"7" Plymouth's You Just Had to Have.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

WJ,
On the 65' and 66' Valiants
The availability on the 273/235HP Commando

1965,
V-200 (2-door sedan, 4-door sedan and convertible)
Signet (Hardtop and convertible)
Not available on the V-100 or Station wagon

1966,
V-100 (2-door sedan and 4-door sedan)
V-200 (4-door sedan)
Signet (Hardtop or convertible)
Not available on the Station wagon.

Never saw a wagon with the Commando. Did see a Ken Connely (friends with the Centolanza's) run a 1965 V-200
4-door sedan, black with a 4-speed "Prince Valiant" run in E/Stock in 1966 at Dover. Ran 14.00's @ 98 MPH

PC

.

It's in the books ... 65 Dart wagon 273/235/210 .Makes N/Stock..No rollbar needed

One of my fantasy builders


All time wish Mopar? 69 1/2 Road Runner 440/ 6Bbl , 4 speed , 4.10 Dana 60,
white post coupe. That'll set you back in the seat in low gear!

[Jeff Lee]

My first "hot" car was a '71 Challenger with a built 340. I've also had a '68 GTS 340 auto and a '70 Swinger 340 4-speed w/ 3.55's and the rubber carpet.
That Swinger was bone stock and I remember being able to have it in 4th gear at about 35 MPH and it would pull cleanly all the way to redline, no clutching or anything.
My Challenger showed many a 454 and other big blocks the tail lights.
Love those 340's!

[Paul Ceasrine]

Mark,
The 273/235HP Commando is allowed in the 65' and 66' Valiant Station wagons in the NHRA books,
But it was not available from the factory.
The 273/180HP 2-barrel was the top of the line for the wagons.
The 4-speed transmission and 8 3/4" posi-rear were both available options, though.
The early Plymouth ads recommended the 8 3/4" posi as a safety package, not a performance package rear.
It was said to be the 'right choice for slick roads, to keep your family safe".
Also recommended, the "Hurst" shifter and 4-speed transmission, "to ensure proper gear selection in difficult driving conditions".
Not one mention of performance. Funny wording in those 'safety first brochures'
WJ

You can see the "Prince Valiant" 4-door Valiant on the Dover site.
Under the Centolanza's thread. Lou Centolanza also ran a 65' Valiant V-200 273/235HP in 66', in E/SA. In 67' it ran in D/SA and ran on the record 13.54.
Quick little A-Bodies for that time. They ate up the 65' 327 SS Malibu cars.
PC

[Jeff Lee]

I sure would love to see a correctly restored / blueprinted (blueprinted, no NHRA upgrades) of a 290 4-speed 3.54 equipped '68 AMX vs the best 273/235 vehicle with the same gears!
The first AMX I owned was like that. It had 106K on the engine, never had the valve covers off and would easily bark 'em on the 3rd gear shift (stock tires with hubcaps). These 290's had a 2.64 low trans gear as standard.
Compared to the 273/235, the 283/220 and the 289/225's that I have driven, I would say the AMX was faster. No track times to back it up, just street time.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jeff,
I can give some general history.
In 1968, my father raced my mothers 67' Cuda 273/235HP Commando
4-speed w/3.23 posi. Completely stock, with about 6000 miles on it.
Ran in J/Stock and ran an honest best ET of 16.16.

At the same, time, a new 68' AMX 290 4-speed was running in K/Stock.
A new car. Not sure of the gears, but I would bet 3.15's. Ran around the same times, low 16.00's.
PC

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Jeff,
I can give some general history.
In 1968, my father raced my mothers 67' Cuda 273/235HP Commando
4-speed w/3.23 posi. Completely stock, with about 6000 miles on it.
Ran in J/Stock and ran an honest best ET of 16.16.

At the same, time, a new 68' AMX 290 4-speed was running in K/Stock.
A new car. Not sure of the gears, but I would bet 3.15's. Ran around the same times, low 16.00's.
PC

Standard gears for a 290 4-speed would be 3.54 unless it had a/c, then it would be 3.15's. Of course AMC had optional gears all the way up to 5.00:1!
Those are respectable times on both; should have been a good heads up drag race! And I say 16.00's for a pair of little engines as you and I know most of your "bread & butter" 390-400 CID cars were usually a 15.20-15.50 ET.

[john oliverio]

Jeff, it was the 4spd B5 Blue car. We bought it in 72

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jeff,
I didn't know the 290's came standard with the 3.54.
Forgot about this one though.
In 1968, a Javelin also ran in J/Stock.
Odd, the 290 AMX ran in K/Stock, as well as the 66' Chevy II Nova
283/220HP.
I'm not sure which engine was in the Javelin. If the car was heavier than the AMX, then the engine could have have been a 343?
PC

[Paul Precht]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

I sure would love to see a correctly restored / blueprinted (blueprinted, no NHRA upgrades) of a 290 4-speed 3.54 equipped '68 AMX vs the best 273/235 vehicle with the same gears!
The first AMX I owned was like that. It had 106K on the engine, never had the valve covers off and would easily bark 'em on the 3rd gear shift (stock tires with hubcaps). These 290's had a 2.64 low trans gear as standard.
Compared to the 273/235, the 283/220 and the 289/225's that I have driven, I would say the AMX was faster. No track times to back it up, just street time.

Hi Jeff, back in 72 my buddy Teddy bought a 71 304 Javelin automatic, it was a doggg. Almost across the street from his family store where we both worked was Pro Stock racer Richie Zul's gas station and shop where we would sometimes hang out at night. He talked Ritchie into putting on a four barrel Holley, Edelbrock mani and headers and at that point I would say it was about a high 15 second car. Teddy wanted more so it went back to Ritchie's shop for a T-10, 444 gear set and then to my place where I installed a .500" Crane cam kit with springs, properly curved and timed the distributer and set up the carb, now we had something. This was a fairly heavy car and we pounded it night after night on concrete roads all while downing plenty of beverages so there were plenty of missed gears. We never broke anything on it and I would guess it was in the high 13 second range. To this day I'm impressed with these motors because of what we put that little 304 through, Paul.