Original hemi dart information

[68hemiss]

M68, could you send me copies of the McJury Dart and the Fink Dart - for some reason the photos won't load on the site . Thanks,
Mark J
Dart4261964@yahoo.com

[Wayne W]

Originally Posted by mopar68

I don't recall seeing this car. Clone? Or the real deal?



In Super Gas? Say it isn't so!

M68

I parked next to this car at the Sportsnationals held at Indy in the spring of 83. It was running in Super Gas but I don't remember seeing Butch Leal's name on the car. The pic must be from later in the year.

[Paul Ceasrine]

M68,
Forgot about Super/Gas. I was thinking Pro/Gas, the 9.90 class that came first.
On Chuck McJury's car. Roof was black at the 1970 Super/Stock Magazine Nationals, at York In May.
At the 70' SummerNationals in July, it was white, and it looked better.

Thanks on the Finks site. They cleaned up at the 70' Super/Stock Magazine Nationals. SS/DA with the old Sox & Martin's 67' R/O
Belvedere (with GTX lettering). One awesome car.
Paul

[davezinn]

so there were three Mancini Darts that existed. anyone have any pics of the red/silver car? interesting that the two yellow cars were "built" cars and not originally Hurst built 68's. i'm guessing here that the '69 was the one that was wrecked? or was it the '70 converted to '68? it makes me wonder too if that means there are two surviving Ron Mancini Darts still out there?

Dave

[Paul Ceasrine]

Dave,
I think Mark J or Daryl can verify this.
Ron Mancini's first Hemi Dart did not come directly from the factory.
He bought Gil Clark's car in June 1969. (an original factory car).
Gil was an AHRA-contracted racer out of Toronto, Canada.
I'm pretty sure it was a 4-speed originally.
Gil Clark's car was the #5 car out of the first 56 produced (first run) on
February 18, 1968.
Supposedly Gil's last run was at Detroit Dragway in June 1969.
Records show it ran a 10.73 in SS/B.
Paul

[Paul Ceasrine]

Gooch,
Charlie Lendrum was also from upstate New York.
Charlie was out of the Schenectady area.
His car was co-sponsored by Albany Dodge.
Charlie was another AWB-racer, with a 66' Chevy.
He ran a SS/BA 68' Hemi Dart.
It was an original factory car.
Ran it in SS/AA and Pro/Stock in 1970.
He was called the 'Northern Shaker'.
In refrence to Albany-Shaker Road.
pc

[MattConte]

Originally Posted by davezinn

so there were three Mancini Darts that existed. anyone have any pics of the red/silver car? interesting that the two yellow cars were "built" cars and not originally Hurst built 68's. i'm guessing here that the '69 was the one that was wrecked? or was it the '70 converted to '68? it makes me wonder too if that means there are two surviving Ron Mancini Darts still out there?

Dave

I bet that it was the car that crashed at indy that was the 70 converted. Because of the, no marler lights.
I bet the one that has the "strobe" striping that goes over the roof is still around somewhere. But I bet it will not be found. With it not being a real LO23 and just a 69.

[davezinn]

some internet searching turned up two pics. one is of the red/silver version of Mancini's car and the second looks to be Larry Griffith's '68 turned '70. Griffith's '70 would be the same one that's restored today back to mostly it's '68 configuration?

Dave

[MattConte]

Pics did not work, Dave.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Daryl,
I'm checking on the rear-end installation for the 68's.
Trying to find the article, which stated that there was a
shortage of Dana rear-end units for the A-Body.
No way would there be a shortage of B-Body Dana units.

Also, back in 2003, great article and pictures in magazine describing the test runs for the Mule Car at Irwindale.
The car got a little out of align when going through the traps.
OK up to 120 MPH. Original thought, was that the hood scoop had an effect.
Paul