Original hemi dart information

[marfen]

Matt, This was a great article that, along with that great little red car of Liteweight's, reintroduced the 68SS cars to the mopar resto crowd, myself included. It is a little confusing in that it features two cars (lil red and Chuck Comella's) and in reality some of the pics in the Hurst parking lot were taken by Jack Thomas when he picked up his car. Jack has shared many incredible pics from his career documenting picking up, prepping and racing his LO23 dart as well as great pics of the Yankee Peddler awb. Jack is a wonderful guy that I always look forward to having a visit with...he had this great idea that he proposed to Dr Z/Chrysler to build a limited race edition of the new upcoming Challenger model for Stock Super Stock competition. Good idea huh!

[68hemiss]

Great stuff guys!
Where to start - the Wildfire Dart was originally from OH went east and is back in OH. Great pics Bill - I always liked the Faucetta Cuda. John - how are you doing? Jim Keyes Cuda was originally from ND - went to the Carolinas - not sure how but it ended up in the Baltimore area - and that is where the Centolanza's got it - Jim bought it from them. Jim's Dart was a local MI car. I sent him all the info I had on the cars - even the paperwork from when it was originally bought in ND - VIN #'s match. The A/MP or C/Gas Costello dart is Castaldo's 2nd Dart.
Paul, it sounds like you are doing some digging - Does anyone know where Bill Davitt is - I heard that he was running a resturaunt - he was a Mopar racer that would have been around mt Kisco at that time and might know something about the Dart. Tony Saraceni who owned Bill's old Duster told me about the 2-scoop Lido nickname - no real meaning - he said that that is when Rasin Bran cereal had the "2-scoops of Raisins in Kellogs Rasin Bran"ad campaign refering two the 2- scoops on the Dart and Lido was just an Italian nickname. He verified that he raced with the guy and they went to E-town and that the car was a Hemi but he said that the car was not fast and the guy wasn't serious about racing. I have Tony's phone number if you want it. I spoke with Richie Mattoni (and his brother) I also have his phone number. Ed Smith - the guy who I think owned the Dart lived at 37 Ward Ave - can't get ahold of him. Last I could find the Chief of Police in Mt Kisco lived there until he retired?? E-mail me and I can get you some more info if you feel like digging - you are closer than me! lol!
Mark J

[Liteweight]

Paul- Since the last time I was on here, Paul came up with a possibility of his father owning my car back in the 80's. I have not seen a picture of that car yet,but he mentions that it had the regular Dart quarter panel openings. I double checked on my car, & looked at every possible area in which they would have been replaced or repaired. I now know 100% that these are the original quarter panels that this car was manufactured with when new & Hurst modified in 68. Paul, I would still like to see some pix of that car tho,if you wouldn't mind.

M68- Quote- "I remember years ago seeing an actual photograph taken by a former friend at Raceway Park (circa 1975) of a brown (candy apple red?) 1968 Dodge Dart that ran in D/Gas with Costello Bros. on the doors.Is this the same guy"
Yes this is the same car that Ralph Costello owned, formally campaigned as the auto Castaldo car.
The Wildfire car was a possibility for me about a year ago,but as Mark J. has stated,this car is in OH. Great pictures!!! I haven't seen some of them before.

Matt- Welcome to this forum!!! I am not exactly a regular either,but,sure am glad I posted this thread here.The amazing info that is coming out of it is great!!! Hopefully I can find the origin to this unknown soldier.Thankyou for the info on that Magazine article,but, I do have several copies of it already.It was done shortly after Tim Hennessey restored this car back in the 80's. I am honored that you want to build a replica of it in 1/25th scale, & I will help you out in whatever way I can. PM me with your email address & we'll see what I can help you with. Maybe,you can help me out with the Model Car forums you belong to, by asking some of these race car historians about this cars origin .

Mark J-- Good to hear from you again my friend. Glad to see your back in the hunt for this thing.If it weren't for your persistance & knowledge, it sure would make this an unsermountable task.( As if it wasn't hard enuff already). The Landy car was a breeze compared to this thing !!!! Keep it up

Liteweight
Daryl

[Paul Ceasrine]

Daryl and Mark,
Got to hurry hear.......Work,
If you want, post your address, and I'll send you photo of the black Dart.
It may or may not be Daryl's.
But for one thing, it must have been someones.
As for the Hemi engine that came with the car. It was definitely an
original factory Hemi unit.
The 12.5 -1 pistons (heavy factory-slugs) standard-bore were part of the
assembled block. But were fly-cut for the valve reliefs. The camshaft was an Isky unit, the same recommended by the factory (ie; Dick Landy).
The cast iron heads were not molested, (no porting or hogged out).
The only modification to the engine was the Milodon deep pan and
sump lines, and engine component balancing. Looks like the same engine from 68' (That is a little bizarre). How I remember this from
1980 or so, I have no idea.
More info on Bill Davitt later.
Kudo's to Bill on the Jeff Seligman 67' valiant 273/235 (K/SA)
Talk to you later today
Paul

[SAL PIACENTINI]

Don't know if this helps but in the 60's the only MOPAR dealer I remember that had an elevator was Blue Ribbon Garage in Bridgeport,CT. This is in southern CT,{Fairfield County} & was about 25 mins from Bill Flynn's shop in West Haven.It was in the downtown area & storage in basement & service on 2nd floor.

[Paul Ceasrine]

SAL,That info is for WJ on the missing Gene O'Neill Dart.Blue-Ribbon Garage, Bridgeport, CT.Also, trying to research several others;Fisher-Lowe, West Hartford, CT.Chorches Motors, Manchester, CT.Norwalk Dodge, Norwalk, CT.Campbell Dodge, West Haven, CT.G & B Motors, Stamford, CT.Colonial Dodge, Bridgeport, CT.Whipple Motors, Hingham, Mass.It looks like every one of those places tried to get one, but only one Lottery-winnertheir.....Lucky GenePaul

[Liteweight]

Paul;
I'd really like to see that pix of the black Dart your father had. I have sent you a pm with my email address.I also sent you a message on your private email address. Was there any silver on that car somewhere that you remember ???

Daryl

[W J]

Originally Posted by SAL PIACENTINI

Don't know if this helps but in the 60's the only MOPAR dealer I remember that had an elevator was Blue Ribbon Garage in Bridgeport,CT. This is in southern CT,{Fairfield County} & was about 25 mins from Bill Flynn's shop in West Haven.It was in the downtown area & storage in basement & service on 2nd floor.

Much thanks Sal....your contribution to this thread is much appreciated by everyone. Last Saturday I attended a "Gene's Speed Shop Reunion" (Gene O'Neill's original place of business when he was racing these things) up here in Webster, Ma. right near Ct. state line. It was great. People I knew from 40 yrs. past came out of the woodwork and showed up, some driving great distances. Again, thanks for your comments. WJ

[Paul Ceasrine]

Daryl,
As for as the Dart. my father got it black and thats it they way it was
sold. He did nothing to the car.
I wish I had checked the car out in detail. But I didn't. It was at my parents home, not my home. My father only had it about 3 months.
I'm doing somemore digging, but maybe the Murphy boys did the next project on the car.
Paul
Oh, Mark J (Bill Davitt stuff on the next post).

[68hemiss]

Paul,
You know I am interested in hearing about Bill davitt and the Pomona Dart. I will send my address. Feel free to call- we might be able to peice this thing together.
Mark