Is this a Dart Kart?

[oldbeagle]

Here's a pic of a kart I bought 20 years ago for $20 or so. It's got old Margay 62 series (or something like that) modular wheels. Had it going a long time ago just to ride it around for fun. Looks like a modified A-bone, but can someone confirm?

 

[itsid]

yes.. looks rupp'ish

may also be a clark 440 (basically a rupp A bone clone) with just very minor differences.


'sid

 

[jandj]

You have a Robron Superdart someone has goobered up with the nerf bars and rear bumper. Robert Stanton worked for Mickey Rupp and bought all the kart stuff and tools when Mickey got out of them, Robert continues to build and sell Rupp kart stuff. The Superdart came out in '75 and is an A Bone modified for dirt oval racing.
The tip offs are the front porch, the bolt in floor pan & seat, and the narrower than usual steering hoop. It's late now and the only reason I'm up is the dogs wanted to go out. I will pm you tomorrow. That is a kart with potential as it appears to be in great shape. Most dirt karts that old have been beat to ****, yours looks great. It wouldn't take much to take it back to the way it was built.

 

[oldbeagle]

Hey, thanks for the reply! I've never seen a superdart, so didnt know if it was or not. it's in pretty good shape, I still have the floor pans although they are dented and bent. I like the fact that it turns left and right equally fine. The nerf bars look like they are factory The rear bumper addition is unusual, but I kinda like it as no one would run over top of you and I can tell it was not an amateur's work.

 

[jandj]

The nerfs & bumper were common additions on dirt trackers, as were the front axle braces. Robert didn't put them on when he built them. PM me an e mail address and I'll send you some pics and a copy of an original ad.
Edit: I see you are in Durham. The majority of Superdarts I've seen (and the one I'm restoring) are survivors of the NC dirt track wars. They were very good dirt karts.

 

[jandj]

The fact that the porch is the same dia. tube as the frame and the pedals going through the tubes on top of the axle instead of through holes in the porch say it's a Gen.II Superdart, although the steering looks like the Gen.I (Gen.II had a tube welded on the axle that the shaft went through, earlier ones used tabs on the axle and a steering block to attach the steering shaft).
Can you post pics of the lower half of the steering shaft where it connects to the frame & steering linkage?
You could get this kart with either an Airheart disc set up or the Bendix 6" drum brake.
It also came with a plastic Margay style seatback tank as opposed to the metal Chilton tank the A Bone used.
Motor would have been a Mac, West Bend, or flathead Briggs depending on the class you wanted to run in.