The economy-priced 1961 models will go on sale at Dodge dealerships September 29.
Dodge General Manager M. C. Patterson, revealing details of the new line, said significant refinements have been made in the Dart's engineering and manufacturing quality.
"We are firmly convinced that our new models are the best-engineered and the most carefully built cars ever to leave Dodge plants," Patterson said. "In 1961, the Dodge Dart will be the quality car in the low-price field."
He said many of the mechanical modifications in the new Dart were made to provide "even greater economy of operation and maintenance."
"Increasing numbers of cost-conscious motorists were attracted to the economical Dodge Dart during the 1960 model year," Patterson asserted. "In 1961, the Dart will establish new standards of low-cost motoring. It will offer top-flight convenience, comfort, performance and styling while matching many of the economy benefits of compact cars."
The 118-inch wheelbase Dart will again be available in three series -- the lowest-price Seneca, the Pioneer, and the deluxe Phoenix. Twenty-nine sedan, hardtop, station wagon, convertible and fleet models will be offered.
"The Dart will again be competing in size and price, series for series, with the three other standard-size cars in the low-price field," Patterson said.
The Economy Slant Six, an advanced-design six-cylinder engine which was introduced last year, will again be available on all new Dart models. This engine, inclined at an angle of 30-degrees, has 145 horsepower and a displacement of 225 cubic inches. Its compression ratio has been reduced to increase its performance while using even the lowest grades of gasoline.
"The improved Slant Six should give Dart owners even better economy than the 1960 version, which delivered 24.74 miles per gallon in the Mobilgas Economy Run this year," Patterson said.
Three high-performance V-8 engines are also offered: the 305-horsepower D-500; a 325-horsepower Police Special; and a 330-horsepower V-8 with special ram induction manifolding.
There is a choice in transmissions, too. The Dart offers a three-speed automatic which was designed to match the output of the V-8 engines, and a Torqueflite-six three-speed automatic transmission for the Slant Six engine. There is a two-speed automatic Powerflite transmission for use with the standard V-8. A new manual transmission is standard on the 361 and 383-cubic-inch engines.
The front end features a wide concave aluminum grille which encircles the dual headlights. Projections at the ends of the wrap-around front bumper provide housings for the parking lights. A newly designed hood has simulated louvers near the base of the windshield.
The front fender sculpturing flows smoothly into the side of the body. The rear fenders rise slightly just behind the door and taper rearward into a dramatic reverse curve that sweeps forward. Horizontally styled tail lights with flush lenses are positioned directly above the massive rear bumper.
The high rear window introduced by Dodge last year is standard on all Phoenix hardtops, increasing the rear glass area by 47 percent.
The new Dodge Dart models are available in 16 different Super Enamel and Super Metallic Enamel colors, 12 of which are completely new. Twenty-one two-tone color combinations are offered. Interior colors are keyed to the exterior.
The vinyl door panels feature a new "spear" design and the stylish new seat fabrics are made of long-wearing, easy-to-clean nylon and rayon.
The front seat has custom positioning. In addition to the normal back and forth adjustment, the seats may be placed in a variety of ranges and then tilted, to or fro, to meet the driver's specific need. For example, a short-bodied person with long legs would prefer a "high-back" range, and a long-bodied person with short legs would prefer a "forward-low" range.
The alternator's ability to charge the battery at all times gives it a distinct advantage over the conventional generator when the engine must idle for long periods or during slow-speed wintertime operations, when electrical accessory loads are especially heavy. For the Dart owner, this means longer life for the battery of his car and virtually trouble-free starting during cold weather.
Unibody construction -- with integrated body and frame -- gives the Dart outstanding strength, roominess and quietness. And again, the industry's most advanced rustproofing, silencing and sealing process is used in manufacturing the Dart. The process helps cars look better longer.
Dart models equipped with factory undercoating have a new under-the-hood silencing pad of high-quality fiber glass. The pad, which soaks up engine sounds, is held to the hood by snap-in fasteners.
The Dart continues to offer a wide range of convenience and safety accessories: new, molded-rayon carpeting with double the life of conventional floor covering; new, more efficient, rectangular air conditioning vents; a deep dish steering wheel; front vent windows that pull open easily; quiet outside door latches that open with fingertip ease.
"Dodge dealers are offering a brand new car to continue the success they started in 1960," Patterson said. "They should do even better in 1961."