Original hemi dart information

[davezinn]

so there were three Mancini Darts that existed. anyone have any pics of the red/silver car? interesting that the two yellow cars were "built" cars and not originally Hurst built 68's. i'm guessing here that the '69 was the one that was wrecked? or was it the '70 converted to '68? it makes me wonder too if that means there are two surviving Ron Mancini Darts still out there?

Dave

[Paul Ceasrine]

Dave,
I think Mark J or Daryl can verify this.
Ron Mancini's first Hemi Dart did not come directly from the factory.
He bought Gil Clark's car in June 1969. (an original factory car).
Gil was an AHRA-contracted racer out of Toronto, Canada.
I'm pretty sure it was a 4-speed originally.
Gil Clark's car was the #5 car out of the first 56 produced (first run) on
February 18, 1968.
Supposedly Gil's last run was at Detroit Dragway in June 1969.
Records show it ran a 10.73 in SS/B.
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Gooch,
Charlie Lendrum was also from upstate New York.
Charlie was out of the Schenectady area.
His car was co-sponsored by Albany Dodge.
Charlie was another AWB-racer, with a 66' Chevy.
He ran a SS/BA 68' Hemi Dart.
It was an original factory car.
Ran it in SS/AA and Pro/Stock in 1970.
He was called the 'Northern Shaker'.
In refrence to Albany-Shaker Road.
pc

[davezinn]

some internet searching turned up two pics. one is of the red/silver version of Mancini's car and the second looks to be Larry Griffith's '68 turned '70. Griffith's '70 would be the same one that's restored today back to mostly it's '68 configuration?

Dave

[MattConte]

Pics did not work, Dave.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Daryl,
I'm checking on the rear-end installation for the 68's.
Trying to find the article, which stated that there was a
shortage of Dana rear-end units for the A-Body.
No way would there be a shortage of B-Body Dana units.

Also, back in 2003, great article and pictures in magazine describing the test runs for the Mule Car at Irwindale.
The car got a little out of align when going through the traps.
OK up to 120 MPH. Original thought, was that the hood scoop had an effect.
Paul

[davezinn]

Paul, i've read that there was a shortage of the 8 3/4 axles and many of the second run automatic cars got the Dana 60's for that reason.

it's interesting to note the front suspension problems. i've seen where Ronnie Sox had said that the cars they got were "pretty good right out of the box" and i find that very interesting. i don't think thier cars were any different then everyone elses, at least before they got into them. afterwards, well that's pretty obvious.

how many Barracuda's did they get from Hurst? so far with what i've found just one, the second one. the first came to them unfinished right from the Hamtramck plant so i've read and the third? was built by them.


Dave

[MattConte]

Originally Posted by davezinn

so there were three Mancini Darts that existed. anyone have any pics of the red/silver car? interesting that the two yellow cars were "built" cars and not originally Hurst built 68's. i'm guessing here that the '69 was the one that was wrecked? or was it the '70 converted to '68? it makes me wonder too if that means there are two surviving Ron Mancini Darts still out there?

Dave

I bet that it was the car that crashed at indy that was the 70 converted. Because of the, no marler lights.
I bet the one that has the "strobe" striping that goes over the roof is still around somewhere. But I bet it will not be found. With it not being a real LO23 and just a 69.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Dave,
I've got to research my older pictures on the Test Mule car.
There is a great photo of the under-carriage from the rear, showing
the 8 3/4" unit. It was a standard A-body unit.
I can't recall whether the off-set hangers were in use.

Of course the Test Mule was as stated, a test car. The car was not
a complete BO-29 car.

On tire width. Back in the day, on our 68' SS/I 340 Cuda. We used
S/S springs with standard hangers. 9" width M & H slicks.. We used
Ansen Mags (14" x 7") standard (No off-set).
Had about an 1.5" clearance between the leaf spring and tire.

Paul

[davezinn]

Hemi Moose, the car you are talking about in the end of your post i think is owned by Larry Nash and is a yellow Dart that's supposedly never been cut. according to magazine articles i have it did once belong to Lou Mancini in the late 70's and into the 80's and was at one point painted green.


Dave