1968 Dodge Darts (Factory SS/EA 440's)

[Paul Ceasrine]

Kyle,

Rule #1 - Don't ever try to figure out what the Chrysler Performance Technicians were thinking.

Rule #2 - Don't ever forget Rule #1.

Rule #3 - Always refer to Rule #1.
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That said,

Does the Dart GTS have both front and rear 'torque boxes'.

The 4-Speed 383 cars had both front and rear.

The Automatic 383 cars only had rears, but sometimes both.

Does the Dart GTS have any idications of a Console.

These cars were GTS 383's with console shifted automatics.

All '6' 1968 cars were converted to 440's with B&M Automatic
Transmissions.

Investigation #2

You might have to check 1968, 1969 and 1970 Race Results at the
following California Tracks
* Carlsbad
* Irwindale
* Freemont
* Bakersfield
* Lions
* Fontana
* Riverside
* OCIR
* San Fernando

Charlie Allen was at the March 1968 'Hot Rod Magazine Championships at Riverside Raceway with that Dart.

The 1968 Dart '440 GTS' was classed in;
* SS/EA in 1968
* SS/GA in 1969
* SS/FA in 1970.

Information, back in 1968 "no' Header Company made an under-chassis
set for the 440 A-Body.

Only fenderwell units (Hooker Headers).

[Kyle Kohr]

Paul, again thank you for all your information. As I am only 17 and my dad is 45 so we do not remember these cars as they were new, just pictures and we do attend a lot of nostalgia races. We were gonna build the car into a hemi super stock car but theres no way that is affordable for us anymore. So then we decided to restore it as a 383 4 speed stocker with the original paint scheme, but now after all the information you gave us I think we should put it back to a 440 automatic as he had it. Whats your opinion on what to do with the car?

[Paul Ceasrine]

Kyle,

If the car is 'truly' Charlie Allen's Saddleback Dodge car,,,,,,,,

Me personally,,,,,,, I would restore it back to the way Charlie raced it.

But, I would go with a set of 'TTI' or 'Hooker' under-chassis headers, but with the full exhaust and 'chrome tip' extensions.

Clean up the fenderwells,,,,and make it look like it left the factory as
a normal A-Body Big Block.

Remember, this was a 'factory' massaged' 440 Drag Race Car, and
'not' a fully blown all out drag car.

If it is restored 'just like the 1968 photo', I would put a value of $70,000+
on the Dart GTS, possibly more.

The more documentation you get, the higher the value.

Paul

[68hemiss]

Kyle,
Is Charlie Allen still around? I think that is the best place to find first hand answers. If not, I would try to find someone who worked on the car and went to the races with him. - most people don't race by themselves - usually have a brother, friend , ect.. go with them to the races and work on the car.
I have always been suspicious of this car - why would someone change a 440 Dart to a 70 model for P/S? The 68 Hemi Darts that were changed to 70 models were sanctioned by Chrysler - mostly contract racers. Why would someone go through the trouble & expense of changing over this car - it would only be eligible for a year or so - doesn't make sense to me and I am not sure where that story came from.
Mark J
1968 Hemi SS Registry

[Kyle Kohr]

We know for a fact that the car started out as a 68 dart regardless. the rear clip of the 72 dart we could see exactly were it was cut out and braised on. when we cut the clip off, the rear cross member still had the bolts in for the 68 bumper brackets! The doors are 68 doors and they still had the same blue paint as the rest of the car did when we pulled the windows out. The rear window and side glass is dated for a 68 as well. The story behind the car has always been the charlie allen dart because of how it always kept the paint scheme charlie had on it.

[Kyle Kohr]

pictures 1. you can see the 68 style door handle (black button) also the door lock is at the very back, on the newer darts its more towards the middle of the door 2. you can see the how it still had the nuts to hold the rear bumper brackets on. 3. the blue paint under weather stripping 4. cut up trans tunnel how they had it. you can also see it has a stick shift brake pedal in it. 5. picture of how i got it. 6. todays picture of how we are welding the panels back in the engine compartment, on the passenger side you can see its still cut out for fender well headers but we already welded the panel in the drivers side to put under chassis headers on 7. you can see how we welded on the 68 rear clip, basically its right on the line how they welded the 72 clip on. 8. the pro stock rear leaf spring mounts

[Kyle Kohr]

more pictures

first 2 are originals from 69 i think. the 3rd is a picture of mocking up the front end. now the fenders are in primer.the date is wrong in the picture and the 4th picture is from when chrysler power magazine (roland osborn) owned the car. notice it still has the same paint scheme as charlie had on it orginaly minus the lettering

Also I sent charlie allen an email well i sent it to firebird and told him about it and asked for some information. I guess we will see what happens in the next few days

[Paul Ceasrine]

The below photo is a Mickey/Thompson 'knock off'.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Kyle,

Charlie Allen was sponsored by Crenshaw Dodge (in early 1968), and then Saddleback Dodge.

He was at the 5th Annual Hot Rod Magazine Championships {March 22, 23 and 24 - 1968} at Riverside International Raceway (photo below).

Also at the AHRA Super Stock Nationals {August 2, 3 and 4 - 1968} at Freemont Dragstrip.

Also at the Funny Car meet at Lions Dragstrip {November 4, 1968}
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January 1969; Funny Car and Super Stock Meet (Irwindale Raceway), which he won with the Funny Car (Low ET = 7.56}

Was there, both with the Funny Car and the 1968 GTS Super Stock car.

March 14, 15 and 16 - 1969 -- '6th Annual' Hot Rod Magazine Championships at Riverside International Raceway.

The photo from Irwindale Raceway must be from; June or July 1969 {if it was in the September 1969 American Rodding Magazine.}.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Kyle,

As you can see, the full exhaust system was required on NHRA Super Stock cars in 1968.