1966 Dodge D/Dart ~ 'Mystery, Myth and Misconception'

[69 Cuda 440]

T-M-R

Hey, that is Miss Fredericksburg 1966 ~ 'Margaret Moss'

At 'Sumerduck Dragway' in Northeast Virginia.

 

[toolmanmike]

She's a mid 60's hottie!

 

[69 Cuda 440]

She's a mid 60's hottie!

T-M-R

I wonder if the hood on that D/Dart is 'hot'.

 

[1966DDart]

Just an FYI, this is the D/Dart that I currently have...

* Ed Eisenhauer Dodge ~ Gran Junction, Colorado

It's still got the dealership badge on the trunk. I've tried to ID/locate the previous owner(s) but, so far haven't come up with anything. It was last tagged in 1974...and still has chunks of rubber stuck in the rear fender wells.

 

[dart4forte]

Just an FYI, this is the D/Dart that I currently have...

* Ed Eisenhauer Dodge ~ Gran Junction, Colorado

It's still got the dealership badge on the trunk. I've tried to ID/locate the previous owner(s) but, so far haven't come up with anything. It was last tagged in 1974...and still has chunks of rubber stuck in the rear fender wells.

Cool find

 

[1966DDart]

Let's see if I can include a picture of the dealer tag...

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Excellent.....'1966 D Dart'

There is 'Gold' in them Denver Mountains...........

 

[Rob Eppler]

Great reading these aritcles/conversations/and finds. Keep up the good work guys! History ...got to love it! I race a 65 GT [it is a small block car] and have a 66 GT in the works...it may have an old 354/392 Hemi in it some day!
Thank you!

 

[69 Cuda 440]

A real trouble-maker for the D/Darts in 1966.

D/Stock

1960 Pontiac Catalina ~ 389/348 'Tri-Power'

Properly set up, these #3750 lb. Poncho's could run ........ 13.30's @ 106 MPH

 

[ddartdude]

Just an FYI, this is the D/Dart that I currently have...

* Ed Eisenhauer Dodge ~ Gran Junction, Colorado

It's still got the dealership badge on the trunk. I've tried to ID/locate the previous owner(s) but, so far haven't come up with anything. It was last tagged in 1974...and still has chunks of rubber stuck in the rear fender wells.

Phillip,
You didn't post a picture of your car. Wait! Maybe you did. I just can't see it in the snow. Come on, post a photo of it. Even if it's rough.

Hope to swing by and see it when we head up to see the kids. Probably in August or September.
Alan

 

[toolmanmike]

Here's a post I found from 2008 on moparts. Might just be a rumor:
There was one here in Asheboro NC that we tracked for awhile- guy wouldn't sell it, it just sat in a carport for about 5 years.. then one day it was just gone... no idea what he did with it....it was a true D Dart....Rumor was it was originally sold out of Ilderton Dodge in High Point.....

 

[1966DDart]

View attachment Pickup day.jpg
This is the day arrived to pick it up out in Colorado. I took an 8 3/4 rear end with me, installed it, found 4 wheels/tires in the junkyard, and loaded it onto the trailer for the drive back.

View attachment In Kentucky.jpg
Two days later, after arriving in Kentucky with the car. Quick wash down with the hose and it cleaned up pretty decent.

View attachment Home.jpg
Stored it for a while in Kentucky. Pulled the blown engine out and added a set of Formula-S wheels. Then a friend hauled it up to Ohio for me on his roll-back.

Funniest part is that I took the door locks out of this car several years earlier to put in a '66 Valiant I used to have (when I lived out there). Eventually moved to Ohio and wanted another A-body to play with. Not wanting a rusty car from around here, I called out west and bought the car with the plans to make a D/Dart clone. When searching for more info on them (colors, interior, etc.), I found Alan Lewis' website. A few emails later and thanks to Alan Lewis and Alan Hvizdos (aka. ddartdude), they were able to confirm I had found car #43. :cheers:

 

[toolmanmike]

Great story. Thanks for sharing. I need to find one now lol

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Eastern Drag News

Dick Hill out of Marion, Ohio equaled his 'EDN' Eastern Drag News Record
at York US 30 Drag at the 1st-Event of the year with a 13.29.

Dick Hill is running his 'black' 1960 Pontiac Catalina {389/348 HP Tri-Power} again
this year, which is now classed in 'D/Stock' after setting the Record last year in 'C/Stock'
at York US 30 with a 13.29.

The 'Main' competition in the 'D/Stock' Class is coming from the Musser Brothers {Barry and Ernie}
out of Reading with their 1961 Corvette 283 Dual-Quad combination, which holds the 'EDN'
MPH Record at 106.49 MPH.

Barry and Ernie also hold the NHRA 'D/Stock' National Record

 

[ddartdude]

Phillip,
Thanks for posting photos of your car. A couple days ago, I was looking through all my D/Dart files and found the pictures of when you went to pick it up. Brought back memories of when I got my first one. It was in about the same condition as yours but it had all the correct parts. I'll send you a few shots of it way back when.
Alan

 

[ddartdude]

Here's a post I found from 2008 on moparts. Might just be a rumor:
There was one here in Asheboro NC that we tracked for awhile- guy wouldn't sell it, it just sat in a carport for about 5 years.. then one day it was just gone... no idea what he did with it....it was a true D Dart....Rumor was it was originally sold out of Ilderton Dodge in High Point.....

Mike,
What site was this on. Don't remember seeing it. I know of one in southeastern South Carolina. I think that car was out of St. Louis.
Alan

 

[toolmanmike]

Mike,
What site was this on. Don't remember seeing it. I know of one in southeastern South Carolina. I think that car was out of St. Louis.
Alan

Alan, I saved the link. It was on Moparts back in 08' I think.
I remember reading a response from you with a couple photos of your two cars. Here's the link: http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4120359&page=0&fpart=all&vc=1

 

[ddartdude]

Mike,
Thanks for reminding me of that one. I still have it listed on a sticky note on my computer deck, along with 4 others. Gotta relook at my PM's and see if MopowerTim ever responded to them. Looks like I'll have to do some more digging. Reread all my PM's and found some more info on the cars.
Alan

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Tracking down D/Darts.

According to Dick Hill {Marion, Pennyslyvania}.

Dick raced his 1960 'black' Pontiac Catalina in D/S during 1966 in Pennsylvania in
the Eastern Drag News circuit.

The 'South Central Pennsylvania Dodge Dealers Association' did sponsor a 1966
D/Dart for 1966.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1966 NHRA D/Stock {10.60 to 11.29 Wt/Hp}
----------------------------------------------------------

Eastern Drag News

The Top 'D/Stock' Competitors; Rated In Order Of Track Results for the Year Ending 1966

* 1961 Chevrolet Corvette ~ 283/270 HP - 'Dual-Quad'
* 1960 Pontiac Catalina ~ 389/348 HP - 'Tri-Power'
* 1965 Ford Mustang GT ~ 289/271 HP - 'K-Code'
* 1966 Dodge Dart ~ D/Dart ~ 273/275 HP
* 1966 Ford Mustang GT ~ 289/271 HP ~ 'K-Code'

* 1957 Chevrolet Model #150 Sedan ~ 283/283 HP - 'Fuel Injection'
* 1963 Chevrolet Biscayne ~ 327/300 HP
* 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS ~ 327/275 HP
* 1964 Pontiac GTO Hardtop ~ 389/325 HP
* 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne ~ 348/315 HP - 'Tri-Power'

* 1957 Chevrolet Corvette ~ 283/245 HP ~ 'Dual-Quad'
* 1964 Oldsmobile F-85 ~ '4-4-2' Package ~ 330/310 HP
* 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 ~ 390/340 HP ~ 'Tri-Power'
* 1963 Pontiac Catalina ~ 421/353 HP
* 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne ~ 327/300 HP

* 1962 Pontiac Catalina ~ 389/348 HP ~ 'Tri-Power'
* 1964 Dodge Polara ~ 383/330 HP
* 1965 Plymouth Satellite ~ 383/330 HP
* 1966 Dodge Charger ~ 383/325 HP
* 1963 Ford Fairlane ~ 289/271 HP

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Psycho Tony,

The 1965 Mustang GT 289/271 HP 'K-Codes'

Hit the Ford Showroom in April 1965.

Production Numbers
* 1965..... 7273
* 1966..... 5469

 

[2 Darts]

interesting thread. Did D/Darts have a unique VIN identifier (LO) as later SS cars used? One of the things that may complicate getting a "good" count of D/Darts was the Chrysler issued information and parts to dealers to retrofit a standard 273 4-barrel to D/Dart specs. There can't be a good way to tell how many cars were converted in this manner. A copy of the release to dealers follows:

Dodge Offers "D" Stock Dart

DETROIT -- A new 275-h.p. Dodge Dart GT that meets D Stock specifications of the NHRA, AHRA and NASCAR is now in production. The "D/Dart" has a shipping weight of 2,946 pounds.

The "D/Dart" features a modified 273-cubic inch engine with a special four-barrel Holley carburetor. Other features include:

A special Camcraft camshaft (284 degrees with .495 intake and .505 exhaust), Racer Brown valve springs, a modified, full-breathing intake manifold, a low-restriction air cleaner, and a Weber clutch. Other standard items are: a heavy-duty 4.86:1 Sure-Grip 8-3/4 inch rear axle, free-flow exhaust headers by Doug of California, a four-speed manual transmission, heavy-duty suspension, and 6.95x14 B.S.W. tires.

The "D/Darts" are regular production line automobiles.

Additionally certain, basic service parts will be available through the Chrysler Parts Division, so that owners of earlier Darts may convert from the 235-h.p. to the new 275-h.p. version of the 273 V-8 engine.

The "D/Dart" has been certified by the sanctioning agencies in the D Stock class. It is expected that this car, properly prepared, will be a top contender.

A high idle speed minimizes roughness, a high numerical axle ratio is used for top acceleration, the distributor is modified for quick advance, and the ignition system is designed for optimum engine output. Due to the expected use of these vehicles, no warranty coverage applies.

Those who are interested in more specific technical details on this car may contact staff engineer Dick Maxwell, Product Planning, Chrysler Corporation, 341 Massachusetts Ave., Detroit 31, Michigan. Phone 313-883-4500, ext. 3947.

In case your local Dodge dealer does not have a full list of the part numbers for these specific components you may wish to contact performance parts specialist Ray Ryder, Chrysler Parts Division, 22631 Lawrence Avenue, Centerline, Michigan. Phone 313-539-3000, ext. 7763

 

[Back in Time]

66 D/Darts were L 023 vin'd i'm pretty sure. 66D/Dart...was your's the one I heard was found in a junkyard in Greeley, Colorado?

 

[1966DDart]

66 D/Darts were LO 23 vin'd i'm pretty sure. 66D/Dart...was your's the one I heard was found in a junkyard in Greeley, Colorado?

Yes, my D/Dart was the one found in Greeley, CO. Here's a partial shot of it's VIN plate confirming that they are in fact, LO23 cars. A regular Dart GT would have had LP23 starting the VIN.

 

[Back in Time]

Damn, I grew up in Greeley and moved away 3 years ago.That car was right under my nose and I missed it.Nice to have a piece of history.Good luck with whatever you do with it.