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Originally Posted by Hemi Moose
Jimi, Al Kirschenbaum wrote articles & road tests for various magazines back in the day...and I believe I read the story that the L023 ended up being the Speedwin Hemi Dart now that my memory has kicked in.
On another note, you seem to keep bringing up the Charlie Castaldo '68 Hemi Dart that you saw in your dads shop back then, and I don't disagree with what you saw back then, but I do have few questions if you don't mind...do you remember what year this was roughly, and it was more that likely Charlie's second Hemi Dart, the one he bought off of Tom Crutchfield...you have said in some previous posts that the floor was cut out for access to the 4 speed...also do you recall if this car also had radiused wheel wells, that were normally larger that the factory Hemi Darts came with because it sure sounds like it was Charlies second car that you saw back then...unless you can remember any other details about it?
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Nope, not Charlie's second Dart either.This auto car was copper & silver when he campaigned it in Super Stock. When Charlie changed the car up to A/MP for 1970 he also changed it's paint to red & yellow with the flared rear wells. He installed a stick to be competitive in A/MP & did cut the trans tunnel out of it for easier trans service. He also cut the trunk pan out between the frame rails.
Charlie sold this car to Ralph Costello in late 70, early 71 so he could concentrate on his Pro Stock program. Ralph painted the yellow sections on the sides to the same color red that was on the rest of the car. Replaced Charlie's Castaldo's name with Costello. Ralph raced the car in MP for a few years using alot of Castaldo's cast off/ outdated parts. Ralph eventually sold the car to a street racer, Danny Giaquinto in the Philly area. It was then sold to Ralph Conte.
Tom Lee eventually purchased it & still owns it today. He has confirmed seeing Castaldo's colors & flared wheel wells when he rebuilt the body on it. The quarters were so rough he had to replace them, but decided to leave the "as production" small wheel openings on it. He has also confirmed other mods such as the trans. tunnel, trunk, wheelie bar mounting, fiberglass bolts etc.
This is Charlie Castaldo's auto car, no if's, ands, or maybe's or buts.
The only Dart doors that would of kept Castaldo's name on them would have been from his crashed stick car & they were not repairable, even by todays standards. The other set of doors that had Charlie's name on them from the auto were candy apple yellow & red when Castaldo sold it to Costello.
I have pictures of all the above to verify my statements. I have spoke to the crew who worked on Castaldo's cars on a daily basis back then. I have spoke with the current owner of Castaldo's auto & have personally looked at it.
I have done my homework on Charlie's cars. Castaldo only had 2 Hemi Darts. There were no clones, there were no look alikes.
I honestly don't understand, or know how it would have been possible for jimi to have seen red & silver doors on my car that read Charlie Castaldo. He says he's correct.--- I just don't know how it's possible. I want to believe Jimi. Please explain.
liteweight