Rare 1967 Mr. Norm's 383 4 speed dart

OK, I'll ask the question again...why did Chrysler make special exhaust manifolds for the 383 A body if existing ones worked?

The only manifolds available at the time (1967) would have been log style, no? Magnum ones came out in '68?

You must have forgotten about the 67 GTX that had magnum manifolds. I have seen over 20 67 GTS's and the majority have been 4-speeds. The 67 steering column is unique in that is has a spring outside the bearing retainer which makes the column larger farther down the column thus requiring it's own manifolds. When using a B-Body magnum manifold it is much easier to change the column to a 68-up to make it work! I drove a hardtop for years with no console and a convertible with a console. We have a second convertible that was a console 4-speed and a hardtop I sold to Iowa was an automatic. BTW, all automatics would have a console. All 457 also had manual disc brakes. There is much more disinformation on the web about these cars than most, that is for sure, and that INCLUDES this site...