Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock

[mtkawboy]

Sorry about the double post, I tried to edit the original and ended up with two posts. Email me at mtww55@msn.com or 406-259-1059 mst {2 hours earlier then Fl.}. We almost wadded the car, trailer & Georges 56 F100 coming down the big bridge over the St Lucie canal on the turnpike. The f100 had a built 312 and he floored it and finally got it straight again. I has wondering what the hel# he was doing because the trailer was trying to pass us and was winning !!

[ron bretemps]

Bob Banning Dodge had one of these at Capitol Raceway in 66. I heard it was BBjr's 1st racecar.

AMXRON

[Bret Kepner]

When I first heard of the "D Dart" package, I was running a reasonably competitive '66 273 Barracuda in AHRA L/SA. When I asked AHRA Tech Director Vance Brady if he would allow the "D Dart" package as a legal combination, he replied, "Sure! In F2 D/HR!"

Unfortunately, I think only the old AHRA guys will enjoy that one.

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

When I first heard of the "D Dart" package, I was running a reasonably competitive '66 273 Barracuda in AHRA L/SA. When I asked AHRA Tech Director Vance Brady if he would allow the "D Dart" package as a legal combination, he replied, "Sure! In F2 D/HR!"

Unfortunately, I think only the old AHRA guys will enjoy that one.

Bret,

I raced a '64 max wedge dodge all around Texas and at other AHRA strips about the same time. One thing about the AHRA is that you always got an immediate answer to your question...you might not like it but at least you got an answer....unlike the NHRA which takes a study group and a two years to make the decision!

Jim

BTW last time I saw you I was part of Cleo Chandler's crew, what a lady!

[Jim B]

I kind of remember that the D/Darts were offered so late in the '66 model year (close to build out) that most of the factory guys' buzz was more centered about the anticipated '67 Plymouth 426 Hemi RO23 package. I also remember the impending implimentation of Super stock was much more on the minds of the guys with the max wedge and A864 and A990 B bodies. I just don't remember alot of talk and enthusiasm about these cars. I could be mistaken but I also think they used the Chrysler factory race car flagship A100 red bucket seats.

[X-TECH MAN]

[QUOTE=Jim B; I could be mistaken but I also think they used the Chrysler factory race car flagship A100 red bucket seats.[/QUOTE]

Your mistaken.....they used stock OEM seats that all the rest of the Darts came with.

[ddartdude]

There were 50 cars built on April 17, 1966. They were all white GT's with red bucket seats, 4-speeds, 4.86 gears, radio delete, and rear seat belt delete. The Doug's headers, y-pipe and hubcaps were shipped in the trunk. The fender tags listed them as being LP23's but the VIN's were LO23D62653888 thru 937. The S/O numbers were 417-71120 thru 417-71169.

As far as I know, there are 10 D/Darts still around -- Pa (2), Ga (1), SC (1), Ca (1), NJ (1), Ohio (1), Nev (1), Ka (1), and Fla (1). I've heard of many more that are still around and have asked for VIN info but haven't rec'd any yet. If you have any info on the D/Dart, please PM me. You can also send an e-mail to Alan Lewis on the D/Dart website listed in this thread.

To correct a statement that treessavoy made, I did own 2 D/Darts at the same time. I did sell the one that was for sale. The one that I still own is the first one that was built. It was campaigned in the Detroit area by Ted Spehar and Ralph Costa and was known as "The Politician". I believe it may have been raced in Reading, Pa area by Al Adam. It has not been driven on the street -- except -- for a couple of trips around my subdivision.

Alan

[dart4forte]

Originally Posted by ddartdude

There were 50 cars built on April 17, 1966. They were all white GT's with red bucket seats, 4-speeds, 4.86 gears, radio delete, and rear seat belt delete. The Doug's headers, y-pipe and hubcaps were shipped in the trunk. The fender tags listed them as being LP23's but the VIN's were LO23D62653888 thru 937. The S/O numbers were 417-71120 thru 417-71169.

As far as I know, there are 10 D/Darts still around -- Pa (2), Ga (1), SC (1), Ca (1), NJ (1), Ohio (1), Nev (1), Ka (1), and Fla (1). I've heard of many more that are still around and have asked for VIN info but haven't rec'd any yet. If you have any info on the D/Dart, please PM me. You can also send an e-mail to Alan Lewis on the D/Dart website listed in this thread.

To correct a statement that treessavoy made, I did own 2 D/Darts at the same time. I did sell the one that was for sale. The one that I still own is the first one that was built. It was campaigned in the Detroit area by Ted Spehar and Ralph Costa and was known as "The Politician". I believe it may have been raced in Reading, Pa area by Al Adam. It has not been driven on the street -- except -- for a couple of trips around my subdivision.

Alan

There's a guy by the name of Butch Ball that has one here in Yakima, WA. I've been trying to get a gander at it for years. It was sold through Yakima Dodge.

[bill dedman]

Originally Posted by ddartdude

There were 50 cars built on April 17, 1966. They were all white GT's with red bucket seats, 4-speeds, 4.86 gears, radio delete, and rear seat belt delete. The Doug's headers, y-pipe and hubcaps were shipped in the trunk. The fender tags listed them as being LP23's but the VIN's were LO23D62653888 thru 937. The S/O numbers were 417-71120 thru 417-71169.

Alan

Alan,
This from Paul Canizzaro, who worked on the project in '66:

>>>"We argued that we should not produce a half-baked project, but somebody up there in the head office wanted the cars out there. Really it was cover your butt project. Though there are claims that 50 cars were produced in April of 66', the truth is about 25 or so were built. To this day, I have only seen (2) D-Darts race. I have never seen a true D-Dart at any Mopar meets."<<<

He also said: "I worked for Chrysler from 1964 thru 1969. I worked with the Special Performance Group, under the direction of Dick Maxwell and Tom Hoover. I worked on and helped prepare the 1966 D-Darts during the spring of 1966."

Pretty good credentials, if that's true, and I have no reason to believe it's not.

Check out his story at: http://www.seriousviewers.com/D-Dart/story.htm

I'm no expert; I only report what I read, but somebody's wrong about how many were actually built.

Bill

[qwiked]

There's a guy by the name of Butch Ball that has one here in Yakima, WA. I've been trying to get a gander at it for years. It was sold through Yakima Dodge.

Dennis Lester's step father Harry Smythe, owner of Yakima Dodge, at the time of the D dart intro. drove one as a "demo". --Contact Dennis at his car lot -- he might be able to "hook you up" historically speaking -- Butch Ball et. al. butchered a wagon for D/MP but I don't know about a D dart-- Butch was last seen blowing up a Turbo Pinto and getting "hosed" by NHRA factoring..