Whither 1966 D Darts for Stock

[Myron Piatek]

Bill, it does make sense to grab 50 in a row. But that could be an exception instead of a rule. I just don't know enough about the proceedures and hoped it would give people who do know more something to consider.

I'm pretty sure specialty cars like Challenger T/A's, Dodge Charger Daytona's, etc. were not sequential. But it would be interesting to find out how smaller runs of other special cars were done. (i.e.: '68 Hemi Cudas and Darts (they had VINs, didn't they?), the 383 Darts that Mr. Norm got and converted to 440s, aluminum-nosed cars from '64, etc.)

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

Bill, it does make sense to grab 50 in a row. But that could be an exception instead of a rule. I just don't know enough about the proceedures and hoped it would give people who do know more something to consider.

I'm pretty sure specialty cars like Challenger T/A's, Dodge Charger Daytona's, etc. were not sequential. But it would be interesting to find out how smaller runs of other special cars were done. (i.e.: '68 Hemi Cudas and Darts (they had VINs, didn't they?), the 383 Darts that Mr. Norm got and converted to 440s, aluminum-nosed cars from '64, etc.)

Who knows why and how as its been a long time ago. In 1962 (1963 model year) Chevrolet assembled 25 1963 Z-11 Impalas. Then they assembled 25 more on a second run. Then when the racing ban was put into effect they assembled 7 more with the left over parts to use them up and yes it was an RPO (Regular Production Option) assembly. Some of the other manufactures pulled the cars from the assembly line and had an outside contractor finish the cars. Can we say Thunder Bolts, 1968 Hemi Cudas and Darts, etc.

[bill dedman]

Terry,

If there were 57 Z-11's built by Chevrolet for the 1963 model year, why were they never legal for Super Stock (they weren't, back then.)

It's been 46 years ago, and I frankly can't remember, so maybe the rule was for 100 cars built to be legal for S/S... but there weren't 100 '68 Hemi A body Barracudas built, and I don' think the Darts would fall under the same "umbrella," so that probably waan't the case.

Maybe you'd remember, or Chuck, or Tony Janes... it just escape me. Sorry for the hijack, but I've always wondered why those Z-11's were forced to run F/X.

[RJ]

First thing would be to adjust the factor, 275 is pretty steep.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Terry,

If there were 57 Z-11's built by Chevrolet for the 1963 model year, why were they never legal for Super Stock (they weren't, back then.)

It's been 46 years ago, and I frankly can't remember, so maybe the rule was for 100 cars built to be legal for S/S... but there weren't 100 '68 Hemi A body Barracudas built, and I don' think the Darts would fall under the same "umbrella," so that probably waan't the case.

Maybe you'd remember, or Chuck, or Tony Janes... it just escape me. Sorry for the hijack, but I've always wondered why those Z-11's were forced to run F/X.

Bill....GM may have built all 57 by the time the winter Nationals was run but not enough were sold and in racers hands by then so they ran the ones that showed up with slicks in A/FX. The ones that teched in with 7 inch caslers were thrown into a made up class called L/P (Limited Production). Why they did that is anyones guess??? After the winter Nationals they all ran A/FX and the L/P class designation disapeared. Its been a long time (CRS setting in) but the reason is for them not running S/S was NHRA had a requirement of 100 cars min. to be built back then. The T-Bolts of 1964 were about 100 units and there were a couple of thousand Max Wedge cars built over the 3 model year time frame and thats why they could run S/S. You could get the Alum. front ends over the counter for the Mopars after Mopar said they had sold enough cars with the lite wt. package.

[ddartdude]

The best the Politician ran in 1966 was a 12.92, the best MPH was 105. Here's a slip that I got from Ralph Costa a couple of years ago. It has Ted's notes on it.

[Mopar Steve]

Alan,

A thought on the actual production numbers: Since these were built in 1966, Chrysler should still have the IBM Cards for these cars, correct? I believe they offer that service on cars up to 1967? I would talk to Darrell Davis and see if you or someone else could possibly make a trip to Chrysler Historical to go through the files. This could answer your question about VIN's, Production Numbers, and Shipping Dealers.

Just my two cents.

-Steve

[bill dedman]

Thanks, Terry..

You answered some old questions for me!!!

Bill

[bill dedman]

To put "how far we've come," into perspective, there's a 235HP 273 Valiant 2-door "post" running in Div. VI in K/SA that has run 12.0's (and, maybe quicker, by now), driven by Angela Bushmaker, daughter of longtime racer "WILLY B" Bill Bushmaker, a Seattle area Mopar devotee. I ~think~ Larry Hollums does the engine for that car. Dunno how much quicker it might go with the D-Dart mods, but it sure would be interesting to find out...

Bill

[dart4forte]

Originally Posted by 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..

I know Dennis quite well. I've asked about that D/Dart but he's doesn't have much to say about it. Dennis is a wealth of knowledge. I also know a guy here in Yakima that has the original SS Hemi Cuda that Hahn Motors ran back in the 70's. He know's the location of the original motor and is trying to talk the guy who has it to give it up.