Rare 1967 Mr. Norm's 383 4 speed dart

rhinodart said
The Dart that Mr. Norm's crew built was a 67 GT in GG1 green and was a 273 car. It used factory exhaust manifolds and there have been plenty of big block A-body's built with those particular manifolds. Does anyone have the date when the first Barracuda was built?

OK, then...why did Chrysler make special exhaust manifolds for the 383 if existing ones worked?

Here's some info I discovered years ago...

copied from (dartstechspec.com)

The story of the 67 GTS is filled with rumors, half truths, and urban legends, its origin is one of the biggest mysterious, and at times hotly debated of all Chrysler cars.

Lets see if we can shed a little light on the subject. You may or may not agree with what is presented here, and that is your right, however I believe its pretty close what actually happened.

The 1967 Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Dart got a newly designed platform. Wheelbase, Length, and Width all were enlarged, paticurally the engine compartment which was widended by two inches.

The guys at Plymouth set out to put the 383 in the Barracuda after leaving off the power steering pump and making new exhaust manifolds they succeded. The 1967 Barracuda had a 383 before it was offered in the Dart.

In fact Plymouth produced 1,841 - 1967 383 Formula S Barracudas.

Chryslers other division Dodge took a look at the Barracuda and rightly reasoned if the 383 fits in the Barracuda it will fit in the Dart after all they use the same platform.

Thus was born the Dart GTS.

Now much has been written claimed and repeated that a certain car dealer in Chicago was the first to put a 383 in a Dart. While that may or may not be true.

By following the ground work Plymouth had done it wouldnt be to difficult to do. If I were going to do it i would. Simply get a Barracuda and swap parts.

We must be certain not to loose sight of several facts.

Plymouth put the first big block in a "A Body".

Plymouth was way ahead of Dodge on this conversion.

In 1967 the only engine that came in the GTS was the 383 hp 4 bbl.

The Dart GTS cars were built by Chrysler in Chrysler assembly plants. Mine was built at the Hamtrack facility.*

We are not talking about cars modified, and then rebadged such as the GSS and other varations.

There is some question as to the exact number of 67 GTS cars. The hobby accepteded number is 457 (228 automatic, 229 four speeds) However no one seems to be able to produce documents to substainte this number.

On the contary I have a letter from Mr. Bruce Thomas (Historian, Chrysler Historical Collection) in which he states.

"There is no breakout on the volume of 383's in Darts that I can find but it must be low (his underline) volume. In another letter Mr. Thomas states "Our records indicate 34,496 Dart GT 2-door hardtops were built in 1967. We do not keep records of engine or transmission options."

Now if no record of engine options was kept on the 34,496 Darts in 1967. Where did the number of 457 GTS's come from? Also were did the breakout of Automatic to Four speed come from?

Who are we to believe knows what they are talking about? Self appointed Experts on Mopars? Or the people responsible for the history of the Corporation?