Dodge Dart ("Dodge Dart"): specifications, prices and reviews (photo)

The American car Dodge Dart was produced in the factories of Detroit from 1960 to 1976. Since the automobile company Dodge since 1928 is part of the automaker Craysler, it was developed on the Chrysler A-body platform. At the Auto Show in Detroit in 1959, the new model was presented as a compact car for the city. However, the name "Dart" as such could only be with great reserve. The car with a wheelbase of 2997 cm and a width of 1830 cm did not fall within this definition. The huge American limousines of the early sixties diminished in size reluctantly, although buyers unanimously declared that they were tired of paying fabulous sums at gas stations and maintenance stations.

Powerful engine - the main difference between the Dart

"Dodge Dart" diminished in size only in 1963, when the car went through a deep restyling and was modified to meet the needs of the population. The updated Dart immediately became popular throughout the US, its sales increased several times. The most popular car of that time - "Plymouth" - gave the new car a significant part of the market. Soon, "Dodge Dart" came out on top on the most important criteria that determine the competitiveness of the car - for reliability and endurance. The machine was equipped with powerful engines ranging from 3.7 liters to 7.2-row six-cylinder and V-shaped "eight". The average power of the power plant was 235 liters. With., And it was quite satisfied with fans of high speeds.

The popularity of the machine

The popularity of the Dodge Dart, the characteristics of which were themselves not bad, contributed to the variety of options offered to buyers. The car was produced in the modification of 2- and 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, 2-door fastback, convertible and station wagon. The equipment was also offered to choose from: basic equipment Seneca, medium Pioneer and luxury kit Phoenix.

In 1962, the wording was revised, and the Dodge Dart received the designation of completeness: Dart 330, Dart 440 and Dodge Polara 500. For middle-income buyers, an economical version of the Dart 220 was developed, which was one-half the cost of using inexpensive finishes and a minimum engine Power. This model was ideal for older Americans.

Modification of GTS and Swinger

In 1968, the first Dodge Dart in the modification of the GTS 340 came off the assembly line. It was a fourth-generation car. The machine was equipped with a 275-liter engine. from. Volume of 6.5 liters. However, the GST model did not take root, because because of the huge engine under the hood there was no room for a vacuum brake booster, and also had to abandon the power steering. A large sluggish car became difficult to control and quickly lost demand in the market.

A year later, another version was released - Dodge Dart Swinger. This model with the body of the "hardtop" type replaced the two-door sedan and showed itself from the very best side, having occupied its niche in the line "Dodge".

At the same time was released model Hurst Hemi Dart with the engine Charger, which was also not very successful for normal trips and quickly moved to the category of drag racing cars. Its release was suspended in 1969.

Devil with pitchforks

In 1970, the company "Chrysler" continued the model line, releasing another car for high-speed driving on the highway. It was the Dodge Dart Demon, a fifth-generation model. The car became the subject of fierce disputes between the manufacturer and the Christian public organizations of the United States. The emblem on the hood looked defiant enough - the devil holding the pitchfork. For three years, the litigation lasted, as a result of which both the name of the car and the emblem of the manufacturer had to be canceled by a court decision. "Demon" was gone, the devil with pitchforks disappeared from the hood, and the car smoothly passed into one of the modifications of the Dodge Dart Swinger.

Dart and the police

Technical characteristics of Dodge Dart included the unification of individual components and parts in a wide range. Thus, the new modifications of the machine were not difficult. The exterior was characterized by an organic linkage of all body parts, graceful front wings, as it were, continued with doors and lower thresholds, and then the whole sidewall smoothly passed into the rear wings and the luggage compartment lining. An impression of the integrity and completeness of the whole exterior was created.

The silhouette of the car was swift, the low landing of the car in the center was well combined with the raised front and rear overhangs. It is because of the greatly elevated overhangs, which ensure high cross-country capacity, that the Dodge Dart was chosen to equip the police services in the United States. The design bureau "Dart A38 Police Special" was developed in the Design Bureau with a powerful battery, reinforced suspension and super efficient brakes. However, for some reason, the police did not show enthusiasm when the US government offered the guards a new car. On the "Dart A38 Police Special" began to travel in California, mainly in Los Angeles and in the county of Ventura. On the territory of the rest of America, cops preferred to move to Dodge Coronet and Dodge Monaco.

Car-longevity

Dodge Dart belongs to a small family of American cars-long-livers. Not every model survived a sixteen-year period of continuous production. In addition, car assembly plants were dispersed in several US states and in Canada, and this entails certain difficulties. Nevertheless, the Dodge Dart was produced until 1976, then its production was curtailed, as the factory capacity was required to assemble more modern cars. All the factories that produce Dart stopped, and in other countries, such as Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, the release continued for another three years. The production of the Dodge Dart model in Mexico did not stop until 1990.

Modern Dart

Today at the Chrysler factories, the Dodge Dart SXT, the latest-generation model from this family, is being manufactured. The car has absorbed all the best from its predecessors and continues to improve. The compact sedan was presented at the expanded car exhibition in 2014 in Detroit. The car is another representative of the legendary family "Dodge", produced since 1960. The car is distinguished by a traditionally powerful engine. The potential of the model of the last generation does not cause doubts, it promises to make a worthy competition to the latest developments of world leaders in the automotive industry.