1963 Dodge Dart GT Restomod — Family Owned Since 1976, Former 340 Drag Car, Now 6.1L Hemi | Motorama 2026
https://youtu.be/cX7Yu0pxNdQ?si=fKQS724csIp8lxH5
This 1963 Dodge Dart GT restomod has one of the most complete and most compelling ownership histories of any classic Mopar build in Canada. Owner TJ Nowitski's family has had this car since 1976. Before it became the pro touring Hemi restomod you see at Toronto Motorama 2026, this 1963 Dodge Dart was a built 340 drag car turning 11-second passes on the street in the 1970s and getting featured in car magazines during that era — and TJ still has every one of those original magazines today. That is nearly 50 years of family ownership, from a 340-powered 11-second 1970s drag car to a 6.1L Hemi restomod that just completed 900 kilometres on the Ontario Power Tour without missing a beat. Built by 20 Twenty Speed out of Burlington, Ontario, the 1963 Dart GT restomod is now Hemi-swapped, fully sorted from bumper to bumper, and this was its very first indoor car show appearance ever. Mopar Bro was on the Motorama 2026 floor for all three days and this build was one of the most talked-about classic Mopar restomod walkarounds of the entire weekend.
The restomod conversion on this 1963 Dodge Dart GT is about 12 years old. When TJ took over the car that had been in his family since 1976 — the same car that was running 11-second passes with a built 340 in the 1970s — he converted it into a full restomod build. Last year, 20 Twenty Speed completed the Hemi swap, replacing the 340 with a 6.1L Hemi running a Comp Cam Thumper camshaft. The 6.1L Hemi is backed by a Dodge 545RFE 5-speed automatic with Mopar EFI and a Holley EFI in-tank fuel system. The exhaust is a full 2.5-inch custom system that gives the Comp Cam Thumper Hemi combination the sound character it deserves. On its very first drive after the Hemi swap, TJ took the 1963 Dart GT on the Ontario Power Tour and covered 900 kilometres without a single issue. That is the real-world proof of a properly executed Mopar restomod.
The suspension on this 1963 Dodge Dart GT restomod is a complete pro touring system installed by 20 Twenty Speed. The front end runs an HDK Suspension K-Member with QA1 coilovers, rack and pinion steering, and 2-inch drop spindles. The rear is a shortened and narrowed Dana axle with a 3.55 Sure Grip differential, inboard leaf spring kit, frame connectors, and QA1 adjustable shocks. Braking is Wilwood 6-piston fronts. Rolling stock is Foose Knuckle wheels — 18x9.5 fronts on 295/35R18 Continental and 17x7 Close Knuckle rears on 225/45R17. The exterior paint is Dodge Viper Anodized Carbon Matte Metallic, a flat-matte dark metallic finish that makes the 1963 Dart body lines look sinister and aggressive under any lighting condition.
The interior was just completed over the winter before Motorama 2026 — real leather Sparco front bucket seats with a matching rear bench, a fully custom upholstered dash with an Autometer Invision 7000 digital gauge cluster, Vintage Air A/C with custom plumbed lines, and a custom rear package tray fabricated by Adrian of Woodhaven Custom Woodworking. Brand new interior for its first ever indoor car show at Motorama 2026.
20 Twenty Speed is a full-service speed and restoration specialist shop in Burlington, Ontario at 1254 Plains Rd East, Unit 7B. Full in-house builds covering fabrication, bodywork, paint, suspension, and mobile dyno tuning. Find them at 20twentyspeed.ca.
Toronto Motorama 2026 ran March 13, 14, and 15 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Mopar Bro covered all three days filming the best Canadian Mopar builds and classic muscle car content from the event. Watch the full walkaround video above and subscribe for more Canadian Mopar builds and event coverage from Ontario.
https://youtu.be/cX7Yu0pxNdQ?si=fKQS724csIp8lxH5
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Featured Build: 1963 Dodge Dart GT Restomod | Built by 20 Twenty Speed, Burlington, Ontario | Owner: TJ Nowitski | 20twentyspeed.ca
Partners: Toronto Motorsports Park | CJR Performance
1963 Dodge Dart restomod | Dodge Dart GT | 6.1 Hemi Dart | Hemi swap | Mopar restomod | classic Mopar build | Ontario Power Tour | Motorama 2026 | Toronto Motorama | Canadian Mopar | Mopar Bro | 20 Twenty Speed | Burlington Ontario | Foose Knuckle wheels | Viper Anodized Carbon | HDK suspension | QA1 coilovers | Wilwood brakes | Comp Cam Thumper | A-body Mopar | 340 drag car | pro touring restomod | muscle car Canada
