Dodge Dart
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The Dodge Dart was a brand of automobile built by the Dodge Motors Division of the Chrysler Corporation, then headquartered in Highland Park, Michigan. The Dodge Dart was introduced as a lower-priced, shorter wheelbase, full-sized model of Dodge in 1960/61, became a mid-size car for 1962 and then a compact family of cars between 1963 and 1976. Dodge also used the "Dart" name for a Ghia built show car in the 1950s.
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1960-1961
The first production Dodge Dart's were full size cars developed to replace the Plymouth as the low-priced car for the Dodge dealer network. Dodge dealers had been selling the Plymouth since 1930. The Dart was a shorter wheelbase full size car than the standard sized Dodge line, and was based on the Plymouth. The Dart line was divided into three sub series, entry level the Seneca, the Pioneer and the well-appointed Phoenix.
Introduced for the 1960 model year, the Dart was at once a marketing masterstroke - sales of the Dart out-stripped those of the full sized Dodge Matador and Dodge Polara, but it also created an in-house competitor for Chrysler's very own Plymouth division. Even advertising from 1960 and 1961 compared the Dart to the "C" car (Chevrolet), the "F" car (Ford) and the "P" car, Chrysler's Plymouth. As Dart sales climbed, Plymouth's sales dropped. Dart sales were so strong in 1960, that Dodge had to cut back its medium-priced model line-up. The Matador line was renamed the Polara for 1961 as the lower-priced series outsold the higher. The Dodge Dart continued into 1961 but its unfortunate restyling with the reverse fins and rear fender scallopping saw sales drop 48%. Its sales were below Plymoutg The success of the Dart was also found to be erroding Dodge's image as a producer of middle class, middle priced, automobiles.
1962
For 1962, the Dodge Dart was downsized as part of Chrysler's ill-planned effort to compete with what it thought was Chevrolet's year to attempt a down sized version of its full size cars. Chevrolet fielded a full-sized car and the Dart ended up being more akin to an intermediate than a true full-sized car. Dodge dealers were extremely upset they had no full-size car to offer. The Polara had become a fancy Dart and it was not possible to offer a medium-priced model based on the shrunken Dart. Thus Dodge hit the parts bin and introducd the Dodge 880 in January, 1962. The Dart series were changed for 1962, becoming base, 330, and 440. The top-of-the-line Polara 500 was introduced as a posh version of the Dart but sales were slow until a 4-door hardtop was added in December 1961.
1963-1976
Beginning in 1963, the Dart stepped into its role as Dodge's compact car, in line with Plymouth's Valiant. The two cars would share this role, and increasingly parts and overall design themes until they were discontinued in 1976. Until 1967, Darts were available in 2-door, 4-door sedans, convertible and four-door station wagon body styles.
The 1963-1966 Dodge Dart was not sold in Canada, instead the Canadian Valiant, which was not a Plymouth, used the Dart body.
For the most part, both Dodge and Plymouth shared the basic 1967 four door body for their Dart and Valiant lines. The Dart was granted a two door hardtop model in Custom, GT and GTS versions. The "Swinger" appeared for 1969 replacing the base 2-door sedan along with a performance oriented Swinger 340. For 1971 the "Swinger" name was used for the old Custom hardtop while the base hardtop was called the "Swinger Special". Plymouth, which wasn't granted the hardtop option, introduced the Plymouth Duster for 1970, based on the Dart/Valiant body. Dodge was granted its version of the Duster, named the Dodge Demon for 1971, and Valiant got its hardtop, which it named the Plymouth Scamp. The Swinger 340 was replaced by Demon 340 for 1971. In 1973 the Demon became the Sport, and Dart introduced a new luxury Special Edition series in hardtop and sedan.
The Dodge Dart was replaced by the Dodge Aspen beginning in 1976.
The name was briefly used in 1980 and 1981 on Mexican-market Dodge Diplomats.
Dodge Dart Performance Packages
The Dart was available with a range of engines, from the workhorse Chrysler Slant 6 engine to the big-block 383 B engine.
For the 1969 model year only, there was also the addition of the 440 RB engine In the Dart GTS model, and a very few 426 Hemi models in the 'Hurst' edition Dart.
External links
- Dodge Dart enthusiast page (http://www.dodgedart.org/index.html)
- Valiant family page (http://www.valiant.org/)
- Muscle Car Club Dart page (http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/dodge-dart/dodge-dart.shtml)
References
The Dodge Story, Thomas A. McPherson, Crestline Publishing, Glen Ellyn, IL, 1975 ISBN 0-912612-07-X