By 1960, the freshness of Chrysler Corporation’s “Forward Look” was starting to wilt, and Virgil Exner’s tenure as styling chief would culminate in cars like the ’61 Plymouth and the ’62 Dodge. Although those cars and their linemates still rightfully have their fans, few would argue that their design language spoke of styling leadership as it had in 1957. Yes, the 1960 and 1961 Chrysler 300s and Newports were still extremely handsome, but there was one model in the corporate lineup that could almost be labeled as restrained (for a Forward Look design), and that is the 1960 Dodge Dart. Tim Finn took some great pictures of this Dart Seneca and posted them at the CC Cohort, and they show off how tasteful a basic 1960 Dodge can be.
There is no doubt that the 1960 Dart was the answer to many a Dodge dealer’s prayer. Designed around a new unitized platform and wearing the same 118-inch wheelbase as the concurrent Plymouth (but not looking quite as weird), the Dart was a huge success in 1960: 306,603 of them were sold. In comparison, the entire Dodge Division sold only 151,851 cars for the entire 1959 model year.
The Dart was offered in three states of trim: the lowest-priced Seneca (seen here), the midline Pioneer, and the top-of-the-line Phoenix. The Seneca two-door sedan carried a base price of just $2,278, only $53 more than a basic Plymouth Savoy (not including Plymouth’s fleet specials). If I were cross shopping the two, there’s no way I would have bought the Plymouth for such a slight difference, especially considering that the Dart was legitimately a good-looking car. It needed no caveats.
My personal connection to the 1960 Dart is a result of this advertisement, one that’s been in my collection for decades. I had no idea that a 1960 Dodge could be as attractive as this “Spray” (a light green) Pioneer two-door hardtop. Just look at it. Even the fins aren’t distracting.
Although the Seneca may not reach the heights of a light green Pioneer hardtop, it doesn’t look at all like a cheap-o base model. It has just enough bright exterior trim to turn off the taxi companies, and many people actually prefer the two-door sedan’s styling with its more formal roofline. Nobody will mistake the interior for anything but a Forward-Look-era creation, but it’s symmetrical in a way that not all Chryslers were.
A few more notes on the interior: 1. Look at the horn ring. The uppermost horizontal bars float without any visual support; it’s probably a cost-saving measure, but it’s visually fascinating. 2. This car was ordered without a radio; can you imagine how hard it is to find a blanking plate for a 1960 Dodge Dart? It too, however, is stylish and symmetrical. 3. I’d imagine that the door panels have been reupholstered, but the pattern certainly is in keeping with Forward Look themes. 4. I for one have always loved the brake pedal and accelerator pedal patterns on 1960s Dodges; their “dots” add some panache to a typically benign area of the car.
While we don’t know what’s under the hood of this Dart, it’s wholly possible that it’s Chrysler’s new-for-1960 Slant Six, the 225-cubic-inch unit that would stick around in Chrysler products for almost three decades. With the same 145-horsepower rating that it would carry for years, the 225 was available with the “TorqueFlite Six” transmission (otherwise known as the A-904) and a 3.31:1 axle ratio, according to the 1960 Dart brochure. Dart buyers could also choose from the Poly 318, which was available as a 230-horsepower two barrel or a 255-horsepower four barrel, or several big-block choices, including a D-500 with Ram Induction. It’s unlikely that our Seneca sedan has that option, however.
What it does have is a slightly lowered stance and a set of custom polished wheels for a little extra visual kick. The paint is most likely an original 1960 Dodge color – “Cocoa Metallic” with a “Fawn” top. I’m not a big fan of over-the-top customs myself, but this one is just right, a very nice driver.
The wonder of it all is that you don’t see more 1960 Darts hanging around these days; after all, they did sell “like hotcakes,” and as the ad says, people “bought Darts almost faster than [Dodge] could build them.” Unfortunately, this handsome brown sedan is one of only a handful that seems to have survived the last 65 years, so car fans may have no idea what they’re missing. While the Plymouth Fury and the Chrysler 300 might get all the attention among Forward Look lovers, it’s possible that the humble 1960 Dart represents that theme the best.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1960 Dodge Matador & Polara – Incredible Cars Somehow Overlooked
My New Curbside Classic: 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix Sedan–Dodge Put a Dart In My Heart!
CC Transformation: 1960 Dodge Dart Gets a Completely New Paint Job!
CC Capsule: 1960 Dodge Dart Seneca – The Dart Goes Down Under
Curbside Classic: 1961 Dodge Dart Pioneer – The Anti-Impala
Curbside Classic: 1961 Dodge Dart Phoenix – How Did I Miss This?
The first new comment since the site upgrade. It’s so much faster now. That Coyote V8 is a whole new experience. Thank you Tom and Dave!
This is mainly a test to see if I can reply on mobile and have it show up as a reply.
Dodge Pioneer was how those cars were badged over here moredoor sedan only.
Dodge Phoenix over the ditch here. Naturally it got called the Dodge Fiendish…..
Of course you know I’d have to comment. 🙂
If I had to pick the most “beautiful” of the Forward Looks, I would have to say the 57-58 DeSotos; any body style except maybe the wagons.
Among 1960 Darts, I don’t think this example is all that attractive. The color is “meh”–not the best choice for this car. Also not a fan of the non-stock rims and tires. The optional stock spinner wheelcovers would add some pizzazz if you wanted that, but may look out of place on a bottom-of-the-line Seneca.
The Phoenix model’s extra bright-metal trim (including exclusive chrome “roof vents”) enhance the basic lines of the Dart even more.
The ’60 Dart’s lines are pleasing to be sure, but with enough ’50s style “gorp” to keep it interesting and exciting. While the Darts are “purer”, the Matador and Polara are so outrageously spectacular (and only 5″ longer–still able to fit in my garage), that I would probably pick a big Dodge over a Dart, even though I like my Dart very much.
Below: My ’60 Dart Phoenix, looking pretty good I must say . . .
I was hoping you’d chime in with a picture of your ’60 Dodge, Stephen. Somehow, I knew you would!
You were saying that this color of the featured car is “meh”, but I would say the original color of yours would quality for “meh” status… But WOW does it look good in that light blue with the white top… stunning.
As I’ve mentioned before, my Dad had one of these around the time I was born, having traded his ’56 Chevy Two-Ten in on it about three weeks later. His was a light blue Seneca 4-door sedan, and quite a nice looking car, although I agree the extra brightwork on your Phoenix really shows it off.
To answer Aaron’s question at the top of the article, I came here to say, “Yes, yes it is.” But your argument for the DeSoto is a sound one, as it may very well be the most memorable to those of us that don’t have a bias towards the ’60 Dodge.
Question: Is the light blue you have there on your car an original Dodge color? I wonder because my Dad’s car back then looked more like the one pictured below… a wee bit lighter (without the police livery of course)…
I searched the Web to find a ’60 Dart Seneca 4-door like your dad’s–and found this. A very nice looking car in this color too, and I’m not opposed to lower-line models; sometimes I prefer them. To me, “year and make” is more important than trim level.
When I went to have my car painted, the paint shop custom-mixed the color based on what I wanted. I agree it looks very good, close to if not duplicating the original Dodge color. Its appearance varies based on lighting–looking lighter blue in sunlight, and darker blue in the shade.
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/874722/1960-dodge-dart-for-sale-in-maple-lake-minnesota-55358
Wow, Stephen, that car is pretty close, but with one major difference. I was very young when he traded it in on the ’66 Impala, and don’t remember much about the Dodge, but one thing I do recall… It had the Leaning Tower of Power! The venerable 225 Slant-Six, and a push-button automatic.
I, too, do not like the the wheel combination. White walls with those mags on that coupe just plain clash. As for the color many of their 1960 colors were meh. My personal favorite would be deep poly burgundy.
My user name has changed from tbm3fan somehow. This post also took forever to complete and I figured it out. Paid attention to horizontal dimension, like always, and not to the vertical dimension. Duh!
I wonder how it might have look if Chrysler re-used the 1957-59 roofline for the 4-door sedan?
Also, the 1960 Matador/Polara used for police duty got the Dart grille because it was lighter.
https://www.allpar.com/threads/1960-dodge-matador-possibly-ex-chp-or-police-car.239371/
And Canadian Darts got the “Plodge” treatment by having a Plymouth interior.
https://oldcarbrochures.org/Canada/Chrysler-Canada/Dodge/1960-Dodge-Dart-Brochure/slides/1960_Dodge_Dart_Cdn-06-07.html
I agree that it’s hard to argue against the ’57s and the ’58s…they’re all beautiful, but I don’t know…there’s just something about those ’60 Darts.
Most of these probably rusted away…It is a good looking car, however.
I think we got a supercharged Godzilla here! 🙂
It’s the 1960 Chrysler line for me. Specifically, the mid- or low-trim Saratoga or Windsor.
Well ;
You start out with the basic sedan, that hard top coupe looks completely different and better .
I briefly had a Phoenix, it was gifted to me with a bad master cylinder, I replaced that then a few days later the wiring under the instrument panel shorted and caught fire, it still started and ran okay so I sold it to a BHPH lot in the Barrio for $35 and was glad to be rid of it .
I do think the hard top looks nice .
These are _NOT_ small cars ! .
-Nate
I think it is hard to beat the 57-58 Chrysler 300C/D in the looks department. If we stick to 1960, I also have a hard time ranking this above the 1960 Chrysler, especially the new Yorker or the 300F.
To me, the biggest sin on these cars is the front end. That grille just has too many things going on, with all of them fighting with the others. Other than that, I like these, though think that the hardtops look better than the sedans.
The CC effect continues. I came across this one on a rainy summer night a few weeks ago. More pics in Cohort.
The CC effect continues. I came across this one on a rainy summer night a few weeks ago. More pics in Cohort.
I’ve seen that one around town in the Commercial/1st vicinity. It was for sale awhile back, and then I stopped seeing it, so I guess someone bought it and drove it elsewhere.
Those taillights are a bolt-on fit for ’55-’56 Fords and match the lines of the headlight doors. Had a pair on my ’55 Victoria.
I’ll confess to liking gingerbread enough to prefer a Pioneer or Pheonix*, but this one’s a sweet example.
Also I prefer a specificational difference on the Australian-spec car:
*spelt that way in accord with commandments