Original hemi dart information

[Paul Ceasrine]

According to one of the first press releases,,,,,
it was determined that the Alcoa-produced Aluminum Cylinder Heads
would not be installed on the A-Body Race Hemi's.

The high cost of producing the cylinder heads, was not worth
the weight saving of 70 lbs.

That's how Corning Glass Co. got involved.

pc

[Dan Bennett]

One thing I've always wondered was about so many cars running Keystone wheels. I think they look great but that in that era the Cragar SS was king. I don't remember very many Fords or Chevys with Keystone Kustoms but as we can see from the photos there were a bunch of Mopars running them.

Did Mopar have a deal with them? I know the cars didn't come with mags as built by Hurst and would think that if Hurst had something to do with it they would have used their own wheels.

Was it just a matter of style, was everybody copying Sox & Martin, or were they made in a special offset?

Of course, I'm talking about the period before the Supertricks came out and revolutionized the race wheel market.

[Paul Ceasrine]

These sound about right for the 1968 LO23 Hemi Dart

Build Date; February 18, 1968 (First Run)

#LO23M8B297853
thru
#LO23M8B297908

Cars built = 56
--------------------------------

Build Date; March 21, 1968 (Second Run)

#LO23M8B323844
thru
#LO23M8B323857

Cars built = 14
-------------------------------

Build Date; May 25, 1968 (Third Run)

#LO23M8B391715
thru
#LO23M8B391727

Cars built = 13

Total Built: 83

[Paul Ceasrine]

A low # car
#LO23M8B297857,,,,,,,Gene Snow
#LO23M8B297859,,,,,,,Dick Landy (stick car, but tagged an automatic as per VIN)
#LO23M8B297862,,,,,,,Don R. Brewer Dodge (driven by; Gil Clark)
#LO23M8B297866,,,,,,,,Dick Landy (automatic car)

A high # car
#LO23M8B323850,,,,,,'High Roller',,,,,ex-Dick Panter Dart

The mystery Charlie Castaldo question.
Charlie Castaldo's first car (4-speed) had a higher VIN # than his
second car, the Tom Crutchfield 'Palmer Dodge' (automatic) car.
The Crutchfield/Palmer Dodge car was built earlier, VIN # wise.

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Liteweight

M68
You got it!!!.

Hey, I really appreciate that. I haven't been to Chryslers at Carlisle since I last attended the 25th anniversary of the Hemi A-bodies show in 1993.

Ride first then the coooold beers. I think this probably would be the better sequence to do huh???

Without a doubt!

ps just to get the drool goin. Next season it'll have a 14-1 500 cube , a "decent" sized" . roller, with a modified Rat Roaster crossram. Oh ya the trans brake makes my buddies squeel like little school girls. Giddyup!!!!

Just don't take me on a "terror ride." It always seems the car accelerates twice as hard and goes twice as fast when you're in the front passenger seat!

M68

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

One thing I've always wondered was about so many cars running Keystone wheels. I think they look great but that in that era the Cragar SS was king. I don't remember very many Fords or Chevys with Keystone Kustoms but as we can see from the photos there were a bunch of Mopars running them.

Did Mopar have a deal with them? I know the cars didn't come with mags as built by Hurst and would think that if Hurst had something to do with it they would have used their own wheels.

Was it just a matter of style, was everybody copying Sox & Martin, or were they made in a special offset?

Of course, I'm talking about the period before the Supertricks came out and revolutionized the race wheel market.

I've always felt it was an aesthetics thing, especially so when the Sox & Martin Plymouths were such a dominant force during that era. Chevys to me looked better sporting Cragar S/S mags (plus that's what the Grump's Chevies had on them) vs Keystone. However, Landy's Dodges were a natural for Cragar wheels. Other cars that looked good with Keystone Klassic mags were Fords and Pontiacs.

"It's all a matter of taste," said the dog as he proceeded to lick his..." LOL

M68

[mopar68]

I can't fully make out the name on the door. All I can decipher is: Gene's (something or other) speed equipment.


(Jonathon Russell photo)

M68

[MEMORIES]

removed.

[L78 Nova]

This Pic was on the Team Chevelle forum from a dragstip called Green Valley in North Texas.
Hope this works...
Gary

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by MEMORIES

These four photos, along with the last two I posted were taken at Harriman Drag Strip in Harriman, Tennessee. Harriman is located right off I-40, between Crossville and Oakridge, I don't know who took the photos, a friend gave me a CD called East Tennessee Drag Strips. Harold Dutton's "Drag Hag" was a factory sponcered racer I believe.

Wayne.

Some rare shots there, Wayne. Thanks for sharing.

M68