The 1960-1961 Dodge Dart was a standout in its era, offering a blend of style and performance.

Although now considered a compact, the 1960-1961 Dodge Dart was originally classified as a full-size vehicle. Its impressive sales success was partly due to Chrysler’s strategy after 1957, when they reduced their brand portfolio to just Dodge and Chrysler-DeSoto-Plymouth. This move left several Dodge dealerships without a complementary brand, stirring some competition, especially since the new Valiant compact would only be sold under the 'other' division.

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To satisfy Dodge dealers, management significantly expanded the 1960 lineup, splitting it into two ‘senior’ series that replaced the Royal and Custom Royal, alongside lower-priced ‘junior’ models that took over from Coronet as full-size competitors to Plymouth. This expansion grew the Dodge catalog from 19 to an impressive 35 models.

Named Dart after a sleek 1957 Chrysler show car, the new junior lineup was nearly its own brand, consisting of three series, a variety of body styles, and 23 distinct models. Seneca served as the entry-level option, followed by the Pioneer, which included a hardtop coupe, and the top-tier Phoenix, which added a convertible to its offerings.

The non-wagon models featured the 118-inch wheelbase that Plymouth had used since 1957, while wagons were built on the 122-inch platform shared by the 1960 Dodge and DeSoto, as well as Plymouth wagons and the 1959 Chrysler Windsor. This platform was also used for Dodge's 1960 senior models.

Similar to the 1960 Plymouths, Dodges, DeSotos, and Chrysler Windsors, these cars featured Chrysler's renowned torsion-bar front suspension and a familiar lineup of wedgehead V-8 engines. Additionally, the chassis were now fully welded to the inner body structure, giving the cars a more solid and rigid construction known as unibody. As is typical in Detroit, each make had its own distinct sheet metal to set it apart.

The Darts likely performed best among Plymouths and Dodges, with modest fins and a front design that was busy yet appealing. While they may not have been the most eye-catching cars of 1960, they certainly looked better than the more flamboyant senior Dodges and the equally exaggerated Plymouths of the time.

Continue reading to discover the design and sales achievements of the 1960-1961 Dodge Dart.

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The 1960-1961 Dodge Dart's engine lineup was essentially based on Plymouth's 1960 standards, with a few additions. All models, except for the V-8-only Phoenix ragtop, came equipped with the larger, 225-cubic-inch version of the Valiant's new 170-cid Slant Six, a modern overhead-valve engine featuring efficient wedge-shaped combustion chambers and 145 horsepower.

The base Seneca/Pioneer V-8 engine was a 230-bhp variant of the familiar Dodge/Plymouth 318. The Phoenix model offered a 255-bhp option, standard on the convertible. The next step up was a 295-bhp 361 engine for the Pioneer, with the Phoenix offering a 383 engine producing 325/330 bhp, all featuring four-barrel carburetors, a 10:1 compression ratio, and Chrysler's tuned 'Ram Induction' intake system.

The available transmissions were also familiar: a standard three-speed column-shift manual, an optional version with overdrive, as well as the reliable two-speed PowerFlite and three-speed TorqueFlite automatics. These automatics were equipped with the iconic pushbutton controls, which were now complemented by a touch-activated climate control system in Dodge's elaborate two-tier dashboard.

Futuristic features were characteristic of Chrysler during this period, and the Dart was no exception. Available options included two 1959 Chrysler innovations: swivel front seats and an automatic day/night rearview mirror. The Phoenix model featured the company’s new 1960 oval-square steering wheel, designed to offer more under-rim thigh clearance, although its odd appearance—highlighted by Dodge's stylized hub—was humorously described by one magazine as resembling 'a man on a torture rack.'

When properly equipped, the 1960 Dart could deliver performance in the great D-500 tradition. Combined with attractive pricing in the $2,300-$3,000 range, the Dart became incredibly popular, with Dodge selling over 323,000 units—an impressive 87 percent of its 1960 production and more than double the previous year's sales. As a result, Dodge surged from eighth to sixth place in the industry, while Plymouth saw a dip of about 10,000 sales despite the Valiant.

In 1961, Dodge experienced a sharp decline in sales, falling from nearly 368,000 to just over 269,000, landing in ninth place. This was surprising given that the Dart returned with an extensive lineup, prices remained virtually unchanged, and there was even a new, powerful 413 V-8 option with 350/375 horsepower. Additionally, Dodge introduced its own compact model, the Lancer, a Valiant clone.

However, Dart's styling in 1961 became an odd mix of the senior-Dodge front end and the 'plucked chicken' rear fenders from the 1961 Plymouth, complete with backward canted blade fins. This led to a sales drop to around 183,500 units, though it was still not as disastrous as the 1962 models, which were downsized to near-compact size and even less appealing.

This underscores how much styling influenced car sales in the 1960s, and still does today. Although the full-size Dart was discontinued after 1961, the name continued, making a successful return in 1963 as a compact with far more attractive styling.

Continue reading for the full 1960-1961 Dodge Dart specifications.

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1960-1961 Dodge Dart Specifications

Despite facing stiff competition from Chrysler-DeSoto-Plymouth, the 1960-1961 Dodge Dart became a massive sales success.

Specifications

Engine: OHV inline-6, 225 CID (3.40 x 4.12), 145 bhp; OHV V-8, 318 CID (3.91 x 3.31), 230/255 bhp (1960), 260 bhp (1961); 361 CID (4.12 x 3.38), 295 bhp (1960), 305 bhp (1961); 383 CID (4.25 x 3.38), 325/330 bhp; OHV V-8, 413 CID (4.19 x 3.75), 350/375 bhp (1961 only)

Engine: OHV inline-6, 225 CID (3.40 x 4.12), 145 bhp; OHV V-8, 318 CID (3.91 x 3.31), 230/255 bhp (1960), 260 (1961); 361 CID (4.12 x 3.38), 295 bhp (1960), 305 bhp (1961); 383 CID (4.25 x 3.38), 325/330 bhp; OHV V-8, 413 CID (4.19 x 3.75), 350/375 (1961 only)

Transmissions: 3-speed manual; 2-speed PowerFlite automatic and optional 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic

Front suspension: Featuring upper and lower A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, and an anti-roll bar.

Rear suspension: Live axle mounted on semi-elliptic leaf springs.

Brakes: Equipped with drum brakes on both the front and rear.

Wheelbase (in.): 122.0 inches for wagons, 118.0 inches for other models.

Weight (lbs): Ranges from 3,290 to 4,065 pounds.

Top speed (mph): Not available

0-60 mph (sec): Not available

Production numbers:

1960 Seneca 6: 93,167 units

Seneca V-8: 45,737 units

Pioneer 6: 36,434 units produced

Pioneer V-8: 74,655 units produced

Phoenix 6: 6,567 units produced

Phoenix V-8: 66,608 units produced

1961 Seneca 6: 60,527 units produced

Seneca V-8: 27,174 units produced

Pioneer 6: 18,214 units produced

Pioneer V-8: 39,054 units produced

Phoenix 6: 4,273 units produced

Phoenix V-8: 34,319 units produced

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