Cars of the Month, September 2008: Slant Sixes of Carlisle

by Gene Yetter

A fine Slant 6-powered 1976 Plymouth Feather Duster owned by Mike Wintgens of Roseville, Ohio, took second place in the Plymouth A Body, 1973 and Up class at the 2008 All-Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, PA, July 11-13. Although the vast
number of Mopar vehicles registering at the annual Nationals event are V8s, the show attracted numerous Slant 6 cars as it always does.

Beginning with Mike Wintgens' Duster, the following are a few Slant 6 vehicles shown at the 2008 Nationals.

Mike has owned his car for 5 years, just recently finishing the rebuild and restoration at a cost of about $15,000. The 6-cylinder Dusters were famous for fuel economy and Mike reports that, with his vehicle's 4-speed transmission ("4 on the floor"), his car typically gets 29 mpg.

This 1979 Volaré Duster survivor was on sale in the Nationals car corral and was purchased by Gary Garren of Spartenburg, South Carolina. Gary moved it to the corral pavilion to be displayed for resale. It did not resell, however, and Gary trucked it home. The car is now posted on his Web site. The story of this immaculate Super Six-powered car is sumarized on the windshield: one owner, never restored, 5,300 miles on the speedometer. Initial offering price: $14,500. In the opinion of one 1977 Volaré Super Six owner, the engine compartment of this Duster is as original as possible, a virtual museum piece.

A pair of deep-breathing Slant 6 Dart Swingers shared space among A Body cars, a 1973 owned by Brian and Melissa Droschak of West Miffin, PA, the other, a 1969 owned by Greg Ondayko of Irwin, PA. The engine in the Droschak's car features a turbocharger adapted by the owner.

Intake on the Ondayko vehicle is assisted by a Dutra after-market hyperpack manifold with 4-bbl carburetor and dual exhausts. Greg reports top speed in the quarter mile at 93.95 mph, ET, 14.7243 seconds with that setup. He also explains, "It's really tough to drag race a hyperpack without the carb heat. And it's also hard to race a stick for the same reason."

The sound produced by this car as it rolled through the Fairgrounds was a real head turner, being higher pitched than the rumble of the typical Mopar V8. But it's an intense sound advertising the vehicle as a potent speed machine.

The car's third owner, Greg has had it for about 9 years. His father, a car dealer, acquired the car from a salvage yard. Greg said he took it over after it sat on the backlot of the dealership for more than a year. Prior owner was a student at University of Pittsburg who used it as a daily driver. It needed a new floor pan and other work on the interior. Greg prepared the car for paint himself although painting was done at a body shop.

To date, the car has had two engine and two bellhousing replacements and unknown clutch replacements. Greg does all his own mechanical work. He installed the hyperpack and headers. He figures he has about $4000 is invested in engine mods, but he's not bothering to calculate other expenses!

Greg races the car now and then, he says, "mostly at the test 'n' tunes." He can brag of 3 second-place finishes in Slant 6 circuit races in the past 2 years.

Tim and Diane Cardwell of Leesburg, VA, have owned this Rally Red (R5) 1976 Feather Duster since 1991. It was repainted in 2001. The Cardwells run a floral business with their main delivery vehicle being a Chrysler van. They also own a '74 Duster and a '76 Dart, both Slant 6-powered. So the Cardwells are a happy Slant 6 family!

ALLPAR CARS OF THE MONTH

Join us for our new Car of the Month system, starting in January 2010.

October 2009				1954 Desoto Estate Wagon
September 2009				Dodge Aspen R/T with T-tops
August 2009				1941 Dodge WC pickup street rod
July 2009				446,000-mile 1998 Dodge Neon R/T
June 2009				1970 Dodge Challenger 440 Six-Pack
May 2009				1970 Plymouth Superbird
April 2009				1932 Plymouth Phaeton
March 2009				Plymouth GTX
February 2009				1977 AMC Pacer drag car
January 2009				1989 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible
December 2008				1949 Chrysler Highlander
November 2008				Modified Magnum
October 2008				1967 Hemi ’Cuda
September 2008				Slant Sixes
August 2008				1984 Dodge Daytona

Cars of the Month are chosen and profiled by Gene Yetter

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