1962 Dodge Dart 413: A Legendary Muscle Car

Though its time in the spotlight was brief, the Max Wedge 413 engine was the powerhouse that elevated Mopar to the upper echelon of muscle cars. The 1962 Dodge Dart 413 stood toe-to-toe with the best offerings from GM and Ford.

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The 413-cubic inch V-8 had been in use since 1959, but it wasn’t until 1961 that it appeared in smaller Dodges and Plymouths, delivering up to 375 horsepower. With competitors like Chevy, Pontiac, and Ford offering over 400 horsepower, Mopar had to raise the stakes. All 413 engines featured wedge-shaped combustion chambers, but the version introduced in the spring of '62 was specifically tuned for top-tier performance, earning it the legendary Max Wedge moniker.

The 1962 Dodge Dart Max Wedge came with a floor-shift three-speed manual transmission or an upgraded pushbutton TorqueFlite. Standard gear ratios included the 3.91:1 limited-slip, with options ranging from 2.93:1 to 4.89:1. The Max Wedge package, which included essential components like police-grade suspension parts, was priced between $545 and $682 depending on the tuning and transmission option.

Two variations of the Max Wedge engine were offered, both equipped with solid lifters, aluminum pistons, Magnafluxed connecting rods, double-breaker ignition, twin 650-cfm Carter four-barrel carbs, and striking three-inch headers that arched over the engine to clear the front suspension. The 11.0:1 compression version produced 410 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, while the higher-compression 1:1 variant delivered 420 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.

The arrival of the Max Wedge was further emphasized by a redesign of the 1962 Dodge and Plymouth lineups. The full-size models—Dodge Dart and Polara, Plymouth Savoy, Belvedere, and Fury—saw a two-inch reduction in wheelbase and controversial new styling. For performance enthusiasts, this meant a lighter curb weight, closer to that of mid-size competitors, with no rivals capable of matching the Max Wedge's performance.

With a stock price tag of $2,900, the Max Wedge Dart was clocking mid-14s in the quarter-mile at speeds exceeding 100 mph. According to Motor Trend, it "offers more performance per dollar than any other factory-assembled car in America."

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