Original hemi dart information

[Paul Ceasrine]

Mark J,
Didn't... DeFrank & Cohen purchase the "Gentle Ben" car (Idaho-based)
as their first Cuda??

Back to Charlie Castaldo, some confusion for those who follow.
Charlie had (2) cars, but (3) variations of paint and lettering.
The first car (SS/B; 4-speed) was reddish-brown with silverish center section. The roof was silver and the hood was reddish-brown. No lettering on the scoop. DODGE was lettered on the "B" pillar. Westchester Automotive, Mt. Vernon was lettered on the front fenders, and Speedwin Automotive was lettered on the quarter-panels. A Hooker Header emblem was on the lower portion of the front fender. CHARLIE CASTALDO was lettered on the door horizontally, but the letters were slightly staggered. OH, a little heart with TLC was placed on the lower quarter-panel, in front of the rear-wheel opening.
Joe Jill did the engine. Not sure on the make, but the pistons were
lightweight, not the standard heavy-slugs. (Brooks or Duffy). Crankshaft done by my old friend, Jerry at Storm Crankshaft, Mt. Vernon, NY.
Who's got that engine???
P

[Bill Rolik]

Paul,

A couple of tidbits:

First up are two more shots of the Castaldo car at Island. Rick Rickman is "holding the car up" in one of the photos.

Also, since these cars were from the Westchester/Dutchess/Putnam area, "For Your Viewing Pleasure", I have included shots of Peter Faucetta's SS/DA Cuda (A Sox&Martin-prepped car), and also the K/SA 273/235 67 Valiant post sedan of Jeff Seligmann and the late Joe Kenney. Both were taken at the Summernationals in 71. Why Joe ever was involved in a Mopar I will never know!

Bill Rolik

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by Bill Rolik

and also the K/SA 273/235 67 Valiant post sedan of Jeff Seligmann and the late Joe Kenney. Both were taken at the Summernationals in 71.

First time I've ever seen one of these in Stock!

M68

[Paul Ceasrine]

Are we sure we don't want to change the name of this thread to;
Mysterys, Myths and Misconceptions..
This thread looks like an Italian Kitchen.
Many hands stirring the wooden spoon in the Pot-Of-Sauce (or as some
say; Gravy).
At least in the end, the Sauce will be perfect.
More to come.
Bill Rodik on your post #171 and Mopar68, what are you doing adding a
nice Jewish-boy like Jeff Seligmann to this thread. Oy vey, we need
some Bagels this morning...
Paul C

[Bill Rolik]

Well, since the Seligmann car was from your general area, I decided to throw it in. Looks like his drag racing career was short-lived!

As far as the "Italian Kitchen" scenario, what better way to stir the sauce a bit more than to add a shot I took of Carmine Rotunda at E-Town at the beginning of the Pro Stock craze. All I can say about the fashion in vogue at that time is "Yipes Stripes".

Bill Rolik

P.S. That is Bobby Yowell with his back to the camera.

[mopar68]

Originally Posted by paul ceasrine

are we sure we don't want to change the name of this thread to;
mysterys, myths and misconceptions..
This thread looks like an italian kitchen.
Many hands stirring the wooden spoon in the pot-of-sauce (or as some
say; gravy).
At least in the end, the sauce will be perfect.
More to come.
Bill rodik on your post #171 and mopar68, what are you doing adding a
nice jewish-boy like jeff seligmann to this thread. Oy vey, we need
some bagels this morning...
paul c

Paul, I like your sense of humor.

M68

[Paul Ceasrine]

JIMI "V",
Only good intentions here. Just trying to figure out where the 68' Dart
my father had for a brief period ended up. I am trying to back-track all avenues, including the Mystery Mount Kisco car. Can't put my finger on it,
but one of these Dart's may have been at Bill Davitt's shop on Adams Street, Bedford Hills for a short time (75' or 76'). I was there alot during that time picking-up or dropping off cylinder heads (foreign stuff).
I'm really going out-on-a-limb. Can't be sure.
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Mopar68,
Had to add a little humor, to break-up the monotony.
Bill Rodik, on post #197. Are you sure, that looks like Gregg Allman with the long blonde hair, talking to Sonny, Elvis Pressley's bodyguard.
Thank You, Very Much
Before more Hemi stuff. I forgot to add. Yes, Jeff Selligman. Ran at
Dover, same time as us. Back in 70' or 71' that car ran in J/SA, while we were in K/S with the 273 Cuda. The Valiant was about 120 lbs. lighter,
and ran in one class lower. In 72' it was re-classified to K/SA, we went up to L/S. That photo in (National Dragster) must be from 72'.
Jeff had an speed parts store in Danbury, A & S Performance. Also, liked food, alot of it. Nice guy, very large. If I recall, the car ran around 14.50's or so. Won quite a few trophies at Dover, no competition in that class. Only a 66' Belvedere 383/275HP 2-barrel (12.00 - 12.49 wt/hp
factor). Not too many of those 67' 273/235HP cars made.
PC

[mopar68]

Could this be the ex-Castaldo Dart?







If not, whose car is it?

M68

[MattConte]

Hi all
I am what you call a "Lurker" and do not post. Been a member for quite a wile, but this thread brought me out. I have never been fortunate enough to own a race car. So I do not post on here. What I am is a very big FAN of Sportsman racers. I am also a model car builder and I use places like this to gather my reference material to build my models as accurate as possible. Something you guys should know about us model builders. We research the heck out of the subject matter we want to build and you find that the model car boards have some of the most knowledgeable race car historians anywhere. We also are collectors of huge magazine collections. Well I just happen to be a very big, long time fan of the SS/AH class cars and the history of the LO-23 and BO-29 cars
Well, with that said. I got on here today and found this post. I got quite excited to find that the car that starter of this thread owns is a car I want to build a model of. Have wanted to for many years. All because of this magazine that "Liteweight" needs to get a hold of. The Dec 89 issue of MOPAR Action. That is your car on the cover. This issue has all of the Photos and stories that were in the Nov. 68 issue of Cars Magazine with the photos that Charlie took when he picked up the car.

I hope I am not out of line here and maybe you all might already know about this magazine. If not. I have seen it many times listed on E-bay.

Liteweight
I would love to get in touch with you at a later time about getting more info on your car. Like I said. I have wanted to do a 1/25th scale model of your car for years, and Revell Model Company is about to make that much easier in their 2010 kit line up with the issue of a 1/25th scale model car kit of a LO-23 factory Hurst built 68 Hemi Dart.

I love this board and especially all of the photos that are post. Great stuff for a guy like me that cannot build the real thing so I build little models of all kinds of Sportsman Drag Cars.
Thanks
Matt