Together with Alan Hvizdos we have rounded up what might be the correct story for the early 273.
The Chrysler 273 history the first three years.
January 1st 1964 Chrysler introduced the new 273 LA engine. Born out of the old 318 wide block this engine was built for the Dart and Valiant models. The two barrel engine produced 180 hp that made it a good and reliable engine according to W.L. Weertman and E.W. Beckham who were the engineers behind it.
When a new engine arrives on the market the manufacturers of aftermarket parts is eager to come up with new hot parts like intakes, camshafts, pistons, headers etc. Offenhauser made an agreement with Chrysler back in 1954 to produce aftermarket parts for Chrysler built cars.
In early summer of 1964 Chrysler adverticed a 1964 Dart GT with a 240 h.p. 273 with an Offenhauser intake, Racer Brown SS12 camshaft and a Carter carb. The lady in Chrysler commercial ”Little Old Lady” Kathryn Minner did a commercial with that same Dart GT that can be seen with the 240 h.p. lettering incl Racer brown decal. At this time Chrysler had already made up a new 273 on August 3 when the production started on the 1965 models. Charger 273 for Dodge and 273 Commando for Plymouth. Chrysler built the engine with 10,5 pistons, hotter cam, Carter 4 bbl carburator on top of a casted intake manifold, low restriction exhaust system incl a resonator and a dual point Prestolite distributor. The result was 235 h.p.
In the spring of 1965 Chrysler started offering the 273 to the public in three different versions like an early ”D/Dart”;
1= 275 HP, special cam and valve train, Holley 4 bbl and Doug's headers
2= 295 HP, special cam and valve train, dual Carter four barrels, aluminum intake manifold (no name), and Doug's headers, dual exhaust
3= 315 HP, special cam and valve train, Hilborn Fuel Injection, and Doug's Headers
Up til now there is one known 1965 Dart GT with the 295 h.p. version still with it’s first owner.
In the early summer of 1965 Chrysler built 40 drag race Darts specially prepped by Offenhauser. The engine had an Offenhauser 1 x 4 bbl aluminium intake manifold #5489, Offenhauser valve covers and an Offenhauser air cleaner. The camshaft were a Racer Brown ST14 with same duration as the SS12 camshaft 266 degrees but a higher lift .486 instead of .428.
In August of 1965 the production of the 273 continued for the 1966 model year. Still the engine were offered to the public in two versions, 180 h.p. or 235 h.p.
Finally in March of 1966 Chrysler offered their famous D/Dart for the public with the 275 h.p. version. The Dart was suppose to compete in D/Stock and were a great competitor.
To be continued...........
Feel free to add more information about the story. Hopefully we can get it correct and complete.
The Chrysler 273 history the first three years.
January 1st 1964 Chrysler introduced the new 273 LA engine. Born out of the old 318 wide block this engine was built for the Dart and Valiant models. The two barrel engine produced 180 hp that made it a good and reliable engine according to W.L. Weertman and E.W. Beckham who were the engineers behind it.
When a new engine arrives on the market the manufacturers of aftermarket parts is eager to come up with new hot parts like intakes, camshafts, pistons, headers etc. Offenhauser made an agreement with Chrysler back in 1954 to produce aftermarket parts for Chrysler built cars.
In early summer of 1964 Chrysler adverticed a 1964 Dart GT with a 240 h.p. 273 with an Offenhauser intake, Racer Brown SS12 camshaft and a Carter carb. The lady in Chrysler commercial ”Little Old Lady” Kathryn Minner did a commercial with that same Dart GT that can be seen with the 240 h.p. lettering incl Racer brown decal. At this time Chrysler had already made up a new 273 on August 3 when the production started on the 1965 models. Charger 273 for Dodge and 273 Commando for Plymouth. Chrysler built the engine with 10,5 pistons, hotter cam, Carter 4 bbl carburator on top of a casted intake manifold, low restriction exhaust system incl a resonator and a dual point Prestolite distributor. The result was 235 h.p.
In the spring of 1965 Chrysler started offering the 273 to the public in three different versions like an early ”D/Dart”;
1= 275 HP, special cam and valve train, Holley 4 bbl and Doug's headers
2= 295 HP, special cam and valve train, dual Carter four barrels, aluminum intake manifold (no name), and Doug's headers, dual exhaust
3= 315 HP, special cam and valve train, Hilborn Fuel Injection, and Doug's Headers
Up til now there is one known 1965 Dart GT with the 295 h.p. version still with it’s first owner.
In the early summer of 1965 Chrysler built 40 drag race Darts specially prepped by Offenhauser. The engine had an Offenhauser 1 x 4 bbl aluminium intake manifold #5489, Offenhauser valve covers and an Offenhauser air cleaner. The camshaft were a Racer Brown ST14 with same duration as the SS12 camshaft 266 degrees but a higher lift .486 instead of .428.
In August of 1965 the production of the 273 continued for the 1966 model year. Still the engine were offered to the public in two versions, 180 h.p. or 235 h.p.
Finally in March of 1966 Chrysler offered their famous D/Dart for the public with the 275 h.p. version. The Dart was suppose to compete in D/Stock and were a great competitor.
To be continued...........
Feel free to add more information about the story. Hopefully we can get it correct and complete.
