Dodge fans may remember that the Dart was not the brand’s first compact car in the 1960s. That honor goes to the Lancer, whose name was shifted to a Plymouth derivative, the Valiant, in 1961 and 1962. It was far less popular than the other Mopar and quickly disappeared. This 1961 770 edition (the fancier model) looks great and has been at least partially restored in Glide, Oregon. This rarer Dodge is available here on craigslist for $6,500 OBO. Kudos to “Sunshine” for our latest tip.
The Lancer shared the Valiant’s quirky looks, which is probably why their combined sales were a sliver of those for a pair of Chevrolets (Corvair and Nova) and Ford’s Falcon. But there was nothing strange about the cars mechanically, including Chrysler’s venerable Slant-Six (no V8s). In 1961-62, Plymouth pushed just over 300,000 Valiants out while Dodge could only sell 110,000 Lancers. With a redesign in 1963, more traditional styling was deployed (and sales headed north).
Though it doesn’t look like it, this Dodge may have 147,000 miles. No mention is made if the 170 cubic inch version of the “Slant-Six” has been rebuilt, but the pushbutton TorqueFlite automatic transmission has been along with the brakes. So, mechanically, it would appear this old Lancer is ready to go anywhere you are. The upholstery and carpeting have also been replaced.
We’re told the vehicle has many other “upgrades” that you’ll have to ask the seller about. Why not just list them in the ad? Craigslist will let you go on and on if you want (only the number of photos is capped). We’re told there is no rust, which was common with unibody Mopars, and partly why you almost never see a first-generation Valiant today, much less a Lancer. This car might attract as much attention as the rubber-burner you might buy instead.
As I recall, *Lancer’s the Answer * was used for advertising. Unfortunately it (and Valiant (*Gives you value with a capital V*)) may have given Value but weren’t the Answer for early 60s compact buyers. Our family had a 61 Valiant V200 as a second car. The Exner influence is obvious, previewing the disastrous 62 downsized *Chicken Wing * Plymouths and Dodges. This Lancer is indeed a rare bird. It’s not MY Answer, but well worth a second look. 😉 more useless trivia!
The cars were sorta laughing stocks..Until the Ramchargers showed up at the strip with a 413 Lancer and ugly meant fast..lol
Buyer beware.
Those photos have been used in other ads.
Be sure to see the car in person.
I once built a 2 door version of a lancer with a 750 HP 392 hemi and a beefed Torquefite for power. I was maybe 16 or 17 then and was making
more money than I knew what to do with back then and that’s after I helped my parents pay down their mortgage. And as long as I kept my grades up, they’d let me build anything my fertile mind could dream up. I built the engine using the Project 200 article in Rod & Custom
Magazine in late ’70 or early ’71. I simply followed the step by step instructions and screwed together a real beast of an engine that put out a
ground pounding 750 HP on pump gas. I forgot what I used for a rear axle other than it could take what the hemi dished out. Took me nearly six
months to build but that was all the time I needed. I only built the car to prove to some nay sayers that I could
really do it. It wasn’t fancy but my god that thing was fast! My future BIL and I took it out for it’s one and only road test wearing a pair of 13 inch wide wrinkle wall racing slicks on
the rear. We took the car down Main
Street to show it off and heads turned as it went by. We were in front of the
Courthouse when we wound the hemi up and let it go. The slicks got bite and the front tires came up and whoosh! it was gone! Wasn’t too long before the boys in blue showed up with their revolving ticket books. They got me for no mufflers, illegal rear tires, no hood, no fender wells, and the list went on. Suffice it to.say,
my Dad was really pissed off when his friends told him about our little adventure. It didn’t sit well with him as he was a policeman and later a deputy sheriff. To keep us out of the
pokey, Dad did some tall talking to the
Judge telling him that I would sell my creation to someone who would use it for it’s intended purpose– terrorizing the competition at Assumption Dragway in Assumption
Illinois where it ran mid 12s in the B/MP class. S friend if our family bought my car and raced it there until
his passing in 1980. The car was sold again anf was still being raced as late as 2009. Who says these cars won’t fly!?
What kind of supercharger did you use on that hemi?
That trunk lid is from a Valiant, not a Lancer.
I was the seller(now sold). I put the “toilet seat lid on in memory of Virgil Exner. I all ays the the toilet seats on his other creation. The original lid wiil leave with the car to the new owner.
I really like this quirky styling. Both the front and rear view appear better than the Valiant to me. Not that I should buy the car, but what would open transport cost from Oregon to Philadelphia. Just curious. My cross-country driving days are over, especially without cruise control.
I remember getting a Valiant started in the early 70’s in N. CA by pushing with my truck. That was in Mendocino County, redwood country, back then known for sheep, apples, redwoods and marihuana, before the vineyards were producing. Also, the most deer and roadkill which we ate. Poorest county back then, now not so much.
Interesting machine I think someone who likes it more than me could fly out there and drive it home, getting over the cascade mountains and continental divide would be a little slow but would make a fun road trip.
So ugly I almost like it. Ugliest Mopars ever and I like Mopars. Lucky we had the Cudas and Challengers
John
Yep,the infamous ” toilet seat”. My folks owned a 1962 Dodge Lancer GT with the 145 HP slant six. I once got it up to 95 mph on a recently opened freeway. I quickly left off the gas pedal,as the front end started to lift up. That was in 1969 SoCal. My Mom never found out.
One aspect the 1st gen Valiant/Lancer had was interior space, which was plenty for a compact.
My favorite part – among a lot of the parts I like – is that seat caddy.
The station wagon variants are actually pretty. The greenhouse design looks great. Slim pillars.
I just sold the Lancer to a real nice guy on the east coast.
Great write up on this site.
I will truly miss this car.
I just bought a ’64 Dart GT convertible. To be honest I like the Dart, but this Lancer was really special to me. But time to move on.down the journey.
.
I have a goal to get a ’61/’62 Lancer GT or Valiant Hardtop.
“Virgil” is going to a guy that appreciates oddball old cars. And this is a good one! I am pleased about that.
There used to be the twin to this one that sat for years in a driveway in my small eastern TN town that got gone about 15 years ago and it was even the same color, always meant to stop and ask about it but never did and not sure why, and I don’t know I don’t know where it went to, maybe I will see if I can catch someone home there one day and ask about it.
They only made these for 2 years and are seldom seen. Great cars, slant six and so ugly that now they are cool!
Love the “toilet seat” boot lid.
First car with an alternator, I believe. (1960) Congrats to the seller, I hope the site helped. These were for the brave of soul. The like it or not styling was truly unique, but Chrysler was on thin ice with that, with Falcon, Nova, Rambler, and Lark( Corvair never really a contender in that group of buyers) were much more traditional. And yes, these had some success at the strip, but most went with the bigger cars. The Slanty too, new in the Valiant( also 1960) While an engineering triumph to anyone that knows in line 6s, I remember, people like my old man were put off by it. Like the automatic or power brakes, some just didn’t like change. That, and some Americans couldn’t fit through the drivers door,, we’ve come a long ways, fo’ sho’.
Very interesting car for sure I took one look and its gone
The writer was lazy about the specs of this very intersting car.
The incredibly durable Slant Six might be “venerable” today, but it was a brand new technological tour de force when released in 1959.
One reason for its legendary durability is that the block was designed to be cast in either iron or aluminum, using the same tooling. Aluminum engines require more frequent coolant changes to avoid internal corosion, and many owners didn’t keep up with that, leading to discontinuation of the option. Too bad.
The quirky styling covered a platform loaded with inovations, from its torison bar suspension to extensive use of aluminum, both in the structure and trim.
The Lancer in the article is or was mine. I sold it a few days ago for asking price.
“Virgil” is sitting under cover at our home in Oregon waiting for the transporter to take him to his new home in Mass.
Bought a Dart GT covertable as his replacement. I like theDart. But perhaps I should have kept the Lancer.
To late now, but that’s OK.
George I liked your comments about thr car and the fantastic Slant/Six.
The Dart is a Slant 225 and three on the tree. A little more power than Virgil’s 170 and I miss the push button auto.
Thank you. Calling that amazing engine “venerable” was a type of lazy writing that should not happen on this site
ONE UGLY FRIGGEN THING CALLED A CAR!!! Lol
ONE UGLY FRIGGEN THING CALLED A CAR!!! Lol
That car is absoilutly unique, probably not for the herd of 55/57 Chevy lovers.
I seen so many of them I don’t ever look anymore. Ho-Mum.
But, of course each to his own.
I have one of these in a barn missing the front spindle. If anyone needs a project or parts car, I’ll let it go cheap.
Where are you? Pictures?