Original hemi dart information

[jimi]

Originally Posted by mopar68

Lou Centolanza ran his 'Cuda sometime in the mid-1970s up to at least 1977.



(No, it's not the Baptiste car.)

M68

ok a little lou centolanza up to date history, he was just at my shop today dropping off his 1969 plymouth barracuda g/s car it is a 383 4bbl 4spd,it is his first race car since the black hemi in the late 1970's,we have been building for the last year, i am going to finish up the front end alignment and the rear suspension settings this week and hopefully he can ge to the track within the next two weeks , i will take some pics and post them this week, the black hemi car is still an active ss/ah car , if i am correct jimmy keys has it now,i will check with lou and post that too.

[68hemiss]

The Centolanza Barracuda was originally purchased by a guy in ND sold to someone in NC or SC and unded up in the NE when the Centolanza's bought it. They said when they got it it had a beautiful black paint job and they went and painted it white!
The Street racing 68 cars have been some of the hardest to track. Paul, I belive you mentioned to me some time ago that The Pomona Speed Dart was purchased from some street racers in NJ? I have also heard of a Barracuda (could be the Baptiste car or another that I know of) that was black and had some purple on it called the "Grape Ape". The car was supposedly run out of Carmen Rotunda's shop (not by Carmen). Anyone know anything about this car? This would have been in the early 70's.
Another Street racing car that comes to mind is Richie Sansonia's Barracuda - I don't know if this was an original car but it was a Hemi powered street racer - could this have been the Baptiste car? Bill - Richie was pretty well known and worked at Rockville Center Dodge. I checked with Al Kirchenbaum but he said it was not an original car???? Anyone know anything about this car?

Mark J

[jack arnew]

Originally Posted by jimi

ok a little lou centolanza up to date history, he was just at my shop today dropping off his 1969 plymouth barracuda g/s car it is a 383 4bbl 4spd,it is his first race car since the black hemi in the late 1970's,we have been building for the last year, i am going to finish up the front end alignment and the rear suspension settings this week and hopefully he can ge to the track within the next two weeks , i will take some pics and post them this week, the black hemi car is still an active ss/ah car , if i am correct jimmy keys has it now,i will check with lou and post that too.

If my memory still serves me I beleave the black cuda that Lou Centolanza purchased was from Baltimore. If it is I did the suspenion work for the owner at that time. Don,t rember his name, but the car was brought to my shop by Vernon Rowley. He ran a SS/B 64 Plymouth at the time,which was an orignal factory produced car.I could be wrong but I remember that great black paint.

[Tom Young]

Jack Arnew is right, the black car that was sold to the Centolanza Bros was a Baltimore car restored by Sonny Nicholson. Sonny never raced anything he ever owned. He was famous for making them pretty and then selling them. He built the Cuda with all NOS parts, and even put NOS thin glass in it at a time when nobody could find it. He told me at the time he got the glass from someone at Chrysler that found it in a warehouse. The car had a slick black laquer paint job. Hope this helps.

Tom Young

[Paul Ceasrine]

More mystery to the Centolanza Cuda.
They were regulars at Dover Drag Strip. But Dover closed in May 76'. Not sure if that SS/A made it to the track before it closed.

Jack,
Found some stuff on your car at Dover. You said it was the Sox & Martin car (on your thread; "Where's Jack Arnew") you got after the 69' season,
with Sam Pannuty.
I think that car you took the keys to won the 69' SpringNationals,
69' Indy Nationals and 69' World Finals.
The photo's from Dover appear to be from 1970 (possible early in the season), as all the spectators are wearing jackets. Looks a little cold.
Dover Drag Strip got the Division 1 Pro/Stock circuit events for 1970,
but in early 71' lost it's NHRA sanctioning, due to safety issues with
the shut-down area and return road protection. But in 1970, there were
some good S/S ($$$) events. Was it 1970?
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Daryl (Liteweight)
Mark J (68hemiss)
I've been on the D-Dart thread for awhile.
"I'm Back Over Here Now"....
I'll post some good info later today, after work.
I'm closer to Daryl's car than you think.
I'm grew up in Mahopac, NY, and I was born in Mt. Kisco, right off
Maple Avenue, a stones-throw from Ritchie Mattoni's old shop
"Professional Machine"
Got to go to work, will post mucho info later.
Daryl "Awesome A-Body"
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Daryl and Mark,
The 68' Dart that was supposedly an Eddie Smith Dart from Mt. Kisco.
There was definitely a Dart (black paint, no lettering) at the gas station
(Shell, If i recall) in the center of town. The movie theatre was to the left of the
station, and Hankerchips, a pub to the right. Murphy Brothers Moving Company and the Mt. Kisco Fire Dept. were opposite the gas station.
I knew that area very well. That Dart was there probably around 77' thru 79' (most likely). It definitely had a 68' Hemi hood. Saw the car many times, and pretty sure it was a 440 in the car. It may have been an
original factory car. It did have a fiberglass front-end assembly. But I'm not sure on the windows and interior components. Do remember dial-in
times (shoe-polish) on the side window (11.30's ???).
The car did sit their for awhile, Not sure on when it left. Since dover was closed in 76', i would bet that the car campaigned at E-Town and Island in New Jersey, and possibly Lebanon Valley, NY, during those times.
Part I.
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Part II,As for the "Two-Scoop-Lido" phrase.
Note sure on that, pretty sure the car had a conventional 68' Hemi Hood.
Now there is an ice cream parlor in Mt; Kisco called "Scoops" and there is the Lieto family in Bedford Hills, that have a business called
Lieto Appliances A/C & Refrigeration, on Main Street. Not sure if
the two go together.
As for the 1977 NHRA Bracket decal/sticker. The NED championships
were held at US30 York that year. The championship sticker would indicate that the car was there???
PC

[jack arnew]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

More mystery to the Centolanza Cuda.
They were regulars at Dover Drag Strip. But Dover closed in May 76'. Not sure if that SS/A made it to the track before it closed.

Jack,
Found some stuff on your car at Dover. You said it was the Sox & Martin car (on your thread; "Where's Jack Arnew") you got after the 69' season,
with Sam Pannuty.
I think that car you took the keys to won the 69' SpringNationals,
69' Indy Nationals and 69' World Finals.
The photo's from Dover appear to be from 1970 (possible early in the season), as all the spectators are wearing jackets. Looks a little cold.
Dover Drag Strip got the Division 1 Pro/Stock circuit events for 1970,
but in early 71' lost it's NHRA sanctioning, due to safety issues with
the shut-down area and return road protection. But in 1970, there were
some good S/S ($$$) events. Was it 1970?
Paul

Paul I aquired the cuda from Sam and ran ss/a in 69 then went to pro an ran an won the first pro race at I think Suffolk Va. in 1970, Last round was with Ed Millie. Sam was told by them ( Ronnie & Buddy ) that the car had won the 68 nationals.

[mike koester 66 nova]

If I am not mistaken, Sox and Martin had 2 Cudas in 1968, the car Sam and Jack bought had a all white hood with a blue stripe. The second car
had a blue hood with a white stripe. The Cuda Jack had was raced in
early 68 and at Indy. In 1969 Sox and Martin had at least 3 Cudas, the
car Jack ran was at the Winters and then sold to Sam, as they then ran
the blue hooded car which won the 69 Nats and worlds final, This is the Cuda that is now been restored and owned by Clark Rand. The third Cuda was also run at 69 Indy as a B / gasser with injectors to showcase Pro Sock for 1970. This Cuda may have been bought from Don Carlton, as he drove this car at the 70 Winters in Pro Stock. Pictures available in Hot Rod mag, MOPAR 62 - 72 Winter 2006 Collectors Archive Series,
page 68, 69, and 75.