DREAM DART BUILT FOR DISABLED VETERAN
Debuted at SEMA 2015 on the Car Crazy TV Stage
November 12, 2004, changed his life forever when Steve Connor became an amputee and veteran of the United States Navy. A tragic accident left the 23-year-old Second Class Machinist Mate in a coma for weeks. Since the accident, Steve and his wife, Keri, have become an inspiration to other amputees and their families. In need of a certified caregiver, Keri stepped to the plate while being a mother and business owner of a successful salon.
Steve’s great grandmother, Myrtle, is the original owner of the Dart. She passed the car down to Steve hoping to see him use it as a banner of his unending courage.
One of Steve’s top goals is to see the 1967 Dodge Dart be custom rebuilt. After Finish Line Speed Shop heard Steve’s story, they jumped at the opportunity to make this family’s vision become reality. This project became the "Dream Dart". Myrtle, Steve, and Keri only dreamed of getting a car of this caliber built.
To begin the project, Finish Line received a low mileage 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T as a donor car from COPART. The Gen 3 HEMI and automatic transmission will be used from the car. To help the HEMI produce some extra power they will be using an AIRAID Cold Air Intake and PowerAid throttle body spacer. Also an MSD 6-HEMI ignition controller, harness and HVC-2 Blaster coils with lubrication coming from Joe Gibbs Racing DRIVEN Racing Oils have been provided to give the Dream Dart ultimate power.
Under the AUTO METAL DIRECT GT/GTS hood, to cool the big HEMI down will be a FLEX-A-LITE Aluminum Radiator and Electric Fan Module. To help Steve and Keri keep tabs on the vehicles vital information, a set of DAKOTA DIGITAL gauges will be used. VINTAGE AIR Gen IV A/C & Heating system will keep the cockpit climate comfortable, while listening to the KICKER Livin Loud sound system powered by XS POWER Batteries. The MAGNAFLOW Exhaust system will give the ability to hear the American Muscle sound of that HEMI.
The car needs the ability to handle with all that power. Thanks to a QA1 K-Member, Upper & Lower tubular Control Arms, Dynamic Strut Rods, Torsion Bar Adjusters, Tie Rod Links and QA1 Adjustable Shocks in all four corners, a set of Sub-frame Connectors, Front & Rear Sway Bars and Lowered Rear Leaf Springs from SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT and a BORGESON Quick Ratio Power steering Box attached to an IDIDIT Steering Column, this car will have that ability. The Dream Dart will be able to take corners with the best sports cars on the road.
When the time comes to slow down the Dart, it will have a set of Cross Drilled 4 Wheel Power Disc Brakes and black powder coated calipers from SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT. A set of SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT Legend 5 Wheels, 17"x7" front and 18"x8.5" rear will be wrapped with TOYO TIRES Proxes 4 Plus 215/50R17 and 255/45R18.
The entire underside of the car, inner wheel wells, trunk and inside of car will be coated with SCORPION PROTECTIVE COATINGS as well as their Heat and Noise Reducer will be sprayed in the cabin area. EVERCOAT Body Filler will be used for fine-tuning the beautiful body. VALSPAR Automotive's De Beer Refinishing Primers, Base Coat and Clear will be used to achieve the incredible Black Beauty known as the “DREAM DART”!
Throughout the build the folks at Finish Line are using IRONCLAD Protective Gloves while documenting the build with a REEL Cameras HD Slayer POV mini camera. To keep this family heirloom safe and protected, when it’s not out cruising will be a custom COVERCRAFT Car Cover.