Introduced in 1959 as a full-size car, the Dodge Dart was moved into the midsize segment for the 1962 model year. That didn't last long, though, as Dodge reassigned it to the compact market in 1963. The small Mopar soldiered on through 1976.
Like most compacts from the era, the Dart came to be as a rather mundane automobile. It didn't get a V8 with more than 200 horsepower until 1965 and didn't have access to a big-block until 1967. However, Dodge did offer a few Dart versions worthy of the golden muscle car era.
The 1968 HEMI Dart is arguably the meanest. A limited-edition model designed for drag racing, the HEMI Dart was co-developed by Dodge and Hurst. Fitted with the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 and loads of weight-reducing components, it was called the L023 and built in just 80 units.
In 1969, Dodge dropped the even bigger 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB in the Dart. But this initiative was a response to the 440-equipped Darts built by Mr. Norm, a performance-oriented dealership. The company sold only 640 units with the M-code option. All told, the 335-horsepower 383 V8 was officially the range-topping mainstream version at the time.
The latter was discontinued in 1970, leaving the 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8 as the top-of-the-line engine of the Dart lineup. Rated at 275 horsepower, the mill spawned the third high-performance iteration of the range. It arrived in the 1971 model year as the Demon 340.
A replacement for the Swinger 340, the Demon had an optional four-speed manual transmission and a blacked-out hood with unique scoops. The Demon 340 remained in production through 1977, and unlike the HEMI and the GTS 440, it was built in significantly larger quantities. Specifically, Dodge sold about 20,300 Demon 340s over two model years.
As you might have already guessed, it's nowhere near as rare and desirable as its more powerful siblings. However, the Demon 340 is one of the most appealing compact-sized muscle cars thanks to its unique features. And examples finished in specific High Impact colors are pretty difficult to find.
Lemon Twist, for instance, is a super rare hue on the 1971 Demon 340. Only 0.1% of the total production left the factory in this color, which means Dodge delivered just ten cars. Moulin Rouge is just as rare at about 0.2%, while Green Go found its way on only 4.2% of the high-performance compacts.
The 1971 Demon 340 you see here is neither Lemon Twist nor Moulin Rouge, but its vibrant shade of yellow with a tint of bright green is rare, too. The hue is called Curious Yellow (mistakenly named Citron Yella on the car's presentation card) and was applied to only 7.1% of the Demon 340s sold that year.
This means you're looking at one of 717 units made like this based on color alone. If we also factor in the numerous options it was ordered with, including the cassette player, rear go-wing, stainless trim, dual racing mirrors, and the fender-mounted turn signals, this Demon 340 is likely a one-of-fewer-than-100 gem.
But regardless of how rare it is, this Mopar is one of the finest Demons out there. Restored to Concours-ready condition in 1997, the muscle car still shines from every angle some 26 years later. It was recently spotted at the 2023 Mopars with Big Daddy (organized by the Don Garlits Museum) in Ocala, Florida. You can check it out in the video below, thanks to YouTube's "Corner Classic Car Hunter."
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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