Manhattan Speed Parts '1968 Hemi Dart'

[Liteweight]

Originally Posted by mopar68

Paul,

First of all, great detective work; Sherlock Holmes would be proud of you. I like the way you are keeping everyone in suspense by giving us the whole story in stages vs. one shot via a generic: "Hey Liteweight, I've finally found the name of the owner of the Manhattan Speed Parts Dart!", or something similarly unexciting (although that in itself would be cause for great excitement).

And the plot thickens...

Pete

PETE!!!!! Welcome back from your hiatous. I echo your comments on Paul's detective work. Without him being there in the midst of the "action" & without his vast knowledge (And memory base), I'm sure I'd still be at the point of only knowing I got a similar dent on my car compared to a picture. And let's not forget his DESIRE to take the vast amount of time to do this.
Like you & MANY others I am patiently awaiting the outcome of this. BUT, NO ONE is more anticipated than me on this one. And it is killing me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that now is the time to say, that my quest to find the COMPLETE ownership trail of this car WILL NOT end, even after we find out who this mysterious Pete M**** is. There is still alot of unaccounted for owners between that time period & the first KNOWN owner Lou Vignona that needs to be known. Above all is the Charlie Castaldo relationship. I just can't fiqure why this particular car just kinda fell off the planet for that time period.

liteweight

ps..... Hey Pete........... Are YOU that mysterious Pete M***** ????????...Jus askin'

[Paul Ceasrine]

Part III

The Manhattan - LO23 Dart

According to Al Ripolla,

At the 1968 New York Auto Show {March 30 thru April 7} at the
New York Coliseum.

Pete M***** was upset about the 'new' 1968 Super Bee 426 Street Hemi on dislay, because he was told that he wasn't going to get it,
because it had been promised to some other 'preferred customer'.

Al said Pete flipped out, because he was under the impression that
he would get the Super Bee after the Show.

Pete didn't want to wait for another car.

Somebody at Dodge and a Chrysler Representative, approached Pete to calm him down.

Al said it was Bernie Mullins, the Public Relations Manager for Dodge,
and some other 'high honcho' called Crawford.

This is where Pete M***** was offered the opportunity to check
out a 'new' Super Stock Dodge Dart.

As per Al Ripolla >

At first, Pete wasn't really all that interested in a Hemi Dart, because he wanted the Super Bee.

But the Dodge Rep told Pete that they had a 'new' Super Stock Dart 'under wraps' at the Chrysler Service Center Garage on West 57th Street.

[treessavoy]

Is this the Hemi Dart that showed up for some street competition in the NY area?

JimR

[Paul Ceasrine]

Originally Posted by treessavoy

Is this the Hemi Dart that showed up for some street competition in the NY area?

JimR

No, Pete M***** never raced his LO23 on the street.


The Mutt Brothers {Ronald and John Lyles} who bought the
S & K Speed Shop Dart 'The Avenger' did race the Dart 4-Speed on the street in 1969.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Part IV

The Manhattan - LO23 Dart

What Al Ripolla remembers,

Is that Pete M***** was taken to the Chrysler Fleet Service Garage
on 57th Street, and was shown the Super Stock Hemi Dart.

The car came to New York with the other 1968 Dodge cars that were to be showcased on display at the New York Auto Show.

The guess here, is that the LO23 Dart left Detroit in mid-late March with
the other 'Display Cars' from the Chicago Auto Show, which had
ended on March 4, 1968.

So the 'time frame' is accurate, as the LO23 Dart that was shipped to
Manhattan, New York City was from the 1st LO23 Production run of
cars.

[Paul Ceasrine]

The Manahattan - LO23 Dart

I forgot to mention that Pete M***** was an original member of
the 'Motion Supercar Club' in 1967/1968.

Al Ripolla said that,

Pete was offered the LO23 Dart {Automatic} that was 'under-wraps' at the Chrysler Fleet Service Garage.

The reason that the Dart was there, is because it was supposed to be part of a Photo Shoot with either 'Speed and Supercar' or 'Hi Performance Cars' magazine.

Al said Pete paid for and picked up the Hemi Super Stock Dart sometime in April 1968, but Al couldn't remember the exact date.

Al said he wasn't sure of the exact Purchase Price, but it was somewhere around $4500, and the Dart was definitely an Automatic.

[Liteweight]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

The Manahattan - LO23 Dart

I forgot to mention that Pete M***** was an original member of
the 'Motion Supercar Club' in 1967/1968.

Al Ripolla said that,

Pete was offered the LO23 Dart {Automatic} that was 'under-wraps' at the Chrysler Fleet Service Garage.

The reason that the Dart was there, is because it was supposed to be part of a Photo Shoot with either 'Speed and Supercar' or 'Hi Performance Cars' magazine.

Al said Pete paid for and picked up the Hemi Super Stock Dart sometime in April 1968, but Al couldn't remember the exact date.

Al said he wasn't sure of the exact Purchase Price, but it was somewhere around $4500, and the Dart was definitely an Automatic.

A little confused on the deal with a guy that owned a Hemi Charger in 1966, but was a member of the Motion SuperCar Club????? Did he also own some Bowtie's???

So, maybe my "shot in the dark comment" a few posts back on that one photo being a photo shoot for the Motion boys, may not have been too far off the mark then huh??

If this was in fact a photo shoot rather than a random picture, there's gonna be more pics. out there somewhere with someone.

How's that Mr. Holmes.

liteweight

ps good to get confirmation that this car was an Automatic

[tommy d]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

No, Pete M***** never raced his LO23 on the street.


The Mutt Brothers {Ronald and John Lyles} who bought the
S & K Speed Shop Dart 'The Avenger' did race the Dart 4-Speed on the street in 1969.

Think I just watched a video that had this car in it.

[Charlie A]

Originally Posted by tommy d

Think I just watched a video that had this car in it.

Link to said video...please......

[Liteweight]

Originally Posted by Charlie A

Link to said video...please......

I saw part of that video on facebook today, couldn't watch all of it at the time & I didn't get to the part with The Mutt Bros. hemi Dart. Now I can't find it 2 hours later. ....... time for a Rum anyway

Happy New Year to all

liteweight