1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's)

bluegrassx · 03-04-2011, 04:05 PM

Ron Mancini was runner up in Super Stock Eliminator at the 1968 NHRA Divison 3 event at Bluegrass Dragway in Lexington. He was running his 1968 SS/EA Dodge Dart.
At the 1969 Divison 3 event there he was SS winner in his SS/AA Hemi Dart.

Hemi Moose · 03-06-2011, 12:17 AM

Does anyone know if any of these 440 powered Dart ex race cars are still around today or the story of their demise?

Paul Ceasrine · 03-06-2011, 04:36 PM

I haven't seen any.
The 68' 440 Darts could only run Super/Stock.
1968 SS/EA
1969 SS/GA
1970 SS/FA

I think the big deal was, Chrysler only wanted to factory back the Hemi's.

Too bad, the top '2' Division points leaders for 1968.
Bob Lambeck (Dick Landy car)
Ron Mancini

TomCannon · 03-09-2011, 10:34 PM

So... What exhaust manifold were these cars delivered with? Did these cars come with a factory warranty?

Paul Ceasrine · 03-10-2011, 11:40 AM

Tom,

From what I have found on the '6' factory prepped 1968 SS/EA Darts GTS cars.
They came with Hooker Headers, 1 7/8" primary with 42" length tubes and 3 1/2" collectors. Fenderwell units.

A special exhaust connector pipe was attached to each side-outlet on the header collector (2 1/8" diamter),
and connected to the stock 383 mufflers, tail-pipes and chrome-tip exhausts.

No warranty on the factory race cars, but the factory did back them with free replacement parts.

The Mr. Norm's GSS 440 Darts (different version), did come through with a factory warranty.

Paul Ceasrine · 03-10-2011, 05:18 PM

T-N-T,

Car Craft Magazine (February 1968) had an article about the
Grand-Spaulding GSS 440's.

The information was gathered in December 1967, mentioning
that they were to be produced.

Also, Grand Spaulding Mr. Norm's placed advertisements in
Car Craft Magazine, for 68 GSS 440 Darts for $3750 and
they were offering 68' Factory Hemi Super/Stock Darts, at $5200.

Paul Ceasrine · 03-11-2011, 09:31 AM

Tom,

According to Al K.

The 1968 Dart GTS cars were pulled from the line on
November 20, 1967.

They were all 383 GTS cars with automatics. #LS23 cars, with 3.55 Sure-Grip gears.
The cars were pulled from the assembly line without the power train (engines), and
shipped to Hurst Performance for the conversion.

The Dodge-Hurst Conversion was code #L68 1703.
Cost was $363.65

440 engines were installed at Hurst Performance.
The cars were shipped back to Grand Spaulding Dodge for final preparation,
Which Included;
GSS badging
Engines were Dyno'd
Power-tuned
Carbs re-jetted (Reset pump shots and re-calibrated floats)
Re-curved distributors
Champion UJ-12Y spark-plugs
Larger belt pulleys
Performance ignition wiring
Low-restriction exhaust system (low-resistance mufflers, not the stock 383 units)
Full factory warranty
Ready-to-drive

Cost $3788

Hemi Moose · 03-25-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

From what I have found on the '6' factory prepped 1968 SS/EA Darts GTS cars.

They came with Hooker Headers, 1 7/8" primary with 42" length tubes and 3 1/2" collectors. Fenderwell units.

A special exhaust connector pipe was attached to each side-outlet on the header collector (2 1/8" diamter),
and connected to the stock 383 mufflers, tail-pipes and chrome-tip exhausts.

No warranty on the factory race cars, but the factory did back them with free replacement parts.

The Mr. Norm's GSS 440 Darts (different version), did come through with a factory warranty.

It would be very interesting to find out exactly how many races each of these six 440 Darts actually won, anyone here have any info on this.

rhinodaert · 05-03-2011, 12:10 AM

I personally know where there are 14 original Mr. Norms Dart GSS's, my boss owns three of them and there is a fourth in storage owned by someone else. I currently work for Mr. Norm and there is plenty of misinformation about these cars out there. The first few came out with 67 383 exhaust manifolds, and there is plenty more info that has been verified. Norm himself is not a car guy, he saw what was happening with high-performance cars and realized how many "units" he could sell. He recalls that there were 48 GSS' built. I have heard that the Landy car, which was not a GSS is in Minnesota, but I have not been able to narrow down where!

Myron Piatek · 03-11-2011, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul ceasrine

i haven't seen any.
The 68' 440 darts could only run super/stock.
1968 ss/ea
1969 ss/ga
1970 ss/fa

i think the big deal was, chrysler only wanted to factory back the hemi's.

Too bad, the top '2' division points leaders for 1968.
Bob lambeck (dick landy car)
ron mancini

1970 ???

03-04-2011, 04:05 PM	#1
bluegrassx Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 68 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's) Ron Mancini was runner up in Super Stock Eliminator at the 1968 NHRA Divison 3 event at Bluegrass Dragway in Lexington. He was running his 1968 SS/EA Dodge Dart. At the 1969 Divison 3 event there he was SS winner in his SS/AA Hemi Dart.

03-06-2011, 12:17 AM	#2
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: 1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's) Does anyone know if any of these 440 powered Dart ex race cars are still around today or the story of their demise?

03-06-2011, 04:36 PM	#3
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's) I haven't seen any. The 68' 440 Darts could only run Super/Stock. 1968 SS/EA 1969 SS/GA 1970 SS/FA I think the big deal was, Chrysler only wanted to factory back the Hemi's. Too bad, the top '2' Division points leaders for 1968. Bob Lambeck (Dick Landy car) Ron Mancini

03-09-2011, 10:34 PM	#4
TomCannon Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 4 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's) So... What exhaust manifold were these cars delivered with? Did these cars come with a factory warranty?

03-10-2011, 11:40 AM	#5
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's) Tom, From what I have found on the '6' factory prepped 1968 SS/EA Darts GTS cars. They came with Hooker Headers, 1 7/8" primary with 42" length tubes and 3 1/2" collectors. Fenderwell units. A special exhaust connector pipe was attached to each side-outlet on the header collector (2 1/8" diamter), and connected to the stock 383 mufflers, tail-pipes and chrome-tip exhausts. No warranty on the factory race cars, but the factory did back them with free replacement parts. The Mr. Norm's GSS 440 Darts (different version), did come through with a factory warranty. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 03-10-2011 at 12:01 PM.

03-10-2011, 05:18 PM	#6
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's) T-N-T, Car Craft Magazine (February 1968) had an article about the Grand-Spaulding GSS 440's. The information was gathered in December 1967, mentioning that they were to be produced. Also, Grand Spaulding Mr. Norm's placed advertisements in Car Craft Magazine, for 68 GSS 440 Darts for $3750 and they were offering 68' Factory Hemi Super/Stock Darts, at $5200. Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 03-10-2011 at 09:58 PM.

03-11-2011, 09:31 AM	#7
Paul Ceasrine VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,546 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: 1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's) Tom, According to Al K. The 1968 Dart GTS cars were pulled from the line on November 20, 1967. They were all 383 GTS cars with automatics. #LS23 cars, with 3.55 Sure-Grip gears. The cars were pulled from the assembly line without the power train (engines), and shipped to Hurst Performance for the conversion. The Dodge-Hurst Conversion was code #L68 1703. Cost was $363.65 440 engines were installed at Hurst Performance. The cars were shipped back to Grand Spaulding Dodge for final preparation, Which Included; GSS badging Engines were Dyno'd Power-tuned Carbs re-jetted (Reset pump shots and re-calibrated floats) Re-curved distributors Champion UJ-12Y spark-plugs Larger belt pulleys Performance ignition wiring Low-restriction exhaust system (low-resistance mufflers, not the stock 383 units) Full factory warranty Ready-to-drive Cost $3788 Last edited by Paul Ceasrine; 03-11-2011 at 01:12 PM.

05-03-2011, 12:10 AM	#9
rhinodaert Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: 1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's) I personally know where there are 14 original Mr. Norms Dart GSS's, my boss owns three of them and there is a fourth in storage owned by someone else. I currently work for Mr. Norm and there is plenty of misinformation about these cars out there. The first few came out with 67 383 exhaust manifolds, and there is plenty more info that has been verified. Norm himself is not a car guy, he saw what was happening with high-performance cars and realized how many "units" he could sell. He recalls that there were 48 GSS' built. I have heard that the Landy car, which was not a GSS is in Minnesota, but I have not been able to narrow down where!