Better Than Nothin’ 413A
Summary
Most times, once a car is sold it’s gone forever but Sherman Devening is the first to admit he got lucky. Devening got the opportunity to repurchase Better Than Nothin’, a factory-original 413 Max Wedge 1962 Dodge Dart which he had owned and raced in the 1960’s. “We are very fortunate to get a second chance with this,” he said.
Owners and Sponsors
Owned by Sherman and Sherman (Gene) Devening of Kane, Illinois / supported by the Devening Family, including Betty, Dianne, Adam and Keaton.
Drivers
Two drivers: Sherman Devening (father) is a retired machinist who had raced Better Than Nothin’ and various other cars in the 60’s and 70’s at dragstrips in Alton and Whitehall, Illinois.
This is the first drag racing experience for Gene Devening (son), who works at the Woodriver power generating station.
History
An early production car, Better Than Nothing’ was special-ordered from the factory by Jack Maholland, who drove the vehicle off the assembly line himself and raced the car throughout 1962. The following year, Mike Ritter took control and named the car the Jersey Jumper for the town of Jerseyville, Illinois.
In the autumn of 1964, Sherman Devening and Sherman Orris acquired ownership and renamed the car Better Than Nothin’because of a new Chrysler product. “We were glad to have what we had because not everyone could afford to run the Hemi,” said Sherman Devening.
Devening and Orris continued racing until the autumn of 1967 and then sold the car to Ron Dyer, who kept the vehicle active on local dragstrips. However, Devening began to have regrets about parting with the car and through the years remained in contact with Dyer, who eventually sold it back to Devening in 1986.
The Devenings first restored the car to its original factory condition and then continued its racing heritage by joining the growing number of NSS racers.
Technical
Chrysler 413 iron block, bored .060 oversize / Stage I Max Wedge iron cylinder heads / crossram 2x4 intake manifold with original AFB 3447 carburetors / Chrysler Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission with original ‘typewriter’ push buttons / footbrake only / Chrysler 8 ¾ rear member / Moser spool and axles / 4.56 ratio / Tri City Launchers rear leaf springs / 10x29 Goodyear slicks
Performance
For ¼-mile, consistently runs on NSS/D 11.50 index at 115 mph / for 1/8-mile, 7.14 at 97 mph / all-time best, 11.41 at 117 mph
Results/Achievements
Reacquiring and restoring this piece of American history is achievement enough