1971 Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 Review and Performance Comparison

Dodge Dart Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 1971 Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 is a powered by a Petrol V 8. This variant of the Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 is the 3 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 1971. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1971 Chevrolet Corvette C3 ZR2 Stingray 7.4 V8 Convertible and the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 5.7 V8.

This particular Dodge Dart has a 5563cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Dodge Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol V 8's include the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Dart shares its Petrol V 8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Dart's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1500 kgs (3306 lbs) places the Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 in a similar weight category as the 2025 Ferrari 296 Speciale A and the excellent 2025 Maserati MCPURA 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo, give or take 50kg.

The Dodge Dart shares the same bhp with the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC (300 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 5563cc 16 valve, V 8 engine produces around 275 bhp (205 kW) @ 5000 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC (300 bhp) and also the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC Automatic (300 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V 8 throws out 340 lb-ft (460.9 Nm) @ 3200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo (317 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 (332 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 1971 Dodge Dart in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 1993 Toyota Supra 3.0 Twin Turbo (208.3 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Dodge Dart.

The Dodge Dart has a power to weight ratio of 183.3 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 1971 Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 means you're competing with the 1993 Toyota Supra 3.0 Twin Turbo (208.3 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2017 Seat Leon Cupra 300 DSG (208.3 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 generates around 226.6 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 1962 Chevrolet Corvette C1 327 V8 (251.4 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2001 Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo (251.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 can accelerate 0–60mph in 6.00 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 6.2 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 include the 2021 Mercedes EQS 580 4MATIC (6.00 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2019 Land-Rover Defender 110 3.0 Turbo (6.00 secs).

The V 8 engine of the Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2017 Hyundai i30 N 2.0 Turbo (6.10 secs) and the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 SDV6 300 (6.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 and the Buick Riviera 6.6l V8

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 1971 Dodge Dart can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.32 secs with a trap speed around 95.1 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Buick Riviera 6.6l V8 (14.33 seconds @ 95.0 mph) and a close race between the Ferrari 308 GTS QV 3.0l V8 (14.33 seconds @ 95.0 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 1971 version of the Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 has a maximum speed of 128mph.

Top Speed of the 1971 Dart equals the Lotus Elise Club Racer (127 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 1971 Dodge Dart Demon Sport Coupe 5.5 V8 340 then there's the slightly slower the Lotus Elise Club Racer (127 mph) or how about the impressive Volkswagen-VW Lupo 1.6 GTi (127 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 1971 Dart Rivals List.
• 1971 Dart: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Dodge
• Compare the 1971 Dodge Dart