Original hemi dart information

[Charlie A]

I've been lurking for a couple of years and joined just to add one more Dart that I have not seen mentioned.

A homebuilder, Joe Ralph Thompson from Rison Arkansas, ran a red Hemi Dart. I remember there was also a PHR ( I believe) centerspread on it from a Texas race one year as a Pro Stock. I believe Gene Graham was the driver. It was set up at Sox and Martin. Don't know if it was a real one or a clone. I was a teenager and didn't know what a clone was.

Saw it at Carlisle and Stuttgart Dragway (Arkansas) a few times and then it vanished.

Dwight Southerland might remember this car.

[davezinn]

the above picture is very interesting! i cant make out the name on the window but it looks like Ron Mancini? looks too like it has A/MP on the quarter window? i'm guessing that this was the car that was wrecked in the mid-70's since it has the wider solid red stripe. interesting too that it has the tall snorkel style hood scoop replacing the Hemi style so i would guess too that it probably has a tunnel ram as well.

Modified Production ran against Gas?

Dave

[Liteweight]

Good points made on the Dana stuff. Also keep in mind, these Hurst cars came with the 4 1/2" bolt circle compared to the 4" bolt circle that "production " A bodys came with. They definately were stock length B body diffs,with stock length B body axles. I'm guessing this was to keep the cost down, so they didn't have to build a special length rear end. Instead, they installed those positive offset wheels. I believe this to be true for both, the Dana, & the 8 3/4"s.
So, possibly the shortage issue for the Dana's resulted from the special gearing - 4.88's rather than the diff. assemby as by length.

liteweight
Daryl

[Paul Ceasrine]

Mark J,
There are (2) definte Hemi cars from the Syracuse, NY Region.
* Ed Miller's SS/B Barracuda "Syracuse Region Plymouth Dealers"
* Chuck McJury's SS/B Dart "Cicero Dodge" (Later converted to an automatic).


Wasn't completely sure if John Bullock got an original. He was
one of the original 65' Dodge Super/Stock owners too.
Sam Dell Dodge, Syracuse, New York was big into racing.

Paul

[Liteweight]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Mark J,
There are (2) definte Hemi cars from the Syracuse, NY Region.
* Ed Miller's SS/B Barracuda "Syracuse Region Plymouth Dealers"
* Chuck McJury's SS/B Dart "Cicero Dodge" (Later converted to an automatic).


Wasn't completely sure if John Bullock got an original. He was
one of the original 65' Dodge Super/Stock owners too.
Sam Dell Dodge, Syracuse, New York was big into racing.

Paul

Paul
The Ed Miller SS/B Barracuda has been located in the Minnesota area. This car went through many phases, including being converted to a 69 car to appease Chrysler. It has been documented by Ed as well. It is currently in my shop & undergoing a complete restoration to it's original 68 "as raced" glory including the paint scheme & decaling. It had one of those small deck wings installed on it & 69 side markers when purchased a few years back.

Liteweight
Daryl

[JSLRacing]

Originally Posted by Liteweight

Paul
It is currently in my shop & undergoing a complete restoration to it's original 68 "as raced" glory including the paint scheme & decaling.

Just curious about restoring one of these Darts/Cudas that has been tubbed and you go back to stock during a restoration?

What do you have to do to replace the cut out material? Cut the floor and rails out of a donor car and fit it back in the tubbed car?

[davezinn]

there is a ton of cool stuff in that S&M picture! looks like both Superbirds, the Barracuda and look at the rollbar in the Duster. it looks like too there is a '70-up Shaker scoop on the roof of the Barracuda?

the intake in the top of the cart looks interesting too, medium rise tunnel ram maybe?

thank you for the pictures


Dave

[James L Miller]

Originally Posted by Charlie A

A homebuilder, Joe Ralph Thompson from Rison Arkansas, ran a red Hemi Dart. I remember there was also a PHR ( I believe) centerspread on it from a Texas race one year as a Pro Stock. I believe Gene Graham was the driver. It was set up at Sox and Martin. Don't know if it was a real one or a clone. I was a teenager and didn't know what a clone was.

I know Joe had a 1970 Dart he ran in PS. I own one of the AWB cars that Joe ran. He's still around as far as I know. I talked to him a year or two ago and still remembered how he setup a Hemi.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Charlie A. & James,

Joe Ralph Thompson
"JRT Racing"
Ran at the 1970 Indy Nationals, according to my Pro/Stock participant list.
I'm searching for earlier stuff.

Mark J,
Boch Dodge was also big into racing. In direct competition with Norwood Chevrolet out of Norwood, Mass.
No information on a possible 68 S/S car.
Also, Shapiro Motors out of Pittsfield, Mass got shut out in pursuit of a 68' Dart.

pc

[Paul Ceasrine]

Eddie,
Much on the fragmented information.
Someday, someone will put a complete book together.
There was a cost difference between the Dart and Cuda.
Approximate FACTORY cost to build the 68' Hemi cars was $3200.
Dealer cost $4204.88
Also, $4204.88 if the racer went to Michigan (Hazel Park or Madison Heights) to pick up the car.

Also, several issues with the car. Not a buy and race vehicle out of the box.
pc