'1968' "Ball of Confusion"

[Paul Ceasrine]

Dave,
The 1968 Super/Stock classes in the beginning of 1968 were a little confusing.
The only thing I can remember, is that the 1968 Road Runner Hemi
was classed in SS/C, and the 1967 Plymouth Belvedere II Hemi R/O cars were classed in SS/D.
It was based on weight, the Road Runner listed weight was #3595 lbs.
The Belvedere II was #77 lbs. heavier at #3672 lbs.
The Hemi Road Runner at that time was at a disadvantage in SS/C
It came in at the high-end of the weight bracket (7.69 wt/hp)
I think the street Hemi's horsepower was re-factored from 425HP to 470HP
I think the weight brackets were;
SS/B = 0-6.99
SS/C = 7.00-7.69
SS/D = 7.70-8.69
SS/E= 8.70-9.47
SS/F= 9.48 and up
At the beginning of 1968, the Hemi Darts and Cuda's were not recognized, and the 65' A-990 Hemi cars were the base point, classed in SS/B. There were no SS/A cars in 1968.
In 1969, things got somewhat corrected. SS/A was 0-5.99, SS/B was 6.00-6.49, SS/C was 6.50-6.99,, etc.up to SS/J 10.00 and up
In 1970, the Hemi Cuda's and Darts started in SS/A at 6.00-6.49, everybody went down one class.
The reason SS/A was set at 0-5.99 was because of the possible production of of the 69 ZL-1 Corvette, and 69 SOHC liteweight Mustang.
Also, there was a proposal for a 1968 Road Runner Super/Stocker with lightweight components and a 440 in-line/dual-carbed engine. Mopar never went through with it, because it would have been rated at 400HP and weighed in at #3410 lbs, which put it in SS/D class, in direct competition with the B-Body Street Hemi's. Mopar was hoping for a 390HP rating, so it would have been perfect for SS/E.
pc