Darton International was incorporated in 1978 with a goal of becoming a premier manufacturer of automotive speed equipment parts. In pursuit of this objective lead the founders to establish manufacturing relationships with unique European factories specializing in products and techniques which would harmonize with Darton's potential customers Darton initially selected two groups of products to concentrate on: steelstampings (such as valve covers) and precision CYLINDER SLEEVES.

One of the company's first customers for both groups of products was Milodon Engineering. Together, they pioneered new and innovative ways to manufacture their product, performance cylinder sleeves. Darton became the first supplier of high quality centrifugally cast ductile iron cylinder sleeves to meet SAE and ASTM rigid quality control standards.