner’s ‘68 Hemi Dart that we see here today.
Hemi Darts are a special breed, for sure. They were pulled from the Hamtramck, Michigan assembly line as unfinished 383 powered Dart GTS cars, then were sent to the Hurst Performance Research Facility for the option code LO23 conversion into the lightweight dragstrip warriors you see here today. They were designed to compete in the white-hot NHRA Super Stock drag class, and were put on a healthy diet to remove excess weight wherever possible. The new fenders and hood were fiberglass, and the doors and bumpers were submerged in Nitric Acid, a process which thins and lightens the steel panels. Glass was swapped for lexan panels, and the standard Dodge van seats were swapped after the interior was gutted of everything from the radio and heat to sound deadeners and even window regulators. The weight savings was substantial, as a Hemi Dart tipped the scales right at 3000 lbs.
The quarter panel wheel openings were enlarged to accommodate oversized racing slicks, and the work was done quickly and fairly crudely. The rear leaf springs were moved inboard to make even more room, and the Dana rear axle was stuffed with 4.86:1 gears when coupled with the 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission like this car has. Manuals were also built, but the 2600 RPM stall converter in the strong and reliable torqueflite made for consistent passes, and minimized the risk of over-revving the Hemi while wrestling with the New Process 4-speed manual.
The cars were delivered in gray primer with the fiberglass parts in black gelcoat, allowing racers to paint them as they wished. This one evolved from being painted gold and white - the beginning of a candy-red paint job, but they ran out of time after spraying the gold base and didn’t get the red done in time. After a few seasons, it was completed in red and white with some cool lace graphics, but today has been repainted solid red and white.
Hemi Darts were powered by the 12.5:1 compression race 426 Hemi V8 engine, complete with dual 4-barrel carbs on a cross-ram style intake manifold.
These cars did what they set out to do, and Mickey recalls going 10.19 at 132 in 1972. Chrysler backing dried up at that time, so Mickey stored and eventually sold the car, but got it back in the 1980s and ran it again until 2000 when it landed a spot in the NHRA Museum in Pomona, CA, and also a Hot Wheels car tribute. 50 Hemi Darts were slated for production, but sources say there might have been 82 actually built. Today, Mickey’s Dart is a revered rock star of The Brothers Collection.
#426 #HemiDart #Musclecar
1968 Dodge Hemi Dart 426 Muscle Car Of The Week Video Episode 308 V8TV
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[@robertelee2797]

Oh man the sound of a uncorked race HEMI !!!

[@sbhemi]

Can`t beat that sound :-)

[@waltbullet1287]

Did the 68 Race Hemi have electronic ignition? I thought it was duel point!! Kindly let me know!

[@robertelee2797]

@@waltbullet1287 I think it was dual point but not real sure.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

Robert E Lee yes

[@justenough730]

@@waltbullet1287No Points. it was electronic ignition.for 1968 S/S Darts & Cudas.it wasn't offered to the public in Chrysler cars until 1971.

[@TheGunfighter45acp]

Sweet! I'd trade Bluetooth, Lane Departure, etc. for an old school Hemi any day of the week.

[@68bobba2]

@butchtropic -You don't buy cars like this for fuel economy...you want economy...buy a Toyota

[@68bobba2]

@butchtropic -Who in there right mind would have one as a daily driver?...Plenty of clones out there for sale...wouldn't cost you $300,000,plus USDs to own one,like the real thing

[@BobbyTucker]

@butchtropic , Not to mention overheating. lol.

[@hmackprotection1]

The 68 Hemi Dart is The Serial Killer of all Mopars.. one day I’m going to own one

[@L72Chevelle427]

You better start playing the lottery big time...and hoping that you hit a big, big number.

[@hmackprotection1]

Phil right on

[@strattuner]

hell you can build a clone for about40k to50k with no visable vin, you can call it whatever you want,i've built four or five high winders for people,they are happy,tire smoking happy

[@daniellobo1680]

Lol. Yeah that's a good way to describe it. It is BAD👍👌💪❤

[@hmackprotection1]

Daniel Lobo1 👊

[@jbmopar1971]

Nice! Now we need an episode with her sister 68 HEMI Barracuda.. 😉

[@gadsdenviper7149]

Ohhh yeahhhh. :)

[@waynewilliams5802]

@@robintaylor1490 1970

[@robintaylor1490]

@@waynewilliams5802 actually if you Google BO29 it's a limited production 1968 .

[@waynewilliams5802]

@@robintaylor1490 dart is a 68 cuda is a 70

[@robintaylor1490]

@@waynewilliams5802 lo23 is a dart, bo29 is a cuda. Both in 1968 look it up !

[@nasedo3129]

Cragar S/S...still the best looking wheels ever!

[@deansapp4635]

Had those wheels on my black 69 Mach 1. Everybody loved them

[@reginalddentry7338]

They are still and only way to go

[@thomasbaker1961]

nasedo3129 first after market wheels?

[@nasedo3129]

@@thomasbaker1961 Still have 'em on my 1970 Pontiac Catalina : )

[@crr311sux5]

Black Dog dish rims have entered the chat

[@Mr88def]

Along with the 68 Hemi Cuda, these were the king of the Race Track

[@Welcometofacsistube]

Were? Still are

[@jeffleblanc8850]

Mr88def I would love to have one of the Cuba’s I use to own a 67 formula s 383 car and it was a lot of fun at the track I have a friend with a 68 drag car with a hemi in it he goes 8s he built it his self he has I believe 3 cars with hemis in them must be nice he is a well know mopar guy in Ontario Canada his are put in buy his self I believe his friend has a shop for hemis only is the name and builds race hemis his name is Tim banning but I will dream but who could ever afford even a clone nothing the matter with dreaming

[@Mr88def]

@@jeffleblanc8850 My first car was a 68 Barracuda, although it only had the 318 V8, my second car was another 68 Barracuda with a 340, had that car for about 15 years.

[@michaelcowan6254]

@@Mr88def I also had a 68 Barracuda formula S 340 fastback

[@1967davethewave]

@@lovethesmellofracefuelinth7374 I don't think these cars were sold with titles because they didn't meet any safety or emission standards of the day. They weren't street legal. That doesn't mean that none were raced on the street but I bet they were a rare site even back then.

[@Moparmaga-1]

One of my all time favorite cars no matter what engine.

[@Rouge_7]

I used to watch it race at Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach, CA in the early 70s

[@Rouge_7]

Ahh, I see that there are several that liked this. Is it because you've also seen it a the drags somewhere or Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach, CA???

[@henryg5337]

When I was a teenager I loved going to the irwindale raceway I loved it miss those days

[@williamtetrault1300]

I first made it to Lions in the mid- to late 60s, back when Top Fuel was still in the 7s and just touching 200mph! Loved it then and still love lt!

[@martinmccomb5462]

What a beauty. Thanks for letting the rest of us get a chance to see and hear her in action. Excellent.

[@Rouge_7]

I've always loved the noise when you rev an uncorked race HEMI and then the silence for a couple of seconds as the crank and pistons catch up to firing again.

[@ChrisW1962]

1982 I built a 440 Dart, started with a '67 beige 6cyl Dart body, used a '68 GTS subframe and exhaust manifolds and a 440 out of a '67 Newport, Mr Norm special long before I ever heard of him

[@chrispappas3750]

440 Darts had highly restrictive exhaust manifolds, they were surprisingly weak for big blocks.

[@clintwalker6389]

That’s why you put magnum manifolds on them.

[@anthonyholleran2721]

The Ramchargers would be and definitely are, proud, for sure!

[@ebotegbe5443]

These were factory built cars sold WITHOUT a warranty lol...Once you purchased it Dodge was like Hey our hands are clean lol

[@bobsilver3983]

I thumbs upped the video before I even watched it!

[@justina3221]

Me too!! Lol

[@jamesmoon6042]

Growing up not far from Milan Michigan I got to see a bunch of these and 69 barracudas tear it up

[@stripervince1]

Whoa. A real gem. Prob the best car in the brothers collection. A true muscle car. Any chevys wanna try????

[@dougauzene8389]

I used to run against it at the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion ln Bakersfield (Famoso) CA...

[@elonmust7470]

Badass

[@jeffreyrubish347]

An A-body at last! Thanks guys!

[@breezy0037]

You can't beat the sound of an old built the the gills big block. Oh the memories. If time travel were possible it's quite obvious where I would go.....over....and.....over.

[@vincewilliams5219]

Great post, love Mopar drag racing history.

[@jakespeed63]

Special place in my heart for these GTS Darts. Growing up in East Cleveland suburbs, next door neighbor twin boys had a '68 340 4 speed GTS. Dark green with white interior. Pampered and cared for, for a long time. Kick myself for letting it get away. This Hemi example is top-shelf material, for sure!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@scarborosasquatchstation1403]

The best 1968 Dart ever built due to being transformed into the '68 HEMIDART !!!

[@tomcooper6108]

Damn, a 10.19 car off the showroom floor!!! Unbelievable. The greatest muscle car ever!

[@chrismc.4437]

Well Tom, these cars weren't found on showroom floors. You had to be connected to get your hands on a Hemi Dart in '68

[@tomcooper6108]

@@chrismc.4437 You ordered one. They were available to anyone with the $$ to buy it. Because car companies were in business to sell cars. Not produce something that only a few could get.

[@louiskats5116]

Hi Kevin, They don't get any tougher tgan a 1968 Hurst Hemi Dart, I put on my earphones at maximum volume just to year a Race Hemi sing, I can't imagine how loud it would be just standing besides it, you get the best jobs truly your are blessed to have such a awesome gig. Currently my 1970 VG 770 Hemi 6 Hardtop is going through a restoration to the theme of a 68 SS/AA as soon as she is done I will post you some pictures. Keep the great videos coming I always look forward to them. Great work Kevin Regards Louis from Australia ( Down Under )

[@dougharlow6037]

What a great car. My father had a Dodge dealership in 1968. I was 18 years old and my father and I sat down with our dealer representative and started the process to special order a fast car. The representative tried to get me to order a Hemi Dart but after he got done with all the paper work restrictions, I ordered a very special, I believe a 1 off car that I could legal drive on the street. This brings back many memories. Thanks

[@timatkinson9291]

Always loved that car. A friend of a friend had one may have been a 440 but, could burn the tires in all 4 gears. What memories!!!!

[@larryjohnson1966]

I never knew this was a factory car. Thanks for educating an old man with a young Hot Rod mind.

[@allantaylor3288]

WOW what a car and a drag car straight from the factory makes it even better👍, these must be extremely collectible these days, love it 😍

[@vincentenk4449]

Unfortunately, most aren't doing what they were intended to do anymore.

[@allantaylor3288]

That’s a shame but I guess that’s with them being so valuable now, they pretty much sit in museums 😡

[@michaelbelk7333]

Straight from the factory? Nah,from the Detroit assembly line to the Hurst research centre.Hardly a "factory " car but still a weapon.426 69 Charger would be an example of a factory car where the engine is fitted on the line.

[@daveluttinen2547]

I miss my Elephant. This makes me smile.

[@jws2]

The Hemi Dart was the Best & Greatest factory drag car from any manufacturer. A true Beast of a ride!!!!

[@randybiby9757]

Awesome episode. You have to love a Hemi Dart!

[@coloradoray1]

I look forward to every video. My only wish is that the videos were a bit longer with more close ups of the powertrain and suspension.

[@richardturk7162]

The sound of a real deal race Hemi sounded great back in the 60s and still does today.

[@muntaserbarsoom6097]

Imagen driving that on the road and stopping at a red light !

[@anthoneyparker446]

if im right its 0-60 in less than 4 soo not many cars would keep up

[@elonmust7470]

@@anthoneyparker446 to run 10 you're going faster than 4 seconds..

[@anthoneyparker446]

@@elonmust7470 well that is just proving my point that the car is bloody fast

[@jjp.8690]

It’ll pass everything but the gas station.

[@NickedBlade]

the Dodge Demons uncle pure muscle!!

[@stubs1227]

Had a 72 my first car.

[@jerryhorn3621]

They STILL own the quarter mile, so much so that they have their own class. The only thing out there that could compete is the like made Barracuda. Today OUR heritage builds the newer Challengers which also NOW OWN THE STREETS.

[@kenbrawner9123]

Old School. Smells Soooooo Gooooood !!!!

[@brkooduh66]

HUGE THANK YOU!!!

[@joseespinola5123]

This was my inspiration to build my 1970 440 dart..

[@gtuttle4]

Love the Hemi Dart!

[@markbenge3055]

SO,SO PRETTY LOVE THE OLD DAYS AND MISS THEM TO, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MARK FROM TENNESSEE,🥇☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

[@Red-rl1xx]

Super bad! Now, all you guys gotta do is get a '69 340 Dart Swinger, blue with a white stripe, just like the one my Dad bought new.

[@Darknamja]

When Direct Connection Catalogs were on the coffee table along with Reader's Digest and the TV Guide. 😎

[@davedodge7761]

All dodge. From 76 to present. Never let me down. There's dodge n the others.....

[@garyjones7198]

I had a 68 Dart with a built 340 by Bo-Laws of Orlando Fla.. Ran mid 12's.. pretty fast for late 60's early 70's... Owned by Don Zill initially...

[@ryanstuckey8677]

pure unadulterated horsepower. the way a muscle car should be

[@bradymacdonald1547]

favourite muscle car of ALL TIME. long live the super stock hemi dart! thanks musclecaroftheweek

[@rrmech11]

Now that's a perfect example of a factory race car. My buddy had the 68 dart gts 383

[@Welcometofacsistube]

Richard Gill rare car

[@tima6549]

Fastest car to come out of Detroit in the 60s

[@chocodiledundee1]

Tim A what about the mustang and galaxies with 427 SOHC CAMMER??

[@68bobba2]

@@chocodiledundee1 -No such thing...

[@chocodiledundee1]

68bobba2 Galaxie ohh yes there is one right here on this very one channel

[@allenmax8995]

427 SOHC'S never came down a regular production line...they were NEVER sold to the public at large..

[@clintwalker6389]

Doesn’t matter,Mopar still the fastest in the 60’s

[@gregoryclayton8287]

Like the words from the great one, How sweet it is!!!!

[@johnallen869]

That would be a dream car to own! I had a 69 Dart Swinger with a 340. It was fast enough for me! I sold it to buy a 74 Toyota Landcruiser. If I had it to do over I would have kept both of these!

[@stepanbandera5206]

I cant believe you didnt off yourself after that move.

[@scottpeace1583]

My Family owned the Mickey Weiss hemi dart we bought the car from Mickey in 2001 this car in the original Harry Holton Hemi count down car

[@Duececoupe]

I need a cold shower....just saying! 😉😆😂 Just the '68 Barracuda missing now....come on Kevin, you can do it! 😁

[@brkooduh66]

I'm partial to the 66 Barracuda because i have one (inserted 408 stroker), but my most favorite A body is 67 Barracuda with 383. this Dart is pretty darn sweet though

[@Duececoupe]

@@brkooduh66 Awesome! 😎 My favourite is the '69 Barracuda and the Dart, being born that year!

[@brkooduh66]

@Duececoupe Dude, we're the same age. LoL

[@lovethesmellofracefuelinth7374]

That's so badass and love darts. I recently almost bought a 72 with built 413 wedge, but unfortunately the deal fell through and didn't work out 😪

[@AtZero138]

Dang.. She's out there brother.. I have Twins 68 Darts.. not bragging, it's my life. I daily drive mine 318 powered and the ladies slant6.. it's not much to swap the slant6 car for.. any motor you want. GOOD luck buddy.

[@jeremythompson9122]

A guy I knew years ago had a 68 GTX with a built 413 Street Wedge. The factory 440 blew up long before and he bought the car out of a farmer's field for $50 with no engine or transmission and dropped in the 413 and a 727 automatic transmission. That car was really really fast. He put a hotter cam in it with headers and had it tuned really well. Went for some rides from hell in that car lol. He actually still owns it to this day but it's been off the road for a while

[@nikolzew]

an absolute beast , what would one these cars be worth today ?

[@GMCOldsRichmond]

THANK YOU for showing a BAD ASS Piece of history.

[@shawnriddle3018]

Yes Sir, She is a beast.

[@francfurian8215]

The stuff that legends are made of. Cheers👌🏻

[@tomvanconettsr6609]

My fav car. Have had 3 so far. A plan Jane. 340 Swinger. And a GTS. God willing I’ll have a forth. Love the 67,8,and 9 Darts

[@catnip1ca]

What ever your favorite brand of car is ,you 'gotta love a Hemi Dart .......c'mon its got a Hemi !

[@johnbauer5298]

The Hemi Shoot Out at the US Nationals is a must if you love these Hemi cars.

[@pw383426]

It's awesome Dodge has followed its roots in recent years of being g hardcore and selling race specific cars like the Demon, Viper (rip), and hell cats.

[@randysmidt2702]

Thank you for showing that beautiful Hemi Dart a real rare car.

[@BonheurEsperer]

Love the sound. What a piece of history. I wish i was at that time. I cannot imagine how fun the musclecar era was

[@rgarrison1819]

That is the Quickest Quarter Mile Factory Car Ever Produced in The Sixtys!

[@danielbrealey2924]

That was such a good ep. guys!!! Loved hearing it, the burnout and launch. That was a pleasure to watch, thanks for the upload...

[@moparchallenger749]

0 dislikes Love it

[@richardturk7162]

Beautiful example for sure. That sound is music to my ears.

[@douglasengle2704]

My dad bought a 1969 slant six automatic transmission Plymouth Valiant in the mid 1970s as our second family car. That's the same basic car as 1968 Dodge Dart. Watching a Hemi Dart hookup and go straight I'm always in disbelieve its possible it has any relationship with that 1969 Valiant!

[@geraldbalciarjr651]

Sounds Great.

[@bartschwartz7217]

The sound is like no other

[@tarasbulba3190]

Love it. I would probably enjoy driving that more than even a new Demon. But I still miss my 75 Dart 4dr with the 225ci sidehill HEMI. Lotsa 🐱 in the Ol' Dart.

[@mikeymopar1171]

20 years old that would be awesome to have a car like that at the age of 20

[@moparchallenger749]

412 Keally Agreed 👍

[@arottie4097]

The chances of seeing 21 would certainly NOT be in your favor!!! Ha!

[@rogerholloway8498]

Be still my heart!

[@lukedinardo]

Wow thanks for the walk around, I'm from Oz & seen this car @ a Cars & Coffee show near henderson Vegas 2012 & took a couple of pics of it, Sure was one of the stand outs in the car park, hope to make it back soon, keep up the great work guys.

[@sirswerve2493]

To this day it is the only engine design that is a passenger car piston driven engine to run a sub 4 second run in the 1320. It also powers the fastest natural aspirated land speed car. The Challenger 2....Long live the greatest muscle car engine of them all. The Chrysler 2nd GEN HEMI.

[@BobbyTucker]

Well, the guy outdid me, I was 18 when I was racing my 63 Impala SS w/409/425 4 spd. It was fun while it lasted. I'm looking forward to seeing one of those in your videos.

[@bpp325]

Gorgeous to look at, amazing to hear.

[@rmacdougallaliasdogviticus]

A few Darts in my area back in '69. Great cars. Dad had a '69 but it was a 6 cyl. A good buddy had a 440 6 pack in his Dart, we used to ride about in that a lot. Fun car. We saw one of them Hemi Darts driving down Davie St in Van one night. Awesome car. Only got him to tap the gas with our prodding, lol...

[@ruachadam5227]

If you you look up hot rod in the dictionary there should be a picture of this car... no words just the picture.

[@ronnorman7862]

i seen one up close in a warehouse in Chicago. they made 50 of them in 68.

[@donatchinson8438]

I first saw these at the 1968 US Nationals at Indy.

[@RS7John]

Please do one on the barracuda 👍

[@danielcolucci8530]

I had a friend with a 383 dart. How do you control a Dart with a HEMI!!

[@tommcqueen2840]

As a current Hellcat owner, Its MOPAR or no car.

[@79tazman]

I'm a mopar nut ever since I was a kid since most of my Family worked at Chrysler and drove them and my dad and uncle's street and strip raced them but the 1968 Dodge Super Stock Dart was and still is bad ass the new race ready Dodge Demon is kind of a copy of what Chrysler did in 68 but back in 1968 the dart came with no warranty where today's demon comes with one.

[@stevenbean9706]

Know somebody with a 68 Hemi dart and cuda still in black primer inside a heated garage with marble floors you coul eat off they were both nice this car is really nice.

[@edbar44]

interesting video, I actually knew a guy that had one of those, he invited me over his house when it was delivered, wish I could remember his name, you described it exactly as I saw it.

[@johnwilkerson2195]

I'm a Mopar man and this has to be my all time favorite muscle car!

[@gadsdenviper7149]

Only a preus driving soy boy would thumbs down this video, thanks Kevin, keep'em coming.

[@henrysimas4747]

every time he start that up, a prius dies haha

[@raiderrich8355]

This dart is a monster

[@dalesacuratlx6517]

🇨🇦 WOW Absolutely Sounds and Looks AMAZING......INCREDIBLE !!!!

[@TonyGeneseo]

Good lord !!! Thank u SO MUCH for FINALLY putting a Dart on the show !!!! You have had several muscle cars that really weren't muscle cars on the show so please put more Darts on the show ! Up til 70 they had 340's and were very quick in the Qm ! And yes I have a 72 so I'm partial ! Lol. Thank you Kevin:)))))

[@dougjenks6954]

My first car 68 gts 4 sleed !! I miss it

[@garyanddoris6022]

That is one sweet ride ......

[@mynameis9057]

Wunderbah! Man,the first launch you taped, it just echoes throughout the valley with those open tubas, spectacular! Probably scared everything within miles when y'all romped on it, and that, imo, is a beautiful thing! Ahhh,back in the day when dinosaurs roamed the asphalt and Hemi cars were commonplace driving down the block. Has anyone seen my time machine ? I know I left it lying around here somewhere. I bet the dog has it again. Thanks again guys! ▪☆☆☆▪

[@shawnjerome8599]

What a beautiful car

[@morrisparrish76]

There is nothing like the sound of a 426 hemi engine at idle

[@davidingraham1688]

Love to take a ride in that sweet machine

[@xeboi11]

Brilliant keep it up!