In the 1960s, there were levels to cars. You had daily drivers, cars that simply went here and there, didn’t step on toes, didn’t cross any lines. You had powerful cars, muscular and potent, not yet fully garish but still ready to scrap on a side street. And then you had cars like the Dodge LO23 Hemi Dart. This was never meant to be a street car. From the moment it left the Hurst shop, where the magic of shoehorning an Elephant into the engine bay happened, there was absolutely zero doubt that this was so far removed from Uncle David’s slant-six Dart that it wasn’t even funny. And if you needed a reminder, the sticker that told you that the car was built only for “supervised acceleration trials” and informed you that there was no way in hell that the company would warranty such a monster was the final ticket. Oddly, that warning was on a golden ticket…which is exactly what any of us would ever need to get our hands on one of the 80 original cars produced. 

But what’s the fun in that? The recipe is there: Hemi, A-body, manual transmission (natch), and enough attitude that heart rates go up just on sight alone. Oh…and enough hoodscoop that birds try to nest in there. There is nothing wrong with a tribute car when it’s done properly, and there is no doubt when it comes to this rowdy black 1968 example…mainly because the car was in the limelight for so long, thanks to the reason it exists in this form at all. This is the car that used to be owned by Bill Goldberg, the monster of a man best known for his wrestling career and his television and film appearances. It’s no secret that Goldberg loves powerful cars…among his collection is one of the two “Lawman” Ford Mustangs. 

The plan for the Dart was to make a street-friendly version of the original LO23…but do not mistake “street friendly” for “tame”. A 472 Ray Barton-built is proven to pack 713 horsepower. A worked-over A833 four-speed with a Passon overdrive and a Strange S60 axle with 3.73 gears on Mopar Performance Super Stock springs will plant those rear wheels. An AlterKtion front clip with rack-and-pinion steering and Baer disc brakes keep the Dart from becoming a ditch magnet, and the interior and sound system were brought up to code. Finally, you have Dick Landy’s autograph on the dash. It works on the street…the same way having a pet mountain lion on a twelve-foot chain leash works. You still might want to think twice before you go try to pet the pretty murder kitty. As for us, hand us the chain…we’d love the chance!

Mecum Auctions Houston 2018: Lot S114.1 – 1968 Dodge Dart LO23 Hemi Dart tribute