NASCAR Models by Daniel Ziemann!!
#71 Dodge Dart Sport "Kit Car"
#71 Dodge Dart Sport "Kit Car"
To prove the concept Harry Hyde built a car that Bobby Unser used to set records at Pikes Peak. Unser used the 340 powered Dart ($8,000 total cost) to smash his own record set while driving a Bill Stroppe prepared '69 Torino powered by a Smokey Yunick build engine (rumored total cost $150, 000). After Pikes Peak the car was take to Concord Speedway (NC), the scene of Rathgaeb's epiphany. A local driver was tapped use the Dart to kick butt and take the checkered flag. (Wouldn't you love to drive a car that had been sorted out by Bobby Unser?)
Stock Car Racing's May, 1975 Kit Car issue and Chrysler Kit Car pamphlet were used as references. I used the AMT re-issued Dart racecar. The body was modified with an external fuel fill, rear window straps and a new front spoiler. The front track was narrowed to fit the tires closer to the fenders. The grill was blocked to match Pikes Peak photos. This was still the era of string window nets, so a piece of fiberglass screen was painted and put in place. Under the hood valve cover breathers were added. Inside, a chrome ignition box and assorted safety decals were added. I don't know if Hyde used a Franklin quick change rear axle, but that's the axle Chrysler would sell and it came with the model kit.
I used no name #71 K&K Insurance decals with assorted other decals dug out of parts boxes. (The letter “B” came from a Fred Cady GT350R Mustang sheet.) Dry transfer numbers were used for the “340 CI” on the hood. The major flaw with the model is that the real car has flat top front fenders, which was more modification than I wanted to take on.
I remember in the late '70s and early '80s that about half the field in the stock car races at the Milwaukee Mile were made up of various Kit Cars. The bodies used were Volare/Aspens, Dodge Diplomats and Miradas. I believe that ARCA and ASA sanctioned these races.
As an offshoot of the kit car program Chrysler offered special V-8 powered “Kit Car”" Volare and Aspen coupes that were deliveredhad big #43 decals stashed in the trunk. The main feature was the handling package with 15" x 8" offset wheels with bolt-on flares to cover all that rubber. Most of the race inspired trim was bogus. The exception of the adjustable height rear spoiler, which was straight out of the race catalog. The Stock Car Racing magazine suggests some more modeling projects like the Pete Hamilton test mule Challanger. But I need to get the Car & Driver issue that reported racing their own Dart kit car in the 24 Hours Of Daytona. With Buddy Baker as a co-driver…."
