The early history of the Dodge Dart is interesting. The model was introduced in 1960 and was already on its third generation by 1963. It had been extensively restyled each year starting as a “small full-size” car in 1960-1961, moving to an “intermediate” size car in 1962, and finally becoming a compact car in 1963 where it would stay until the end of the line in 1976. This Dodge Dart 270 represents the first year of the compact Darts and you can find it here on craigslist in Fort Wayne, Indiana for $7,200.
Engine choices for the first years of the Dart were just as crazy as model changes. The slant six was always the base engine but the 318, 361 and even the wild 413 was available for one year. An aluminum 225 slant six was available early in 1963 but was dropped by mid-year. This orange Dart is the mid-trim level (indicated by the 270 moniker) and has the optional 225 slant six (170 was standard). It also has the unique push-button controlled Torque Flight automatic transmission.
The seller claims that the engine and transmission have been rebuilt. He also claims that it has never had any rust but we can see that it has obviously been repainted. I’m not sure why someone would paint the grill and the headlight trim rings orange but otherwise it looks like a good restoration. (Yes, the slant six was painted red in 1963.) This is not a tire roaster although it will have decent performance with the pre-emission choked slant six, and it is only one of three years with the push button automatic. I like the simple style of this car much better than the 1961 and 1962 Darts and this is the recipe for success that Chrysler would use for the rest of the Dart’s run. What do you think of this 2-door Dart?
Drooling.
Someday I hope to be buying.
For now, I’m sorting out all of the different details for the different years. Valient vs. Dart. Wagons vs. sedans and convertibles.
I think I’m getting Mopar fever.
Grew up with an early Dart (’66?) as a baby, ’73 Swinger from new, used Fury 3 (67?), and Coronet 440.
Guess it’s in my blood.
We also had an ’87 Lancer from new, but we won’t talk about that.
I love all Darts (like the ’75 shown), but in this pic I’m thinking…any kid with a shovel better be kept far away from a car!
That’s our ’73.
And my little brother and I both have metal shovels.
And we were taught to use them carefully around the cars.
Responsibility and care were drilled into us from an early age.
And I’m passing that on to my little ones.
The real worry for the safety of the car came from my mother, who dutifully washed, waxed, and cared for our car. Unfortunately that also included overzealous scrubbing of the whitewalls and white vinyl top with Comet cleanser, which I’m sure helped lead to its early demise by ’83!
Brings back memories, my dad bought a ’63 GT without telling my mom, who loved “her” ’61 Rambler American station wagon that went in trade.
my bro has a 64 ply. val. big block power of course b1 power
Check yer resources….no A-body big blocks until late 1967 or poly 318’s at all….the 1962 Dart B-Body did get the range of motors….
You’re right, but the 1960-1962 Darts were not A-body. The 1962 Dart had a 413 available.
this is a 6.80 drag car. not a street rod. nothing on this ride is stock
He popped that bb in. Why crap on his parade?
I was thinking that in ’63, the slant 6 engines were the only option for the Dart. Even the ’63 GT had a slant 6.
Came 1964, and the GT had the optional 273 V8 (a great motor). I didn’t know that any V8 larger than the 273 was available for the 63-66 Darts.
Pushbutton auto was discontinued in 1965. That would make it 2 years I believe.
My 1960 Valiant Wagon
(purchased 2015 from original owner) is pushbutton
(I also have a 1964 300 K convertible)
The 413 was diggin in back in 1962 in a Dart, driven by the little old lady from Pasadena
I did some digging, and indeed the 63 Darts had either the 170 or 225. 64-66 could get the 273 V8. The 273 was replaced in 68 with the 318.
The firewall in the 63 could not accommodate the distributor on the small block v8’s. This was massaged in 64 to allow them to be installed.
As a matter of fact, this car, with no posi, will do some amazing one wheel tire roasting, especially single stripe donuts. I speak from experience as a youth sitting in my friends parents car and wearing out the rears much too fast.
1976 was not the last year for the nameplate.
The leaning tower of power. Great engine for this car
I always thought AMC got the idea for the Matador front end from this era Dart.\
They were (IMO) so ugly they were cute.
Yup, my 63 GT was a 225 with push button automatic. Ran smooth as silk till a drunk driver drove the rear bumper clear into the back seat.
Personally, I love the character these have, and if I didn’t already have a 62 Pontiac LeMans convertible 195ci 4 cylinder and a 62 Buick Skylark convertible 215 v8, I’d buy it! But I dig quirky cars. There’s a great looking 69 Dodge Dart GT convertible w/318 selling on BaT, selling soon at $11k.
like this car my yr.!!! I was aborn.. and I use too have a push button transmission is it still available!!!
had 63 or 62 Plymouth Savoy but the gas tank hit the ground every time I hit a bump.. so had too get rid of it..
I bought a well used 66 Valiant (very similar) 225 with a torqueflite that must have come from a big Chrysler. That car would really scoot, and made a wonderful growling noise like a slightly straining big engine under acceleration. The speedometer gear had not been replaced, and with an indicated 60 mph it passed other highway traffic like they were standing still. It was a great joy until a doped up kid in a florist van hit it at high speed, luckily for us, in the rear.
I borrowed my grandfather’s ’64 2-door with the 225 slant six and push button tranny for an out of town wedding. I nearly got it off the ground at some railroad grade crossings. There was more than enough power for all but “squealing ‘n peeling” as the police called it.