Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock

bill dedman · 11-20-2008, 04:39 AM

Back in 1966, Dodge built some high performance 273 4bbl engines (factory rated at 275 hp) with a radical cam, sizeable AFB on a good intake manifold, pop-up high-compression pistons, and headers, for action in what was then D Stock. They called them "D Darts" in reference to their intended class.

Unfortunately (according to the best information I can find) only about 25 of these cars were built. That is according to a guy who worked on the project at Chrysler, at that time.

I'm not sure if they were ~ever~ in the Stock Car Classification Guide, but now, they are in there ONLY as a Super Stock combination. No listing at all for Stock. Weird...

I was wondering if anyone on this BB might know how this came about. It looks to me like it could be a mistake, because if Mopar built it for Stock, and it didn't fit the requirement for 50 units that is in the rulebook, it follows that Mopar must have petitioned NHRA to allow it to race.

But, if they built it as a D Stock car, why would they ask NHRA to put it into Super Stock? That's where it is.

I asked the "braintrust" at Glendora tech, and they have NO IDEA why it's listed as a S/S legal combination, but not as a Stocker. They tried to look it up, but found nothing, not surprisingly.

Isn't that amazing??? They DO write the rules, don't they? But, they don't know...

Any old timers remember the D Darts and have any info about this conundrum?

As usual, any information will be greatly appreciated.

Bill

David Lee · 11-20-2008, 09:30 AM

Here is an interesting page about the D Darts.

http://www.seriousviewers.com/D-Dart/ddart.htm

LOng ago I was thinking about replicating one them but never could find a 66 Dart in good condition to start the project.

Jason Oldfield · 11-20-2008, 10:06 AM

Huh, who knew. I just went to that historical site and started browsing around, and I found out that I guy I know fairly well (Ted Spehar) actually owned the first one of these produced ("The Politician"). I had no idea...I just e-mailed him to get his side of the story. We'll see if he responds...

Real Racer · 11-20-2008, 10:54 AM

D Stock Dart package came with a Holley carb.
Headers were supplied in the trunk.

Ed Fernandez · 11-20-2008, 11:14 AM

The D Dart site stated that 50 cars were made.That would be interesting to see a dual quad 273 in stock.

Ed F.

MFR440 · 11-20-2008, 11:21 AM

More info here, maybe someone you can contact:

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/...gonew=1#UNREAD

formula447 · 11-22-2008, 12:04 PM

Back in 1968 I had a 67 Dart GT with the Hypo 273 and a 4 Speed.I was at a Dodge dealer in Rockville Center NY (Long Island) and they had a Clinic on a Weekday evening with Dick Landy.After Speaking with Dick he gave the Parts Manager (Al Kirchenbaum later of Hot Rod and Car Craft)some Part #s and We ordered them.I already had Hooker Fenderwell headers on the car and was told all the parts were the D Dart Package.I received a Racer Brown Cam and Springs,an Edelbrock Manifold and a Holley carb.After installing all these parts the Car picked up a full second and with 7" M&H Slicks went a 13.58(At the old Westhampton NY Dragstrip) and would spin to 7000rpm.I even had a 53 Desoto clutch in this thing.I would sidestep the Clutch at 6000 RPM and the car would scream.The following year I got involved with Pontiacs but that car made me a closet Mopar Fan for the last 40 years.By the way,I am still at it as seen in this video.
Thanks
Ray T
http://northshoremusclecars.vidiac.c...6a00fc4fc1.htm

treessavoy · 03-02-2009, 01:58 AM

In 1966 Chrysler decided to compete in D/S with the D/Dart, they aimed the car at the 271 Mustangs and Fairlane 500's. The car was built for "stock" and "stock" only not SS.

Many went to factory racers and some were sold to private racers. Dodge told the NHRA that they made 50...how many is still under debate but at that time you had to have built 50 of anything even to get it into SS.

Today it would make a fun car but would give up too many inches to be competitive.

BTW there is a guy down here in FL that has two of them, he drives one the street and has the other for sale...$25,000.00. It has a frozen engine, manifold and carb is gone as are the headers, every panel on the car needs replacement....it was outside in a Oklahoma hail storm...he's going to fix it up.

Jim

bill dedman · 03-02-2009, 02:38 AM

Jim,

It took me two weeks of phone calls, and talking to three different people at NHRA Tech, back in November, to finally get an answer on the "Stock = NO, Super Stock = YES" question.

Their answer after all of that?

'WE DON'T KNOW." (The "now, leave us the F**** ALONE" was implied....)

The main problem, I think, is time. None of those people were BORN yet when the D Darts were released.

I would imagine that if somebody who has some clout with NHRA decided to build one of these little jewels for Stock Eliminator, there's a good possibilty that they could get NHRA to come off their current position (since they can't even explain how they got there), but THAT's not gonna happen unless NHRA takes some HP off it.... like about 30-40. The 340 Dusters and Demons would eat it alive at its current factor of 275...

So, it's probably just going to slip into obscurity;a failed project that could have made some waves if the people responsiblle for the program had REALLY wanted to to succeed. But, obviously, they didn't.

And, so it goes....

Bill

mtkawboy · 03-02-2009, 11:49 AM

Jim Wahl, was that Dynamic Dodge in new Smyrna ? A guy I knew named George Nelson who was the service manager built the engine for the Little Damn Ram but I thought it was a 235hp car. I recall a guy who worked for NASA building the headers. I was away in the service after it was built and run once or twice. Dont know what happened to the car. George died 2 years ago in Daytona of cancer

11-20-2008, 04:39 AM	#1
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock Back in 1966, Dodge built some high performance 273 4bbl engines (factory rated at 275 hp) with a radical cam, sizeable AFB on a good intake manifold, pop-up high-compression pistons, and headers, for action in what was then D Stock. They called them "D Darts" in reference to their intended class. Unfortunately (according to the best information I can find) only about 25 of these cars were built. That is according to a guy who worked on the project at Chrysler, at that time. I'm not sure if they were ~ever~ in the Stock Car Classification Guide, but now, they are in there ONLY as a Super Stock combination. No listing at all for Stock. Weird... I was wondering if anyone on this BB might know how this came about. It looks to me like it could be a mistake, because if Mopar built it for Stock, and it didn't fit the requirement for 50 units that is in the rulebook, it follows that Mopar must have petitioned NHRA to allow it to race. But, if they built it as a D Stock car, why would they ask NHRA to put it into Super Stock? That's where it is. I asked the "braintrust" at Glendora tech, and they have NO IDEA why it's listed as a S/S legal combination, but not as a Stocker. They tried to look it up, but found nothing, not surprisingly. Isn't that amazing??? They DO write the rules, don't they? But, they don't know... Any old timers remember the D Darts and have any info about this conundrum? As usual, any information will be greatly appreciated. Bill __________________ Bill

11-20-2008, 09:30 AM	#2
David Lee VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,168 Likes: 487 Liked 346 Times in 126 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock Here is an interesting page about the D Darts. http://www.seriousviewers.com/D-Dart/ddart.htm LOng ago I was thinking about replicating one them but never could find a 66 Dart in good condition to start the project.

11-20-2008, 10:06 AM	#3
Jason Oldfield Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 619 Likes: 1 Liked 10 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock Huh, who knew. I just went to that historical site and started browsing around, and I found out that I guy I know fairly well (Ted Spehar) actually owned the first one of these produced ("The Politician"). I had no idea...I just e-mailed him to get his side of the story. We'll see if he responds... __________________ Jason Oldfield S/G & S/St 1838

11-20-2008, 10:54 AM	#4
Real Racer Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 99 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock D Stock Dart package came with a Holley carb. Headers were supplied in the trunk.

11-20-2008, 11:14 AM	#5
Ed Fernandez Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NOO JOISEY nexta NOO YAWK Posts: 5,879 Likes: 38 Liked 100 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock The D Dart site stated that 50 cars were made.That would be interesting to see a dual quad 273 in stock. Ed F. __________________ Former NHRA #1945 Former IHRA #1945 T/SA

11-20-2008, 11:21 AM	#6
MFR440 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 112 Likes: 6 Liked 13 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock More info here, maybe someone you can contact: http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/...gonew=1#UNREAD __________________ Meyer Family Racing (re-tired) 1965 Dodge Coronet - Steet car and Part-time N/SS 1962 Plymouth Fury S/ST #3384 - Race in Peace, Craig Meyer

11-22-2008, 12:04 PM	#7
formula447 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock Back in 1968 I had a 67 Dart GT with the Hypo 273 and a 4 Speed.I was at a Dodge dealer in Rockville Center NY (Long Island) and they had a Clinic on a Weekday evening with Dick Landy.After Speaking with Dick he gave the Parts Manager (Al Kirchenbaum later of Hot Rod and Car Craft)some Part #s and We ordered them.I already had Hooker Fenderwell headers on the car and was told all the parts were the D Dart Package.I received a Racer Brown Cam and Springs,an Edelbrock Manifold and a Holley carb.After installing all these parts the Car picked up a full second and with 7" M&H Slicks went a 13.58(At the old Westhampton NY Dragstrip) and would spin to 7000rpm.I even had a 53 Desoto clutch in this thing.I would sidestep the Clutch at 6000 RPM and the car would scream.The following year I got involved with Pontiacs but that car made me a closet Mopar Fan for the last 40 years.By the way,I am still at it as seen in this video. Thanks Ray T http://northshoremusclecars.vidiac.c...6a00fc4fc1.htm

03-02-2009, 01:58 AM	#8
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock In 1966 Chrysler decided to compete in D/S with the D/Dart, they aimed the car at the 271 Mustangs and Fairlane 500's. The car was built for "stock" and "stock" only not SS. Many went to factory racers and some were sold to private racers. Dodge told the NHRA that they made 50...how many is still under debate but at that time you had to have built 50 of anything even to get it into SS. Today it would make a fun car but would give up too many inches to be competitive. BTW there is a guy down here in FL that has two of them, he drives one the street and has the other for sale...$25,000.00. It has a frozen engine, manifold and carb is gone as are the headers, every panel on the car needs replacement....it was outside in a Oklahoma hail storm...he's going to fix it up. Jim Last edited by treessavoy; 03-02-2009 at 02:19 AM.

03-02-2009, 02:38 AM	#9
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock Jim, It took me two weeks of phone calls, and talking to three different people at NHRA Tech, back in November, to finally get an answer on the "Stock = NO, Super Stock = YES" question. Their answer after all of that? 'WE DON'T KNOW." (The "now, leave us the F**** ALONE" was implied....) The main problem, I think, is time. None of those people were BORN yet when the D Darts were released. I would imagine that if somebody who has some clout with NHRA decided to build one of these little jewels for Stock Eliminator, there's a good possibilty that they could get NHRA to come off their current position (since they can't even explain how they got there), but THAT's not gonna happen unless NHRA takes some HP off it.... like about 30-40. The 340 Dusters and Demons would eat it alive at its current factor of 275... So, it's probably just going to slip into obscurity;a failed project that could have made some waves if the people responsiblle for the program had REALLY wanted to to succeed. But, obviously, they didn't. And, so it goes.... Bill __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 03-02-2009 at 01:17 PM.

03-02-2009, 11:49 AM	#10
mtkawboy Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Billings Mt Posts: 281 Likes: 182 Liked 54 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock Jim Wahl, was that Dynamic Dodge in new Smyrna ? A guy I knew named George Nelson who was the service manager built the engine for the Little Damn Ram but I thought it was a 235hp car. I recall a guy who worked for NASA building the headers. I was away in the service after it was built and run once or twice. Dont know what happened to the car. George died 2 years ago in Daytona of cancer