First Muscle Car Dodge Dart

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart - Right Side

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart Black - Front Right View

The first muscle car Dodge Darts was introduced for model year 1960. It was reduced in large size cars and developed for replacing the Plymouth as the low-priced car for the network of Dodge dealers. Since 1930, Dodge dealers had been selling Plymouths, but in 1960 the restructuring of the division took Plymouth away from the Dodge dealer network. 

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart Green History Photo

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart History Photo - Left Side View

The Dart had a wheelbase shorter than the standard-size Dodge line because it was based on the Plymouth platform. The Dart line was divided into three levels namely: the mid-range Pioneer, the premium Phoenix and basic Seneca. The all-new Dart came with a brand new engine as standard equipment: 225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant-6. 318 cu in (5.2 L) and 361 cu in (5.9 L) V8. It was also available with single or dual exhaust and with 2 or 4 barrel carburetor barrels.

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart History Photo - Left Side

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart History Photo - Right Side

The Dart popularity was instantaneous increase. Sales of the Dart outstripped those of full-size Dodge Matador Dodge and Polara but also created a competitor at home to Plymouth. Even  from 1960 and 1961 advertising compared the "F" car (Ford) and "P" car (Plymouth), the Dart to the "C" car (Chevrolet). Darts equipped with the 225 in ³ -6 slope were popular as taxis.

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart History Photo

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart Red - Left Head Lamp Photo

Plymouth sales were down and business leaders at Chrysler did nothing to stop the infighting among divisions, as Dart sales climbed. in 1960, Dart sales were so strong that Dodge had to cut their line of mid-priced models. The mid-priced Matador was discontinued after the 1960 model year as buyers selected Dart Pioneer less expensive and better equipped. In the mid-price segment, the premium Polara was left alone to wage battle.

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart White - Front Right View

The First Muscle Car 1960 Dodge Dart