Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Mark,

Those cars MAY have spent most of their activity at tracks like New York National Speedway. I don't remember even seeing either one at Island, and I only went to E-Town for the first time in 71. Maybe they had already left the area by then. Were Brooklyn Heavy or Ron Lyles involved with a Cuda, as opposed to a Dart like the Speedwin car?

Bill Rolik

1514 SS

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

In the staging lanes at Bristol in the late 70's, Max asked me to set in his car and hold the brake while he went to the little boys room. The back of the lanes ran uphill and Max did not have park in is trans. He kept a small piece of 2x4 for parking on less hilly ground. I would say the wheelbase issue was him and I am sure he had talked it over with nhra first. A first class guy. He ran with the heavy hitters of that time (Bagwell, Earwood, Kinnett) with a LOT less budget!!

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Figure I'll wade into Liteweight's thread here re NE based Hemi Darts/Barracudas (the cold beverages are on me next time we get together Liteweight!) since my dart has been mentioned a few times and there's a wealth of info coming out on this thread. It's the car that may be the Gene O'Neill 4 spd car. Here is the earliest pic from 83/84 that I know for sure is my car when it was for sale in Quebec (Reynald Prieur), it went to Nova Scotia (Richard Boyd), John Brown (Pennsylvania) and a few more collectors until I acquired it. It is a first run VIN car. Any of you NE folks recall a dart heading north back then and who may have owned it?

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

I'm sure Steve O'Neill (flintstonecharger) will have something to add here....I realize that's a B&W photo, but do you have any idea of car color combo in that pic? Thanks. Best wishes. WJ:)

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Hi WJ, the guy from Nova Scotia who bought this car thru this ad in the Auto Trader in Quebec thought it was yellow with red/blue stripes when he bought it/. He repainted it orange and lettered it mopar magic.

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Thanks....flintstonecharger is up in Maine on a little vaca....w/out a computer. You'll be hearing from Steve soon as he gets home, I'm sure. Best wishes. WJ

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Bill Rodik
Flintstone Charger (Steve)
W J (Parachute Jumper; a/k/a Hemi Sky-Diver)
MarK J (Hemi Professor)

Very Good Hemi Hunting to you.
Bill, Nice posting on that white Cuda, Park Chrysler-Plymouth. Looks like a Dana-rear, another 4-speed. Look out, here comes another flying
driveshaft.

Steve (FlintstoneCharger). Great photos of the Flintstone Charger at
Dover 5/22/66 versus "Doc" Burgess, Black Arrow. The first time out for
Doc in an Hilborn-injected engine. The "Flintstone Charger" blew the
hood off the car earlier in the day. Ran later with no hood. Great close-ups of both cars on the line. 10.80's on a cold day.

W J... Southern-Connecticut dealer for Gene O'Neill's Dart, with help from Bill Flynn. Possible, Chorches Motors, Manchester, CT (just east of
Hartford). Or, another Hamden. This one located in southern-Connecticut
(just north of New Haven, Bill Flynn's home-base). Was there a
Hamden Dodge, Connecticut?

Mark J (Professor). Last I heard of "Playmate II" it ended up in a little town in Eastern, PA (Greentown, PA). But that was many moons ago.
Charlie Lendrum's Dart kind of vanished into the sunset.

Paul

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Bobby, please, by all means do not leave us out! Please share these photos with us. We would love to see 'em too!

Regards,

M68

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

George Baptiste bought an original UNCUT '68 Hurst Hemi Barracuda from some street racer-type who ran afoul of the law and (unfortunately) cut it up into a race car back in the very early 1990s.

The car was purchased from someone in the northern New Jersey area. It saw very limited strip action (and possibly street?) and sat for years until George found out about it and purchased it sometime in the 1980s. From what I was told, the 'Cuda was so original Chrysler Corp. offered to purchase the car back but George declined.

I am only relating what I was told about 18 years ago and cannot verify this story's accuracy.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/465...gebaptiste.jpg

Btw, is George still around? I'd like to hear the story from him!

M68

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

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

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/473/loucentolanza.jpg

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

M68

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

I took this at Indy in 76.

Jim Kinnett 2951

Bill Rolik

1514 SS

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Mopar 68,
You solved the mystery. Since Dover (Centolanza's home base) closed in May 76'. There was very little info on the black Cuda. Supposedly
held the NHRA SS/A record in 76', at 9.90 or so. I wonder if they were still involved with Mountain Garage, Highland Falls, NY at this time.
This car, if I'm correct, ended up in a small upstate New York (one-horse)
town. The guy who got it from Lou and Tony Centolanza had a small
car repair shop in Greene County, I think. I know, because I was at his
shop back in 1980, selling him BRM (Brush Research) cylinder honing brushes (4.25" of course, for the Hemi). He showed me the car, in his
2-car garage. Painted white (beautifully detailed). The car had a
tunnel-ram on it, and he was running it in A/MP. He had no shot at
winning in SS/A, too much handicap. Can't remember the name
off-hand, but this car must have been at Lebanon in 1980 or so. I think
he was looking to sell it for $15,000 at that time.
As soon as I get my data from my NY computer, I will post many
Super Stock Hemi photo's.

Oh, Yours to Mr. Jack Arnew.
Paul

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

"Mopar 68,
You solved the mystery."

Really? Thanks, Paul. Glad to help anyway I can.

M68

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8305/ceasrine.jpg

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

MOPAR68,
You are my HERO.
How did you come up with that photo.
My POP'S car. (Really mine first). An original 69 M-Code 440 Cuda.
Built for C/SA back in 1982 or so.
History on car, if you want it.
I actually raced it twice at Dover at the end of 75'.
Unfortunately, as nice as that car was, my fathers heart wasn't really into
drag racing anymore. He let his partner Jerry D race it. My father
didn't like the haul up to Lebanon Valley, where they raced it a few times.
His heart was in hitting 7-irons 150 yards at James Baird Golf Course.
I owe you a dozen Canoli's. The good stuff from Arthur Avenue, not the
fake stuff from the Make-believe bakery's.

M68.. (Thanks for that post, brings back memories of when I drove that
440-Cuda (green originally) on the street. Nothing, and I mean nothing could touch that car. I have photo's of it, which I will post or can send you.

Paul (I'm Very Happy Today)

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Hello Paul,like story of hood flying off Ramstrom's FlintstoneCharger when racing Doc Burgess injected car.I have cover photo of both cars from 1320 News and always assumed the hood was removed for weight break since Burgess car running injectors,Flintstone Dodge also had both bumpers off.I also heard story Ramstrom swapped doors at one race with other car?? This may also explain why car hood scoop changed from orange to white in photo's I have gathered on car. Do you have any photos of this car?? On the Dart and the dealership where it came from I always wondered if car came from same dealer that Flynn's car came from which was in New Haven .Would be a big help if some shipping paperwork existed? Later, SteveOquote=Paul Ceasrine;142584]Bill Rodik
Flintstone Charger (Steve)
W J (Parachute Jumper; a/k/a Hemi Sky-Diver)
MarK J (Hemi Professor)

Very Good Hemi Hunting to you.
Bill, Nice posting on that white Cuda, Park Chrysler-Plymouth. Looks like a Dana-rear, another 4-speed. Look out, here comes another flying
driveshaft.

Steve (FlintstoneCharger). Great photos of the Flintstone Charger at
Dover 5/22/66 versus "Doc" Burgess, Black Arrow. The first time out for
Doc in an Hilborn-injected engine. The "Flintstone Charger" blew the
hood off the car earlier in the day. Ran later with no hood. Great close-ups of both cars on the line. 10.80's on a cold day.

W J... Southern-Connecticut dealer for Gene O'Neill's Dart, with help from Bill Flynn. Possible, Chorches Motors, Manchester, CT (just east of
Hartford). Or, another Hamden. This one located in southern-Connecticut
(just north of New Haven, Bill Flynn's home-base). Was there a
Hamden Dodge, Connecticut?

Mark J (Professor). Last I heard of "Playmate II" it ended up in a little town in Eastern, PA (Greentown, PA). But that was many moons ago.
Charlie Lendrum's Dart kind of vanished into the sunset.

Paul[/quote]

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

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.

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

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

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Paul, you're too kind. These photos were taken by yours truly in the summer of 1988 or 1989 at Raceway Park. Your name "rung a bell" and I went digging through my collection of photos and my hunch was correct. I did not know the car was an original M-code 440 A-body back then though I knew the car had a big-block Mopar wedge in it. What caught my attention was the color of the car and 1970s-type paint scheme. The only other A-body I recall seeing in Stock Eliminator back in the 1980s was Ernest Topping's convertible 1968('69) Dodge Dart which I believe was an original M-code machine.

"I owe you a dozen Canoli's."

You know, it's been about six years since I've had some of those treats! In fact, it was the first ever time I sampled them. Canoli's with a cup or two of expresso. Momma mia! :D

"I have photo's of it, which I will post or can send you."

Yes, I'd like to see them. I don't have a scanner but first chance I get access to one I will scan those pix above and make sure you get full-size quality photos for your album.

Best regards,

M68

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

"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? "

There's a picture of "Richie Six Pack's" 'Cuda in one issue of High Performance Cars or Hot Cars, etc. from the early-mid 1970s. The photo in the article showed the front end of the car with its hood off. Without spending hours trying to find it in my collection, what I recall it had a modified look to it. If memory serves me correct since it's been more than a few years since I read that particular issue, it was a 1969 'Cuda--at least its front end was.

George's car, from what I was told, was a very low mileage (i.e. not trashed) pristine original--Richie's was not. It's a real shame he decided to turn it into a race car when a "plain Jane" Slant Six, 318 or even 340 'Cuda would've sufficed.

Oh well...

M68

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

MOPAR68
Don't forget to add a little Sambuca in the Espresso'.
I'll answer all questions in next posting. Yes Mark J, I'll add a little Pomona Speed Shop/Victors Auto Repair in the mix.
I also, heard that through the grapevine that the Centolanza contingent was putting together a 383 Cuda. Glad the "V" family is involved with
helping. Looks like you Jimi are following in your Pop's footsteps.
I still remember all the Mopar stuff he said. He is one Mopar "Brainiac"
Also, found picture of your Pop and Mom, and my father up at Lebanon
Valley, next to the Cuda Coupe. A super Cuda Lady:) Picture taken by
Jerry D.
Mark J, I think the upstate New York Cuda (possibly the Centolanza car)
as I said earlier was painted white and in A/MP was in a little town
(I'm guessing) was Livingstonville. That was 30 years ago. The guy spent about $250 on Brush Research honing brushes. I still remember.

Paul

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

the white cuda that ran a/mp upstate that you are thinking of belonged to alex chilcott it was not centolanzas car, although it was put together with parts from a wrecked hemi car, it was a 318 auto car, i owned this car in the early 1990's to 1998 , i sold it to someone (cannot remember his name)from washington state south of seattle, the guy fell from a scaffold and smashed his head and went into a coma, i have not heard or seen from him his wife or the car since, i have been trying to buy it back but cant find it.

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Jimi,
Thanks for clearing that up. I thought his car was from the Centolanza's.
It was nearly 30 years ago. What was the name of that little town
Alex Chilcott lived in? I remember that his car repair service was located at his house. I think a 2-car garage, but the Hemi Cuda was in a separate garage up on the hill. Just imagine my amazement back then, when I was selling him some tooling accessories. We got on the subject of Cuda's, and he said to me "Come up to my other garage, I want to show you something". Whether it was an original, or not, and even if it wasn't the Centolanza's it was a sharp car.
As for the car itself, I remember that when you had the car, it made it into
a magazine (Mopar Muscle?). I think you put a 440 in it, and ran it on
the street. Still remember a picture in the magazine of the car, possibly at Lebanon Valley, with 11.20 (or close to it) shoe-polished on the window for the dial-in. I still have a memory.
Did you have trouble stopping your Cuda too. I never put on disc-brakes,
I left on the original drum-brakes. Not too bright:eek:
Paul

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Jimi,
Do you know what wrecked Barracuda was used as parts? I would guess that it would be the Harris Auto car or the old Bob Gaudreau Car - Parrillo & Cerrone?
Mark J
1968 Hemi S/S Registry

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

the parts were supposed to be from the carpinett (i dont know if that is the correct spelling)car,the story i was told is the car was in the garage and a drunk lady came down the road and crashed through th e door wrecking the back of the barracuda. the car was parted out shortly after, alex built the car for a/mp because you had to use factory stock bodies just like ss/am today, the barracuda had all of the lightweight advantages for the class.

lou centolanza was at my shop today and his cuda is the one jimmy keyes owns today,

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

I've got to give that combo a try! :)

M68

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

There's a photo of that crash in an article on Parillo & Cerrone in a circa 1980 Super Stock & Drag Illustrated issue. The lady came crashing through the side of the garage with her big Cadillac. Thank God no one was working on that side of the car or underneath it! I don't recall it being mentioned in the article that P & C's 'Cuda used parts that formerly belonged to the Carpinet Bros. It did mention Harris Auto Sales but I forget in what context.

I'll have to go look for that issue now to make sure.

M68

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Hey W J,
A little back info from my contact "Highway Star" a.k.a Deep Purple
out of Indiana.
Gene O'Neill's car may have been shipped to either Fisher-Lowe Dodge in West Hartford or Norwalk Dodge in Norwalk, CT.
The ground-mole investigator has some Hurst-Campbell Corp. shipping information that he his digging up. Bill of Lading stuff that he supposedly got from a Hurst-Campbell shipping clerk that went on to become a
supervisor for Anchor Freight (car shipping company).
As for Bill Flynn getting involved with locating a car for Gene. That does
sound correct, but doubtful whether (2) Hemi Darts were shipped to the same dealership. Even Sox & Martin couldn't get a second car right away.
Researching Chorches Motors out of Manchester, CT. They were involved with some Drag Racing sponsorships in 65', and may have had
a hand in something.

Paul

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Much thanks Paul....You R the man.....flintstonecharger may have something to add to this, as well.......WJ

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

As far as two Darts being shipped to the same dealership, Bob Banning's dealership in Hyattsville, MD recieved one(stick) that Tom Sneden and Bob Banning Jr. drove , and a second(automatic) Dart that went to John DeRosa. The DeRosa Dart is in this weekends Mecum auction.

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Paul,
If you get that info (shipping information) from Hurst I would be interested in trading you for some of factory paperwork that I have collected (over 200 pages). There were a few dealerships that recived two cars (I have some info showing where the first 50 cars went - no VIN #'s though) Bob Banning got two as mentioned, Lennox dodge in Atlanta also got (2) (Bill Tanner's and Ray Dailey's), In the first 50 it shows 13 cars being sent to Grand Spaulding. It is funny because Norm says he got all the cars at one time but I KNOW this to be not true but almost everyone I have talked to who bought their Dart at Norm's said they were told that their car was the last one and they were not getting any more! Good sales pitch huh? There were an additional 30+ Darts built. Paul, I don't want to seem overanxious but I would really love to see the Pomona Speed Dart. The Manhatten Speed dart that was mentioned before may have been a Dart out of PA. Two guys bought it never ran it and sold it to someone in NY - the guy paid with a check and well, it bounced! They went back up to NY to Repo the car - the guy had raced it and had broke the engine by this time. The Manhatten Speed Dart doesn't look like it had been painted yet and the lettering was temporary - I haven't checked on it but it is a good possibility as that car seemed like it was around for a short period of time and then disapeared.
Mark J

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

The Sox & Martin cars are the hardest to trace. What poeple don't always know is that Sox & Martin bought & sold a number of cars. They had at least 2 cars in 68, 69 & 70 (and 1 in 74) but these were not the same cars! They sold off some of the old cars and built new ones. Anyone know where Joe Fisher is these days (ex-S&M shop Foreman). A number of racers cars were sold to S&M: Dead Nicopolis, Joe Smith, Dave Wren, ect... Were these cars turned into the new S&M cars or were they sold? I know of a guy who has an 8" x 10" Les Lovitt photo of S&M first Barracuda that still has the paperwork in the window and is readable but I have been trying to get a copy of it for 5 years! He just likes collecting old race car pics and isn't too concerned with it but he doesn't realize how important this is to someone who is trying to document all the cars produced. I have had a few people mention that if you want to know the numbers for Charlie Castaldo's Dart decode the windshield paperwork shown when he picked up the car - there was a picture. But if you look the paperwork is arranged differently than on the Castaldo Dart and the numbers decode to another car.
Mark J

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

I was told that after the garage crash (Parrilo & Cerrone Barracuda) which was supposed to be the Harris Motors car. That the old Gaudreau car and the Harris car were combined to build one car. I have spoken to both and they won't say which car it is now. The last owner got the same response. I had heard that the Carpinet car had titanium door hinges (among other things) at one time and was quite trick! I visited Tom Tigenelli a couple of years ago and he still has his old 68 Hemi SS/B Cuda and Man, is that one trick car- even by today's standards! I will post some photos later.
Mark J!

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

here is a pic of lou centolanza's new 1969 formula s 383 4 bbl 4spd g/s car , i did the alignment today and i am going to set the rest of the suspension this week. hopefully he can get to the track in the next few weeks.


http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._6805921_n.jpg

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Mark J,
Yes the shipping information will be the key to the missing puzzle. Both incoming cars, and out-going. It's been like pulling teeth to get the info, but I will persist. What I wouldn't do to get a peak at the Bill of Lading
paperwork. I have to go through an old union supervisor from Anchor Motor Freight, who handled shipping at GM in Tarrytown, New York.
You know union bosses:D You must say please...all the time.
I will continue to work on it.

HEMIDARTDAVE, You are correct, I guess I missed a shift their. Yes several prominent dealerships must have gotten a secondary Hemi S/S
car. What I meant to say, was that in the Connecticut area, I wouldn't think that a single dealership got multiple cars. The northeast area
(eastern-Connecticut, Massachussets, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
and southern-Maine) only had (2) solid drag strips to choose from.
Connecticut Dragway, East Haddam, CT and New England Dragway,
Epping, New Hampshire. Also, a third, Orange Dragstrip, Fitchburg,
Mass.(closed in 1970). It appears that (5) original Darts ended up in the northeast; Bill Flynn, New Haven, CT
Joe Patelli, Springfield, Mass.
Gene O'Neill, Worcester, Mass.
Bob Ramstrom, Worcester, Mass.
Chick Brignolo, Norton, Mass.
Paul

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

For the information passed on to me.
On the Bill Flynn SS/B Hemi Dart.
The sponsorship deal between Bill Flynn and his previous group
"The New York Dodge Dealers", who sponsored his 66' Cuda A/FX
Funny Car ended.
Very odd, a Connecticut-based drag racer drives a 66' Plymouth Barracuda, and is sponsored by the "New York Dodge Dealers".
Looks like the Long Island, dealers wanted A/FX-Funny Car exposure at the new Long Island Drag Strip (New York National Speedway).
Since Bill was an established Dodge/Plymouth racer, he was offered
one of the first-run Hemi Darts. The first 50 or 56, depending on
what information is out there. Whether he paid the racers price of
$4200 or not, cannot be documented. The car was sponsored by
County Dodge, New Haven. Not completely sure if it was delivered to County Dodge for Bill Flynn, or if it was delivered to Bill Flynn at his Performance Center, and then sponsored by County Dodge?
One thing is for sure, the Dart "Yankee Peddler" was at the Super Stock Magazine Nationals, at New York National on 7/21/68, as part of the
Magnificent "11".
PC

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Paul,
I have a list (in some paperwork from Dick Maxwell) that lists the first 50 Darts & Barracudas (either by dealer or racer) the funny thing is that many "name" contract racers don't show up on it even though their cars have earlier numbers than some of the cars on the list. Larry Griffith, Herb McCandless and Bill Flynn are not on the list. I wonder if there may have been some dealer transfers from a Dealership like Grand Spaulding with orders directly from Chrysler. Shipping information would be nice but many of the racers picked their cars up at Chrysler (not Hurst). Another thing I have often wondered - Bill Flynn did change his car to a 69 model for 1969 (as well as many other racers S&M included) I realize that if a dealer sponsored the car they would want to promote the current model year but how did the racers get away with this in NHRA? They never built a 69 Hemi Dart/Barracuda.
Mark J

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

I ran my car at Indy in 71 with a 69 grille and side marker lights in it. At that time NHRA could have cared less. I remember later on maybe late 80's when i went to Indy with dzus fasteners holding the hood on and they made me take them off because they only came with hood pins.

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

I was at Sanford,Me in 1965 and just barely remember the "Bloodhound" car....That's about it! Recall the name! I think I remember the "Gene's Speed Shop" Dart....think I saw it as a SS/AA car or possibly Pro Stock...wasn't it painted something like Candy Tangerine and White? Might have a photo but would take ages to find!

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

Both of those cars definitely ran at the Sanford, Me. track at that time. Ramstrom changed paint scheme of Bloodhound and name to Flintstone Charger. Gene bought the '65 A990 Hemi Coronet from Bob the next yr, I believe and campaigned the car until he got the '68 Dart.....Steve O'Neill will attest this info, I believe. Steve still owns the Coronet beauty. WJ

Re: Original hemi dart information
 

I don't mean to hi-jack the thread but does anyone know why Bobby Harrop was never offered a '68 Hemi car?

He won the US Nat's with an A990 and then got an AWB Dodge and was very successful with it but the disappears from the scene.

JimR