1966 Dodge D/Dart ~ 'Mystery, Myth and Misconception'

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Alan,

I'll see what I can gig up.

Also, Jimmy Boyd {Greenville, South Carolina} drove a D/Dart for one meet for a
South Carolina Dodge Dealership.
 
Alan,

The Plot Thickens {June 1965}

One of the '1st' altercations between Mopar and other 'Stock Class' competitors was
at the 1965 NHRA Springnationals at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee.

Chrysler {Dodge Division} was there with a factory-prepped 1965 Dodge Coronet
383/325 HP classed in 'C/Stock' {10.60 to 11.29 Wt/Hp}.

It was supposed to be running 13.10's {which was 'under' the NHRA National Record}
as per earlier tests at Detroit Dragway and Muncie Dragstrip in Indiana during Mopar Run-off's.

The goal, to knock off either Dick Hill in his 1960 Pontiac Catalina {389/348 HP} or
the Musser Brothers 1961 Corvette {283/270 HP}.

They wanted either of those 'two' Pennsylvania-based Stockers out of the way for
Stock Eliminator.

1965.......'Ban-Zai'

attachment.php
 
Paul,
Wish 'The Politician' was lettered like the Pontiac when I got it. That would have been cool.

Been contacting people about dealerships that may have had D/Darts. Was there a Ricard & Davis Chrysler Plymouth dealership around the DC area in 1966? I was told the David Wallace car may have come from there. According to X-Tech Man, Dave raced it against the Banning car a few times.

Another Alan said he saw one in a field once. Thought it was a D/Dart. It had an Earp Chrysler Plymouth ~ Omaha, Nebraska sticked on it. Jim Earp was a racer that owned the dealership.
Alan
 
Alan,

There were several 1966 Dart 273/235 HP cars that converted to 273/275 HP with the
D/Dart package.

But by 1968, that wasn't the smart move, as the F/Stock Record was in the 12.60's.
 
Myth
The D/Darts were built on April 17, 1966. This was the scheduled build date.

Fact
I believe the D/Darts were actually built on April 28, 1966
 
I farted.

There's mystery, myth and misconception all rolled into one.
 
1966DDart said:
View attachment 1714690888
This is the day arrived to pick it up out in Colorado. I took an 8 3/4 rear end with me, installed it, found 4 wheels/tires in the junkyard, and loaded it onto the trailer for the drive back.

View attachment 1714690889
Two days later, after arriving in Kentucky with the car. Quick wash down with the hose and it cleaned up pretty decent.

View attachment 1714690890
Stored it for a while in Kentucky. Pulled the blown engine out and added a set of Formula-S wheels. Then a friend hauled it up to Ohio for me on his roll-back.

Funniest part is that I took the door locks out of this car several years earlier to put in a '66 Valiant I used to have (when I lived out there). Eventually moved to Ohio and wanted another A-body to play with. Not wanting a rusty car from around here, I called out west and bought the car with the plans to make a D/Dart clone. When searching for more info on them (colors, interior, etc.), I found Alan Lewis' website. A few emails later and thanks to Alan Lewis and Alan Hvizdos (aka. ddartdude), they were able to confirm I had found car #43. :cheers:
Click to expand...


Fact #1
The owner of this D/Dart (entry #104 and it is real) contacted me about the locations of the Body Code stampings on the Darts. I told him they are on the Radiator support and on the driver side of the package shelf between the speaker hole and the back glass. His doesn't have any numbers on the radiator support but the ones on the package shelf are 6242700235. This means the body was scheduled to be built on 4-27. The Body Codes stamped on another D/Dart are 6241771152 which means it was scheduled to be built on 4-17.

Fact #2
The dates that are hand stamped on the engine of the 2 D/Darts that I've owned are 4-26 and 4-27 which put's them being built after the scheduled 4-17 date.

Fact #3
Ted Spehars D/Dart was the first car shipped. It was shipped on 4-29 to Riverview Dodge in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.
 
Does anyone know where Riverview Dodge in Grosse Point Park, MI was? We're heading up to the Detroit area to visit the kids this summer and thought that I'd try and find where my D/Dart was delivered to.

Also, does anyone have Dealer Number info from 1966 and/or 1967? I have a few dealer numbers that I need info (city/state) on.
 
Cool thread...Have thought about building a D-Dart replica.
Have this 66 radio delete if anyone is interested.
Not doing me much good sitting on the shelf.
PM me if interested.
 

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I believe that radio delete plate is for a lowline. The one on the D/Dart doesn't have the vertical wall on the right side. It also has a trim piece on the glove box door.
 
Wasnt sure, thats why I stopped short of calling it a D Dart piece.
Someone still might be able to use it.
Anyways, great thread, carry on. :)
 
ddartdude said:
Does anyone know where Riverview Dodge in Grosse Point Park, MI was? We're heading up to the Detroit area to visit the kids this summer and thought that I'd try and find where my D/Dart was delivered to.

Also, does anyone have Dealer Number info from 1966 and/or 1967? I have a few dealer numbers that I need info (city/state) on.
Click to expand...

D-D-D,

I'll see what I can dig up on Riverview Dodge.
 
I thought these must already be posted in here some place, if so sorry if not here they are[fwiw].

I was looking to see if I could find some old pictures of my in old SIR and Arlington pictures.
Then I looked up Ned VanDine[owner of Mt. Vernon Dodge] and found these. I have been told that my Dart was a fake D Dart but I doubt it.

Rag away I'm out of here.:burnout::burnout:

salecode-XL.jpg


infobull-XL.jpg
 
Mini Mopar said:
I thought these must already be posted in here some place, if so sorry if not here they are[fwiw].

I was looking to see if I could find some old pictures of my in old SIR and Arlington pictures.
Then I looked up Ned VanDine[owner of Mt. Vernon Dodge] and found these. I have been told that my Dart was a fake D Dart but I doubt it.

Rag away I'm out of here.:burnout::burnout:

salecode-XL.jpg


infobull-XL.jpg
Click to expand...

So, you own the Mt Vernon D/Dart?
 
Kelvey --- Meet John.
John --- Meet Kelvey.

Kelvey,
I'm still trying to get the couple of dealer codes that I'm missing. I still think that Mt. Vernon got the Town & Country Dodge. Maybe in a trade. Wish I had the last two of the VIN on the car that you had. That would help a lot.

John's got a friend that has been looking for the car for a few years now.
Alan

John,
Kelvey's the guy that I told you about that owned the Mt. Vernon Dodge at one time.

Did you get the DVD with all the D/Dart and Hemi stuff that I sent to you? I have a few more items that I'll be emailing to you. Found them in a binder that I have.

Yesterday I got the Chrysler Build Record Certificates for both the D/Dart and my '64 Belvedere. The IBM car indicates it as LP23D62653XXX. I sent Chrysler Historical the 2 documents in the above post to clearify the discrepency.
Alan
 
ddartdude said:
Kelvey --- Meet John.
John --- Meet Kelvey.

Kelvey,
I'm still trying to get the couple of dealer codes that I'm missing. I still think that Mt. Vernon got the Town & Country Dodge. Maybe in a trade. Wish I had the last two of the VIN on the car that you had. That would help a lot.

John's got a friend that has been looking for the car for a few years now.
Alan

John,
Kelvey's the guy that I told you about that owned the Mt. Vernon Dodge at one time.

Did you get the DVD with all the D/Dart and Hemi stuff that I sent to you? I have a few more items that I'll be emailing to you. Found them in a binder that I have.

Yesterday I got the Chrysler Build Record Certificates for both the D/Dart and my '64 Belvedere. The IBM car indicates it as LP23D62653XXX. I sent Chrysler Historical the 2 documents in the above post to clearify the discrepency.
Alan
Click to expand...

Hi Kelvey,

I've narrowed down the search for the Mt Vernon D/Dart. Last known location was with a dealer in Bellingham. The car was suppose to be raced up at Mission.

Alan,

No disk yet. Probably Monday.
 
Dang..............They're back. Looks like nobody wants them. Thought they went to two different people. My old white car was sold at the BJ auction to a guy in Texas. Kind of strange that they ended up back at the same auction. This time at Mecum. The white car is NR. I'll bet they have a couple of shill bidders in the audience.

1966 DODGE D-DART Photo :: AutaBuy.com

1966 Dodge D-Dart Lightweight Trans Am Race Car For Sale :: AutaBuy.com

Gotta learn how to get the links to post right.
Alan
 
69 Cuda 440 said:
Alan, This is what I have off the 'Special Performance Group' list.
Click to expand...


Paul,
I need to go over this list with you. I've got a really accurate list but it's missing a few cars. Most of the dealers that we have listed here didn't get cars. I've sent you a couple of PM's and no response. Send me an email. I'm @aol.com.
Alan
 
Facts

The only multi-car dealers.....

-- Riverview Dodge in Grosse Point Park, MI received 2 cars. Ted Spehar's 'The Politician' and another one. Who received the second car? Anybody have Riverview's old address? I want to drive by there this summer.
-- Banning Dodge in Hyattsville, MD received 3 cars. The 'Bounty Hunter', The 'Newcomer', and my old car, the one that's been on the Mecum and BJ Auction circuit.
-- Suburban Dodge in Berwyn, IL received 2 cars. The 'Suburban Dodge' and another, which was the last one shipped.

More Facts
-- Ferris Miles, Inc sponsored the Trans Am car. There dealership was in Redwood City, CA.
-- San Leandro Dodge which was located in San Leandro CA did receive a car.
-- Both the Ferris Miles and San Leandro cars were shipped on May 1st.
 
Hi, My name is Tom Nelson I worked at Riverview Dodge till late 66 when it closed down.
I ran my 65 Dart 273 HP 235 hp at Detroit and Motor City Dragways every weekend. We sold ONE D Dart all came in white with red interior. Two sales guys bought it and we ran it at Detroit and Motor city. I have only one pix of it and it is lettered up with Riverview Dodge and the names of the sales guys on it. My name is on it as the "Mechanic Tom Nelson" Ken Meade & Joe Schulte were the owners. Not sure were you got you Facts from but 'The Politician' was run by [FONT=&quot]Ralph Costa who passed a couple of years ago. The car was a 65 Barracuda, 273 235 hp auto and was not delivered to Riverview. I would like to put the pix on here but not sure how to. If you need any more info let me know. Riverview Dodge was demolished years ago as well as the Chevy dealer next to it and Jefferson Ave. re done. Interesting note a Sunoco station across the street is still there and open, used to get my 260 there, 34 cents a gal. PS pix of D Dart was taken inside dealership June 66 by me. If your out this was stop in and say hi, [email protected] New Baltimore Mi. Not far from were Motor City was.
[/FONT]
 
Stroker498 said:
Hi, My name is Tom Nelson I worked at Riverview Dodge till late 66 when it closed down.
I ran my 65 Dart 273 HP 235 hp at Detroit and Motor City Dragways every weekend. We sold ONE D Dart all came in white with red interior. Two sales guys bought it and we ran it at Detroit and Motor city. I have only one pix of it and it is lettered up with Riverview Dodge and the names of the sales guys on it. My name is on it as the "Mechanic Tom Nelson" Ken Meade & Joe Schulte were the owners. Not sure were you got you Facts from but 'The Politician' was run by [FONT=&quot]Ralph Costa who passed a couple of years ago. The car was a 65 Barracuda, 273 235 hp auto and was not delivered to Riverview. I would like to put the pix on here but not sure how to. If you need any more info let me know. Riverview Dodge was demolished years ago as well as the Chevy dealer next to it and Jefferson Ave. re done. Interesting note a Sunoco station across the street is still there and open, used to get my 260 there, 34 cents a gal. PS pix of D Dart was taken inside dealership June 66 by me. If your out this was stop in and say hi, [email protected] New Baltimore Mi. Not far from were Motor City was.
[/FONT]
Click to expand...

Tom,
Just sent you an email. Thanks for adding to this thread.

I found the address of Riverview Dodge from a Grosse Pointe News ad from Sept 1965. Drove past the place and looked at the condo's. And also the Sunoco station. It looked like it was from the 60's.

Spent 10 days up in Roseville. Managed to get up to In-Line Tube on Monday before the rains came. Bought new brake lines for the D/Dart at the Mopar Nationals and picked them up at the store. Saved the shipping costs and also the sales tax. We're back home in Florida now.

Alan
 
It's been 48 years sense the D Dart and after reading your email I seem to remember Ken the one sales man telling me about the other Dart that the customer wanted to pickup at the factory. He was afraid someone mite drive it if it came into the dealership. He was right I would have had to take it for a ride. Info I have or remember on the D Dart that came to Riverview. It was bought by Ken Meade & Joe Schulte, I did a lot of the work on the car and most of the driving. I sent you email with other info. hopes this helps with finding out were they were.
Tom
 
ddartdude said:
Dang..............They're back. Looks like nobody wants them. Thought they went to two different people. My old white car was sold at the BJ auction to a guy in Texas. Kind of strange that they ended up back at the same auction. This time at Mecum. The white car is NR. I'll bet they have a couple of shill bidders in the audience.

1966 DODGE D-DART Photo :: AutaBuy.com

1966 Dodge D-Dart Lightweight Trans Am Race Car For Sale :: AutaBuy.com

Gotta learn how to get the links to post right.
Alan
Click to expand...


so, they didn't sell at Mecum?
 
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