Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

No.... there are some cars that are just not appropriate for Stock Eliminator, and I think you just named two of them. LOL!

As much as I love the 426 Hemi A-Bodies, I think that running them in Stock would benefit no one.... they were just too much of a race car when Ma Mopar had them built to ever be considered "Stock," but ya gotta love 'em... I do, anyway...

I was thinking more about borderline cases like the '64 Mopar S/S Stage III wedge cars with lightweight front ends, the A990 cars, and certain other low-production cars that couldn't run Stock because of insufficient numbers having been built, like the D-Dart, Buick '87 GNX Grand Nationals, and Z-11 '63 Chevys.... '63 Pontiac Catalinas with the lightweight (swiss cheese) frame, and maybe some Buick Stage II stuff... Ram Air V Pontiac engines...

I'm not that knowledgeable, but I know that over the years, certain factory packages have been dis-allowed in Stock because of low production numbers.

Bringing back the pre-'60 cars would be great, too, but I can't see that happening; too many technical considerations.... NHRA Tech doesn't really need that.... and, that's too bad, because there were some VERY entertaining cars from that period, racing.... before the ban. :(

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

NHRA = $$$$$, not what the racers would like to see.

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

I think I did name two of them Bill, but I do love them too. In fact, I'm building a '68 Dart Hemi clone/replica/tribute which will be legal for crate motor stock with a 360 Commando combination. Maybe a Hemi some day. It's cool that IHRA will allow the body in Crate Stock, but sucks the NHRA won't. As far as them fitting in Top Stock, I can't see it either. And it wouldn't be any fun running one with a bunch of extra weight.

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

That crate 360 clone is gonna be a fun car!!! Let us know when you get it ready to run.

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

Todd,

You have a PM.

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

Bill, I could be wrong but the last time I looked the stage 3 alum. 64 was listed, I dont think any one has alum laying around, the price they bring is huge. A nose in good shape brings in excess of ten grand. There are a couple 63s out there but they run mostly 415hp but the car runs AA.

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

What do you think a complete aluminum nose for a '63 is worth?

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

Start at $10000 and work your way up buy condition and what the market will bear. A 63 alum half rotted car just sold on ebay for 320000 no engine or trans and I mean ruff, it was supposed to be a real car. The price in my opinion was more than half for the alum.

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

Thanks for the good info, Bob. I remember one car, a '61 Pontiac that had a dealer-installed "hop-up" package that would have been neat to see in Stock, but since it was never a showroom option, it never will be, I'm sure.

It was a '61 Catalina 2-door hardtop driven by Charlie Mitchell, who was a new car salesman at a Pontiac dealerhip in England, Arkansas, and one of those cigar-chomping, larger-than-life characters that are so rare, nowdays.
The engine was a high-compression 389 with three two barrels on an ALUMINUM intake manifold, with special big-valve heads and streamlined exhaust manifolds. It was the last gasp for the 389 before the 421's came on the scene, and ran 13.30's with a 4-speed. It had a decal on the front fender, "Ray Nichels Engineering" (a NASCAR guy, I think,) That engine was rated at the time, at 363 horsepower, but I have also seen it referred to as a 369 HP motor.... dunno which is correct.

It was the scourge of Stock that year, locally, until a dirt track racer showed up one day with a '62 Plymouth 413 cross-ram car with a 3-speed stick; instant 12.90s... :))

Charlie traded in his '61 for a '62 421 and raced for a long time, but none of his cars ever impressed me like that white '61 Catalina... it just LOOKED "fast"!!!!!!!!!

Re: D/Dart in Stock
 

Those SD parts were considered stock at one time back in the stone age. When NHRA decided to stop allowing over the counter parts and 4 speeds and Hydro's in 57 Chebbies all of those great SD 389's (1960-1961's) were eliminated. There were several racing in my area back around 62-66 and they were called the "INDIAN TRIBE". Max Sterlings White Lightening, The Pawnee of Sam Samuels, Mike Miatico who owned the M/T 61 Ventura that was driven by Carol and Lyod Cox in 61. Dick Hill out of Penn. with a 60 Catalina with a 4 speed and many more. The NHRA ruling made them all junk.