I know this is an original car.
one side

Here is the other side.

I'm still looking for the template close up. I'm pretty sure it was a Chrysler Template, but I could be wrong.
I'll keep looking for you.

for what it is worth, john balow of mcr (well know resto shop that did the speedwin car, and that's were the pic of the template came from by the way) told me that the wheel well had a general size but the crews that were working on the individual cars were given lots of leaway and so individual cars are/can be different, ie, no 2 cars are exactly alike. i see a close resemblance to 68/69 coronet rear wheel openings myself and also had a ss hemi dart owner tell me they used a garbage can lol. if you haven't done so check out mcr's site as there are alot of good pics on there of both original and clone cars they have done. also there was a light green original car on moparts with a link to alot of good pics, but i've lost that link and if anyone has it i would like it again. att. is my street clone and i didn't cut the wheelwells as high as the orginals because i didn't tub the rear and finding street tire over 29" tall and less then 11.5 sec. width is tough.thanks, dave

I wonder if the original templates were derived from the Dart's front wheel wells. Both front and rear openings look very similar.

Another original 68 Hurst Hemi Dart

i have wheel lips off some duster front fenders on mine. gives it a more finished look.

Ever see a 6 second Hemi Dart before !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7-r83T6osc&feature=related

It's a white car, so it's a little easier to see the out-line of the rear wheel-wells.

Darin's Hemi Dart is for sale. Nicest and most detailed original Hemi Dart I have seen. Dyno -"Gold Coast Hemi"

Back to the subject at hand. I have been following this cars for years and I have seen many of these cars first hand. This is what I believe to be true.

I was told that the rear opening was done with a Sawzall, hammer and brazing torch and rod. After looking closely at the photo that I posted I believe this to be true.

One way to tell if a wheel opening has been altered after it left Hurst is you will see a plate added to the front of the wheel well. From Hurst the opening was cut, rolled over and the edges brazed up....that is it. If you look at the Dart that Bob Mosher is doing (http://www.moparsbymosher.com/) Look at the rear opening on that car and you can see how there was additional work done on that car. You will see what I'm talking about. That is the only way to get a 31" tall tire on these cars and that is what most of these people ran in them.

I heard the story about that it is the same as the front fender cut out. I personality don't believe it's true. They look close but it's off all the way around.

Here is another shot of the rear wheel well of an original car.

Not the best pic "Ready for delivery"

I have see many of the original Darts and mine as well and can tell you the work wasn't pretty or consistant.They cut,trimmed,folded over,tack welded and smeared a little puddy.Just as nice as the hammer job on the passenger shock tower.

Here's one of Jack's Dart when he raced it, they used it for the Quaker City Reunion...

Form follows function.

Kevin

This was a nice clone at Mopars at the strip 2009