Trivia 'What was the First A-Body Super Stocker from the Factory'

-

69 Cuda 440

Legandary Member
Legendary Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
4,244
Reaction score
434
Location
Wilton, Connecticut
What was the 'first' A-Body Super/Stock cars that were 'prepared'
by the Factory {Skunkworks}.

Not a project, but a 'legal' NHRA Super/Stock car.
 
Mr Rani Dart,

No on the 1966 D/Dart.

Though it was called the '66 Super Stock Option', it was built for 'D/Stock' and not Super Stock.

In the NHRA in 1966, there was only S/S and S/SA Classes in Super/Stock, 'Hemi Only'.

Good guess though,,,,,,
 
oh ok i see... hmm... factory prepped... 61 and 2 darts were b bodies... cant recall a 61 or 2 lancer/valiant getting anything... 63 and 4 darts... hmm... i know of some straight axles cars but nothing factory...

gonna have to go with some 63 or 64 dart... maybe a max wedge build?
 
It wouldda had to be the little Valiants for the 60 season, right? The ones that stormed the Compact race?
 
805 Mopar Kid,

No,

Super/Stock in 1963 was only for the 1962 '413' and 1963 '426' Max-Wedge Engines,
and 1964 was the '426 Race Hemi' in Super/Stock.

And Super/Stock was only 'permitted' in the longer wheel-based Mopar cars.

You're going back to far........

1967 was the 'first' year that NHRA expanded Super/Stock to '5' Classes.
 
I was thinking in terms of the vin number ....the D/darts had a vin starting with LO2 so did the 68 S/S dart LO23.

now I will be waiting for the answer to this one :happy1:
 
From Wiki.....Correct about the 440's ???


Super Stock class racing of the Dart was almost non-existent due to the small V-8s available. In 1968, Dodge contracted Hurst Performance to build a limited number of Darts powered by the 440 cu in (7.2 l) RB big-block and 426 cu in (7.0 l) Hemi. According to Chrysler staff engineer Larry Shepard, the majority of these Darts were Hemi powered, although a small pilot run of fifty 440-powered Darts were also built in 1968.[47]


I have since seen this.....
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showpost.php?p=1969779280&postcount=1
 
Im going with the Cuda because I know the mule for the 68 SS program was a Barracuda and figure they came before the Dart, no?
 
Old Man Rick,,,,,,,,

Is just about right,,,,,,close.

In early January 1968, Chrysler {Dodge} built only '6' 1968 Dart GTS 383
cars with a '440 Conversion'.

The '440 Conversion' had to be done at the Factory {not 'Hurst Company'},
before the '6' Dart GTS cars were sent out. This was a requirement
by NHRA to 'legally approve' the limited run for SS/EA {8.70 - 9.49 Wt/Hp}.

Chrysler {Dodge} had to send the NHRA the VIN #'s of these '6' Dart GTS
cars to make sure there was no 'funny business' at the NHRA National
Events.

They were 'Automatics Only" and Dick Landy got the 'first one', where
he ran it at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals {February 2,3 and 4} in
Pomona.

Note; The '6' Factory 68' Dart GTS 383 {440 Conversion} cars, were different
than Mr. Norm's {Grand Spaulding Dodge} 68' Dart 440 'GSS' cars.

Dick Landy at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals

ssbook.jpg
 
It is kind of a trick question,

The reason, was that the NHRA required a minimum of '50' Cars to be built to
qualify for Super/Stock.

But, the NHRA made a 'special concession' with Chrysler {Dodge} to allow
the 68' Dart GTS 383 {440 Conversion} to compete at the NHRA's 'first event'
the 1968 Winternationals.

Dodge was going to build another run of these cars {45} in March 1968 after the
Winternationals, to make them 'fully legal' for SS/EA, but the Hemi Super/Stock
Program for the Dart's and Barracuda's became the priority.

Grand Spaulding Dodge {Mr. Norm's} took the ball from there, and with approval from
Chrysler, built '48' 1968 Dart 'GSS' 440 cars out of their Dealership.
 
The '6' Factory Cars weighed in #3208 lbs.

* Radio Delete
* Heater Delete
* No Body Sealer
* No Undercoating
* No Sound Deadener
* Drum Brakes
* Super/Stock Leaf Springs
* Drag Shocks
* Trunk-installed Battery

* 440 Engine {Specially prepared by Tom Hoover at Chrysler Racing}
* B & M built A-727 Torque-Flite
* B & M Stall Converter {2500 to 2800 RPM's}
* Special Pulleys
* Special Ignition Wiring
* 4.56 Gears

* Out-of-the-Box.............12.00's @ 118 MPH

Which was under the NHRA 'SS/EA' National Record

 
Now, what was the weight of the hemi as/S cars and what made them better than a full second quicker than the 440 S/S cars?
 
M/T Mopar,

The 1968 Hemi 'A-Body' Super/Stockers were listed at #3080 lbs.

Based upon a 500 Horsepower Rating = 6.16 Wt/Hp
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 68' Dart GTS 383 {w/440 Converision} SS/EA cars,

Had no lightweight parts, and was a Factory 'off-the-line' Dart GTS.

And, 'no' cut-out rear fenderwells. which did limit the size of the Slicks.

DickLandy1968DodgeDartGTSSS-A000e.jpg
 
Was my post out of line or something??

No C-Man,

The 'Test Mule' 68' Hemi Barracuda project actually started {first} in December 1967
{before the 68' Dart GTS 383 S/S project} but the Hemi Barracuda's and Dart's were not
'NHRA-legal' for Super/Stock until June 1968, one-week before the NHRA Springnationals.

The 68' Dart GTS 383 {440 conversion} was granted a 'special exemption' by the
NHRA in mid-January 1968 so they could run in SS/EA at the Winternationals.
 
I heard somewhere ...but not sure....

did Mr. Norm build any GSS darts in 67?

I thought I read somewhere that he started in 67 but I was not sure if that means that he built some in the year 67 out of the 68 model year cars OR if that meant that there are some 67 model year GSS in existence?
 
-
Back
Top