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I have what I think is a Dart D-300. It has the Dart front bumper, narrow hoop, turbine wheels, two short tie rods, the pedals are cast (with an F-2 stamped on the side of each pedal) and looks like an A-Bone as best as I can remember them (I raced in the 60s). The pedals mount to the rear of the axles. There is an engine mount welded on the left rear between the front crossmember and the left axle flange. Instead of the rupp drum brake, however, there is a mechanical disk brake with a caliper that reads "Bird Engineering" stamped on it (I imagine that been added, even though the brake rod seems to be original with no modification). The frame is straight and in good shape except for paint.

I understand that the cart was sold as a "fun kart" and have read that the steel may be softer than that used in the racing karts, but noone on the posts seem sure.

QUESTION: Should I keep the kart in it's original configuration and sell it (I want a vintage race kart), or would it be acceptable to remove the stationary engine mount and add on flanges to the crossmember and put on a swing mount, put on a bendix drum brake, and change pedals. It would look just like an A-Bone as far as I can see.

Are there any numbers on the kart so I can be sure it's not a knock-off.

Wa-da-ya-think?

Ride height might be a bit high compared to the "racing" versions if fitted with kart tires. What size tires do you have and how much ground clearance does it have with those tires?

We have a vintage karter in northern California that converted his 300 into a two stroke race kart and it works fine. The narrow steering hoop is a little narrower than an A bone but other than that it seems to be the same, it may have been narrower so small drivers could straddle the steering hoop. Ride height is the same as my A-bone and Chaparral's so height is not an issue. You might want to contact Robert at Robron and ask him about the Bird brake setup, he did reproduce these after Rupp closed and may have some insight or it may have been added by a previous owner. They did come with a bendix brake when Rupp was building them. I never have found a Rupp with numbers stamped into the frame.
Robron 1-800-624-7383
FAX 1-843-479-8770

Louie

I found this kart on craigslist two weeks ago and picked it up last week end. The seller did not know what it was. There were two poor pictures but I knew it was a rupp of some kind. It had no engine and he wanted $50 for it.

I wish it were an A-bone or Chapparell but hey, for the money..... The paint is poor and there is some light rust but not too bad. Frame is straight.

It had goofy tires, they are Goodyear Flight Customs, 5.00 - 5. These are TSO'd aircraft tires. I think the turbine wheels will clean up good. I'll have to rechrome the outer halves and i'll soda blast the aluminum parts. (I have a soda blasting rig). I think the ride height will be correct with the smaller kart tires. (airplane tires have high sidewalls).

The steering hoop is 7" center-to-center.

Aren't the pedals ahead of the axles on the A-bones?

I want to convert it to an A-Bone, but I hate to modify it if the D-300s have any value to collectors. It would be so easy to restore to original.

I have several MAC 91s I need to put to use. Huhhh- would it hold up to dual 91s ?

....Ron

Here are some pictures of a very nice near new original D-300

Woops, that's not like mine at all. Mine has the same engine welded engine mount, but doesn't have the floor pan that wraps up to a high side rail. Mine has the same front rail setup as an a-bone. It also has the plate between the lower part of the narrow steering hoop. I'll get some pics on this weekend. Maybe i'm wrong about what I have. That is a nice looking kart though. Did you restore it? looks like a good job if you did. Thx....Ron

Ron, the two A-bone's here have a 6 1/4 inch center to center on the steering uprights, same as on the Chaparral's and yes the A-bone has the pedals mounted in the front bumper, about 1/2 inch in front of the front axle. Robron has reproduction pedals for the A-bone.

Louie

No this is not my cart as this one sold on eBay a couple of years ago. I kept the pictures of it for reference. This cart in the pictures has not been restored rather it is just like a new one. Purchased for a young boy that road it one time and it was put away for the rest of its life till it sold on eBay by the original owner. I do have one as well as some literature on the D-300. These were basically a fun cart that could be converted quiet easily to a race cart. There biggest draw back I am told is they were week right behind the seat loop and were prone to cracking there. The one I have though quite rough is not cracked or broken in this area though its going to take a new front axle to bring it back. Seams all my carts need new front axles. Guess that is what happens to these old carts when they are handed down to grand kids to play with.

Turk

Dennis I think your pictures are a D301 not a D300

Some folks are strange. As I said, I got this off of Craigslist. The ad said it had SOME LIGHT RUST AND BENT FRONT AXLES. I picked it up at a cement company from a guy in his late 20s or early 30s.

When I got there, the axles looked fine to me so I asked him about it. He pointed out that the front axles were bent rearward (as viewed from the top). I told him they were correct as they are. He said he was going to take a pipe and bend them back "straight". He then said he was going to cut the frame behind the seat and put "that" engine on it. He pointed to a 4 cylinder industrial engine of some kind that looked like it may have come off a concrete mixer or something. I bet it weighted 200 pounds.

I cringed. He said he was glad someone got it who knew what it was.

I'll bet a lot of old karts went that route after the mid 70s. By the way, he bought it for $10 from a junk yard where their company dumps concrete. ...Ron