Who's idea for the 68' Hemi Dart

December 1967

NHRA had a meeting in Detroit with the 'Big 3' to discuss the upcoming NHRA Classes for 1968.
The Super/Stock Division was the main focus.

A 'new' SS/A Class was put on the table, with cars under 6.00 Wt/HP {0.00 to 5.99}.

Chevrolet quickly laid out paperwork for their entry. 1968 Chevrolet Corvette, with an 'All-Aluminum'
427 rated at 560 HP. The 68' Corvette was to weigh in at #3100 lbs. It would come in with a weight
break of 5.53 Wt/Hp. Both 4-Speed's and Automatic cars would be built.

The NHRA proposed an E.T. Index of 10.60 for SS/A, and 10.90 for SS/AA, and to be instituted at
the 1968 NHRA Winternationals at Pomona. NHRA mandated that a 'minimum' of 50 cars would have
to be built 'and sold' to qualify the cars for 'legal' Super Stock.

But in early-January 1968, Chevrolet told the NHRA that they would not be able to have enough cars ready
for the Winternationals, and it was determined that the cars would be ready to be showcased at the
'next' NHRA Major Event > the Springnationals at Englishtown in June 1968.

The 'All-Aluminum' 427 Corvette was to have >
* Domed Hood
* 12.5-1 TRW Pistons
* Closed Chamber Cylinder Heads
* 'Mechanical' Camshaft > .562"/.584 Lift ~ 332*/333* Duration ~ 133* Overlap
* Aluminum Dual-Plane High-Rise Intake
* A 'special' Holley 950 CFM Carburetor with 1 3/4" Throttle Bores. {Later changed to a Holley 850 Double-Pumper}
* 'Kustom' Headers

The 1968 Corvette 'proto-type' was an Automatic with 4.88 Gears and 9" Slicks, and with a Holley 850 CFM
Double-Pumper.

That car ran 10.90's @ 132 MPH in early testing.

Cost .......... $10,773