Chris Kourmoulis never thought he’d own a Dodge Dart, let alone fall head-over-heels for one. For years, the ’55 Chevy was his dream machine and the car he’d always envisioned himself cruising in. But sometimes the automotive gods have different plans, and for Chris, that divine intervention came in the form of a stunning two-tone green 1968 Dodge Dart GTS that would completely reshape his automotive world.
Chris’ journey into the world of Mopar® muscle began through an unlikely connection to his past. A high school buddy who had owned a 1974 Barracuda managed to relocate his old car 30 years after selling it – a reunion story that sparked Chris’ interest in Plymouth and Dodge muscle cars.
“I started getting the fever,” Chris remembers. “I was parking my ’55 at shows and going and looking at all the Mopars, so I knew it was time.” That automotive epiphany marked the beginning of a five-year odyssey through the world of classic Mopar muscle.
Chris initially scratched his Mopar itch with a ’70 Barracuda Grand Coupe. “I loved that car. Never even thought about a Dodge Dart.” But fate has a funny way of changing perspectives, and when a fellow enthusiast rolled into a car show several years ago with his immaculate Dart, Chris experienced what he describes as love at first sight.
The car that caught his eye wasn’t just any Dart – it was a meticulously restored, numbers-matching 340 four-barrel example that showcased something rarely seen in the muscle car world: a beautiful two-tone paint scheme without the typical vinyl top. “What’s unusual about the car is you don’t see a lot of two-tone without having the vinyl top,” Chris explains. “Back then, you could order it without the vinyl top but with the front trim.”
The previous owner had only possessed the car for a month when Chris approached him about selling it. “He didn’t really want to turn loose of it, but I wanted it more than he did,” Chris admits with a grin. That determination paid off, and soon, the Dart found its way into Chris’ garage, where it would become the centerpiece of an ever-growing Mopar collection.
What makes Chris’ Dart particularly special isn’t just its striking appearance. It’s the meticulous attention to detail that went into its restoration. The car underwent an extensive teardown. Every nut, bolt and panel was restored to “As New” condition by its previous owner, who worked alongside his son to bring the classic back to showroom condition. “The guy just did a miraculous job,” Chris notes. “Everything underneath the car looks as good as what’s on top.”
While the restoration maintained the car’s original DNA with its matching-numbers 340 drivetrain, subtle modifications give it just enough attitude to stand out from a bone-stock example. A performance cam helps the small block “get up and go,” adding that extra bit of character that makes the car as fun to drive as it is to admire.
Since acquiring the Dart, Chris has continued to refine and perfect the car. “It’s gone from changing the tires to taking the motor out to clean and detail it,” he explains. “It’s just been a great car.” The level of care he’s invested in the vehicle is evident in every gleaming surface and precisely detailed component.
What started as a single car purchase has evolved into something approaching an obsession. “In five years, I went from not owning one to having at least seven different Mopar cars that I bought and sold,” Chris admits. His collection has included multiple Barracudas, the beloved Dart, and now his latest acquisition – a 1968 Charger that represents his ultimate dream car.
“I’m pretty much well known as the guy here that can’t hold onto a car very long,” he laughs, acknowledging his reputation among local enthusiasts. The problem isn’t a lack of affection for his vehicles – it’s quite the opposite. “I would love to have them all, but I have to sell one to get one.” He operates on the Pokemon “Gotta Catch ’Em All” philosophy, and I can totally relate. If one Dodge is good… more has to be better, right?!
Currently, Chris has a 1970 Barracuda convertible stored at his brother’s garage, alongside the Charger that’s destined for a careful restoration. His plans for the white Charger with black vinyl top are modest but thorough: “Pull and refresh the motor, clean the engine bay up, and that’s really all I want to do to it.”
Chris has a well-deserved reputation for cycling through cars, although the two-tone Dart represents something very special. The car currently wears a “for sale” sign, but only because garage space has become a premium commodity with the arrival of the Charger.
“I was cleaning it up for World of Wheels and thinking, man, I’ve got to build a garage or something,” he explains. The decision to potentially part with the Dart isn’t easy – it represents both his entry into the Dodge world and one of the finest examples of classic muscle car restoration he’s encountered.
For now, the stunning green Dart continues to turn heads at car shows, representing not just automotive craftsmanship but the story of one man’s unexpected journey from Chevy loyalty to a true passion for Dodge and Mopar. Whether Chris ultimately parts with this particular piece of his collection remains to be seen, but one thing is sure – his love affair with classic Mopar muscle is far from over.
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