D Dart package ?

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dartlove

dartlove

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Anybody ever hear of a dart D package?
How do you verify? We have a 65 dart gt 273 stick shift car. 8.75 rearend. Was reading up on the 65 and come across the dart D package.
 
They're called D Darts and they were in 66, not 65.
 
So did the 65 gt ever come factory 8.75? Also the spare was a brand new but I am assuming older, seventies drag-rite wheel.
 
At some point the 8-3/4 became available with a four speed and 235hp/273. that might have been in the '65 model year, but it was not in all of them. My old '66 Commando four speed Barracuda (October 1965 SPD) had a 7-1/4 until I broke an axle. The previous owner had broken the other axle and two sets of spider gears in the five year he had the car. I was not going to have that problem again.
 
extremely rare. I've never seen one in the flesh, so to speak. I once worked with a guy who said his father owned one. I believe him because this was in the early 90's, and the guy was probably in his early 30's, and knew all about them. I remember when they came out, because I was driving my parents' 65GT w/HiPo 273, and I had just gotten my drivers license. IIRC by the time the news came out in the magazines, the model year was nearly over, so you probably had to be connected to even know about them in time to order one.
 
So do you guys think the vin or fender tag will be able to tell me everything? This car also has trac bars. But I know anybody can buy those and install them. They do look old
 
rustycowll69 said:
extremely rare. I've never seen one in the flesh, so to speak. I once worked with a guy who said his father owned one. I believe him because this was in the early 90's, and the guy was probably in his early 30's, and knew all about them. I remember when they came out, because I was driving my parents' 65GT w/HiPo 273, and I had just gotten my drivers license. IIRC by the time the news came out in the magazines, the model year was nearly over, so you probably had to be connected to even know about them in time to order one.
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Where exactly did this take place? I have a registry of the car's and am curious as to which car it may be.
 
Jadaharabi said:
A friend of mine down in Texas has one. 275 horsepower 273 cubic inch with a 500 lift solid cam.
White with red interior.

1966 Dodge D-Dart Super Stock | S189 | Indianapolis 2009 | Mecum Auctions
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At one time, I owned this D/Dart. Is this the one that your friend owns? It was on the auction circuit quite a few times. There is another D/Dart in Texas that the owner vintage road races. Actually, his wife races it.

The vins run sequentially from LO23D62653888 thru 937. I currently own 888, the first one that was built, delivered and raced by Ted Spehar and Ralph Costa. I also own 913 which was delivered to San Rafael Dodge in California.
 
dartlove said:
Anybody ever hear of a dart D package?
How do you verify? We have a 65 dart gt 273 stick shift car. 8.75 rearend. Was reading up on the 65 and come across the dart D package.
Click to expand...
5629 65 Dart GT's with a 273-4 barrel were produced. There is no further breakdown for transmission or rear axle. I don't believe the axle option is on the fender tag.
 
Jim Lusk said:
At some point the 8-3/4 became available with a four speed and 235hp/273. that might have been in the '65 model year, but it was not in all of them. My old '66 Commando four speed Barracuda (October 1965 SPD) had a 7-1/4 until I broke an axle. The previous owner had broken the other axle and two sets of spider gears in the five year he had the car. I was not going to have that problem again.
Click to expand...
The '65 Dodge Dart GT 273 4bbl - 4 spd I owned broke 5 sets of spider gears that Chrysler paid for under warrantee. I asked the Factory Rep in '66 if Dodge would honor my warrantee if I paid for an 8.75 limited slip rear and he told me, no it would void my warrantee. Never could figure that one out.
 
I believe later production 65 4sp cars could have come with an 8.75 as a mid model year change due to breaking spiders. The SG version fared better as the torque is distributed across both axles but still not bullet proof. Its an easy swap with an A-body 8.75.
 
ddartdude said:
At one time, I owned this D/Dart. Is this the one that your friend owns? It was on the auction circuit quite a few times. There is another D/Dart in Texas that the owner vintage road races. Actually, his wife races it.

The vins run sequentially from LO23D62653888 thru 937. I currently own 888, the first one that was built, delivered and raced by Ted Spehar and Ralph Costa. I also own 913 which was delivered to San Rafael Dodge in California.
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.
I don't think so. He has had this car for years. All original except he changed the carb.
Last name Anderson lived in Mississippi now Texas. He use to drag race it.
 
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ddartdude said:
Where exactly did this take place? I have a registry of the car's and am curious as to which car it may be.
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I met this guy in 1992 in a new-hire orientation class, held in Seattle, WA. We were both hired by Wa St DOT. Can't recall his name, now, because I've slept since then, hahaha. I might have his name written down on this picture they took of the class, somewhere.
Re the 7-1/4" spiders: I had the same problem. The spiders were starting to howl, and it was approaching 5yr/50k mile end of warranty, so I talked my dad into trading the Dart in and buying a '68 340 GTS, hahaha .
I have seen 8-3/4" axles in '66 Darts but they were either behind 4spds, or in taxi apps.
 
ddartdude said:
At one time, I owned this D/Dart. Is this the one that your friend owns? It was on the auction circuit quite a few times. There is another D/Dart in Texas that the owner vintage road races. Actually, his wife races it.

The vins run sequentially from LO23D62653888 thru 937. I currently own 888, the first one that was built, delivered and raced by Ted Spehar and Ralph Costa. I also own 913 which was delivered to San Rafael Dodge in California.
Click to expand...

And, I believe I have driven 913...
 
ddartdude said:
At one time, I owned this D/Dart. Is this the one that your friend owns? It was on the auction circuit quite a few times. There is another D/Dart in Texas that the owner vintage road races. Actually, his wife races it.

The vins run sequentially from LO23D62653888 thru 937. I currently own 888, the first one that was built, delivered and raced by Ted Spehar and Ralph Costa. I also own 913 which was delivered to San Rafael Dodge in California.
Click to expand...

65Dodge Dart qtr mile card.jpg

This is the time card I got from a 1/4 mile run in Norfolk, VA in September of 1966. Stock '65 Dodge Dart GT 273 4bbl 4 speed running 13" factory Cragar wheels with cheater slicks (yes, they made 13" cheater slicks back then) and 3:55 7-1/4" OPEN rear. My Dart's engine must have been put together perfectly at the factory because I wasn't that great of a driver at 17 years old.
 
rustycowll69 said:
I met this guy in 1992 in a new-hire orientation class, held in Seattle, WA. We were both hired by Wa St DOT. Can't recall his name, now, because I've slept since then, hahaha. I might have his name written down on this picture they took of the class, somewhere.
Re the 7-1/4" spiders: I had the same problem. The spiders were starting to howl, and it was approaching 5yr/50k mile end of warranty, so I talked my dad into trading the Dart in and buying a '68 340 GTS, hahaha .
I have seen 8-3/4" axles in '66 Darts but they were either behind 4spds, or in taxi apps.
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8 3/4's were quite common in 66 Darts. Mine has one and it's a 3.23 Sure Grip.
 
65ChargerDart said:
View attachment 1715264475
This is the time card I got from a 1/4 mile run in Norfolk, VA in September of 1966. Stock '65 Dodge Dart GT 273 4bbl 4 speed running 13" factory Cragar wheels with cheater slicks (yes, they made 13" cheater slicks back then) and 3:55 7-1/4" OPEN rear. My Dart's engine must have been put together perfectly at the factory because I wasn't that great of a driver at 17 years old.
Click to expand...

Do remember what track you ran in Norfolk? I don't remember a track there, but Suffolk and Creeds were close by.
 
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