Original hemi dart information

[Paul Ceasrine]

Often overlooked in 1968,,,

Judy Lilly had a successful campaign in Division 5 (West Central Division)
with the SS/BA 68' Hemi Barracuda.
And Ms. Lilly was the only female to qualify for the 68' NHRA World Finals,
October 20, 1968 @ Tulsa, Oklahoma.

She won several rounds, before breaking-out (Disqualified), by running under
the SS/BA National Record (10.83) in the quarter-finals.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Some of the Chrysler people behind the 1968 Super/Stock Hemi Program;

* Chrysler-Plymouth Sales Manager; R.D. McLaughlin
* Head of Product Planning; Dick Maxwell
* Product Planning, Drag Race Division; Bob Cahill
* Special Vehicle Engineering; Tom Hoover
* Supervisor of Special Vehicle Engineering; Dan Mancini
* Chrysler Engineer (Racing Program); Pete Hutchinson
* Head of Development and Testing, Engineer; Bob Tarozzi
* Staff Engineer for Special Performance; Dave Koffel
* Special Car Manager and Chief Engineer; R. M. Rodgers
* Dodge Performance Sales Manager; R.H. Kline
* Sales and Marketing, Drag Race Division; Jerry Gross
* Product Planning and Special Parts Services; Brian L. Schram
* Chief Mechanic; Ted Spehar (Woodward Garage,,,,a.k.a. Skunkworks)
* Chief Mechanic; Larry Knowlton (Woodward Garage)
* Chrysler Technician/Mechanic; Dan Knapp
* Fuel Systems Engineer; John Bauman
* Chrysler Technician; Jerry Greene
* Hurst Performance Director; Richard Chrysler

[BAA5019]

In regards to John Rivers, He did own the Hemi Dart and that photo is of him and he was was part of a St. Paul car club existing of black racers. The club name was The Soulful Strutters. Another member named Eddie Anderson had a Green 68 hemi Dart as well. John lived in North Mpls and use to keep the car on his ramp truck behind his house in an alley. Never garaged. And what kept anyone from stealing that ride was one bad *** German Shepherd that was was chained to the truck. A long chain I might add. Hope that this helps.

[68hemiss]

I appreciate the info on the Johnny Rivers Dart. Does anyone know what ever happened to it? I have heard that it is still tucked away in MN, that it was crashed, that it fell on Johnny and killed him, ect... My point with the picture is that this is not a black guy and his son - I was under the impression that Johnny was a black guy???? So was the car sold??
Thanks,
Mark J

[ww63]

Last I knew the remnants of the car were in Florida (2007-2009)

[ww63]

Originally Posted by BAA5019

In regards to John Rivers, He did own the Hemi Dart and that photo is of him and he was was part of a St. Paul car club existing of black racers. The club name was The Soulful Strutters. Another member named Eddie Anderson had a Green 68 hemi Dart as well. John lived in North Mpls and use to keep the car on his ramp truck behind his house in an alley. Never garaged. And what kept anyone from stealing that ride was one bad *** German Shepherd that was was chained to the truck. A long chain I might add. Hope that this helps.

Soulful Strutters were also part of the Dick Landy 67 Dodge after it was sold thru White Bear Dodge in MN

[Paul Ceasrine]

Anyone, ever here of Lenny Lowe,,,,,

Ran a 68' Hemi Barracuda at the 1970 Indy Nationals in A/MP.

Out of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Edited,,,,,I found him,
'Super Cuda',,,,,,,,John Hagen's ex-SS/B car.

[68hemiss]

Thanks for the info but like I said the info on this car is somewhat sketchy. The Black Dart in FL (w/ Johnny Rivers paperwork - froom VanDyke Dodge in MI) I am familiar with. This car appears to be a re-body (I have seen the car in person) and in my research I have been told that before FL it was in MN and before that Galena, IL and I belive it was in CA before that - not sure where before that. I belive that the paperwork for this car is incorrect - it does not appear to be real. I have many copies of order forms and dealer paperwork on these cars and this one is nothing like the original copies that I have on file - I cannot prove this but.... This could be the Rivers car- just have no way to prove it.
I know for fact that White Bear Dodge ordered a Hemi Dart in 1968 (from factory paperwork) - I also have an ad where White Bear was selling the Landy 67 440& hemi Coronets as well as the Landy 68 440 Dart that they had purchased from Dick himself!

It seems to me I have heard something about the Eddie Anderson Dart - do you have any additional information? Was this a factory car?
Thanks,
Mark J

[fastfreddie]

I remember a lot of the 68 Cudas and Darts at Blaney Drag Strip,Mid Carolina Drag Strip and Jackson Drag Strip all in South Carolina.Some of them were City Dodge Dart of Barnett Brothers,Melvin Yow,El Toro Dart of Clyde Curtis,Max Hurley Dart,Bill Tanner Dart.Sam Caroll Straw Boss Cuda,Orange Crate Cuda.There are some pictures on the web of a WCS race at Blaney that have a lot of the late SS,early Pro Stock Hemis.I had some pictures my father took at Jackson but I can't find them.

[Hemi Moose]

Just had to post a few more of John Hagen's old 68 Hemi Barracuda.