The all-new 118-inch wheelbase car joins the famous family of 122-inch Dodge cars and will be produced by the Dodge Division of Chrysler Corporation.
"This new economy car is aimed at the heart of the automobile buying market -- the 60 percent of the American families who want family-sized transportation at popular prices," said M. C. Patterson, vice president of Chrysler Corporation and general manager of the Dodge Division.
He said that the decision for Dodge to build and market two different types of Dodge cars -- with the Dart entering the popular-price field -- was made only after extensive research and study.
The Dodge Dart, which is smaller and lighter than the division's 122-inch wheelbase models, will compete directly with Ford and Chevrolet, Mr. Patterson said.
The Dodge Dart will be offered in three models: Seneca, Pioneer, and Phoenix, and will provide a choice of 17 different colors.
Although the Dart bears a strong family resemblance to the Dodge cars, it has distinctive styling all its own. It features a grille with vertical bars that curve down and forward from the hood. Side trim, ornamentation, medallions and nameplates are exclusive.
From the side, the Dart's low silhouette is dramatized by long, flowing sculptured lines in the rear quarter panels, providing an expression of fleetness and power. At the rear, the clean design is seen in the smooth, flush lines of the bumper and the broad surfaces of the deck lid. A custom touch, also exclusive with the Dodge Dart, are the red reflector buttons set into the back edges of each fender, above the tail lights.
The Dart interior is roomy and the car's excellent entry and exit qualities result from its unit body construction. This Unibody is rustproofed and sealed by Chrysler's comprehensive new anti-corrosion and weatherproofing systems.
The Dodge Dart is available with either six or eight-cylinder engines. The Economy Slant-Six, all-new Chrysler-designed 225-cubic-inch displacement, is offered on Seneca and Pioneer models.
Also available on these two models is the 318-cubic-inch Red Ram V-8, with a dual-throat carburetor.
Dart Phoenix models have the Red Ram V-8 engine with a four-barrel carburetor as standard and the 383-cubic-inch D-500 engine with ram manifolding as special equipment.