D/Dart in Stock

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Thanks for the good info, Bob. I remember one car, a '61 Pontiac that had a dealer-installed "hop-up" package that would have been neat to see in Stock, but since it was never a showroom option, it never will be, I'm sure.

It was a '61 Catalina 2-door hardtop driven by Charlie Mitchell, who was a new car salesman at a Pontiac dealerhip in England, Arkansas, and one of those cigar-chomping, larger-than-life characters that are so rare, nowdays.
The engine was a high-compression 389 with three two barrels on an ALUMINUM intake manifold, with special big-valve heads and streamlined exhaust manifolds. It was the last gasp for the 389 before the 421's came on the scene, and ran 13.30's with a 4-speed. It had a decal on the front fender, "Ray Nichels Engineering" (a NASCAR guy, I think,) That engine was rated at the time, at 363 horsepower, but I have also seen it referred to as a 369 HP motor.... dunno which is correct.

It was the scourge of Stock that year, locally, until a dirt track racer showed up one day with a '62 Plymouth 413 cross-ram car with a 3-speed stick; instant 12.90s... )

Charlie traded in his '61 for a '62 421 and raced for a long time, but none of his cars ever impressed me like that white '61 Catalina... it just LOOKED "fast"!!!!!!!!!

Those SD parts were considered stock at one time back in the stone age. When NHRA decided to stop allowing over the counter parts and 4 speeds and Hydro's in 57 Chebbies all of those great SD 389's (1960-1961's) were eliminated. There were several racing in my area back around 62-66 and they were called the "INDIAN TRIBE". Max Sterlings White Lightening, The Pawnee of Sam Samuels, Mike Miatico who owned the M/T 61 Ventura that was driven by Carol and Lyod Cox in 61. Dick Hill out of Penn. with a 60 Catalina with a 4 speed and many more. The NHRA ruling made them all junk.