I found this immaculate ’64 Dart 2-door sedan. Like so many Darts back then, it’s just a plain old slant six cylinder sedan, nothing exciting or very unusual. In other words, it’s a perfect Curbside Classic. But it does have a few unusual details that caught my eye.
The ’64 Dart came as a 2 or 4-door sedan, a 2-door hardtop, a station wagon or convertible. You could also purchase it in one of three trim levels, 170, 270 or GT. However, the 2-door sedan only came as a 170 or 270. Since the 270 included a “270” badge on the C-Pillar, this Fratzog tells us it’s a 170. But this car is a bit deceptive, as it has all of the same exterior bright trim as a 270, such as the chromed window/door surrounds, side trim, and other details. It’s been upgraded, one way or another.
What’s a Fratzog? Wikipedia explains:
“Dodge’s logo from September 1962 through 1981 was a fractured deltoid composed of stylized arrowheads forming a three-pointed star. The logo first appeared on the 1962 Polara 500 and the mid-year 1962 Custom 880. One of its designers came up with the meaningless name Fratzog, which ultimately stuck. As the Dodge Division’s logo, Fratzog was incorporated in various badges and emblems on Dodge vehicles.”
This rear view looks more like original 170 trim level- No reverse lights (still optional in ’64, they would be federally mandated for 1968), no trim panel between the tail lights, and a cheap stamped “Dodge” nameplate instead of a die-cast chrome Fratzog. You can also see one of the few owner modifications I spotted- extended shackles on the rear of the leaf springs, probably to compensate for sag.
Used to be folks mounted extended shackles to move the body up and provide clearance for taller or wider rear tires, but this rear shot shows the ride height remains normal. It’s rare to see a car of this vintage with wheel covers and whitewalls, but I’m old enough to remember when all the cars at my Dad’s office looked just like this.
Looking closely at the hood, you may see some wear and defects, along with some dents and nicks to the chrome trim. If the paint isn’t original, it’s been in place for many years. The “U” shaped trim is also from a 270, but the hood ornament is either a factory option or (more likely) an additional owner modification.
The ’63 and ’64 share sheet metal, but the Dodge designers stole a page from the Ford playbook and changed the ’63 concave grille into a convex grille in ’64. It worked on the very successful ’61 Falcon, so why not?
What’s lacking is the V8 badge on the front fender that identified those Darts that had the new optional 273 LA V8 engine. The standard engine was the 170 six, but it seems like most of the automatic Dart sixes also had the optional 225, which harmonized very well with the Torqueflite.
This side marker light certainly isn’t original. Maker lights weren’t mandated until 1968, when Chrysler started using cute little bulls-eye lights rather than this large wart. The light also looks more English than American, another mark against its authenticity.
Sure enough, I found a matching picture of an MGB replacement lamp on the Moss Motor site. I’m guessing the owner chose this marker light for ease of installation, since British Leyland didn’t bother to integrate US marker lights into the sheet metal. Instead, they punched a hole in the fender for the wires to pass through and bolted them flush to the panel- Just like our Dodge.
I’m not sure the seat covers are original, but the rest of the interior appears to be vintage 1964. While the push button transmission controls are a bit hidden, the lack of any lever on the steering column or transmission tunnel tells you it must be there – 1964 marked the last year for the “Phone Button” transmission controller.
The license frames tell another piece of this Dodge’s story. The front frame reads “Moothart Chrysler Plymouth/Since 1934,” and the rear frame adds “Lakewood” (California). If this car spent time at Moothart’s Lakewood location, it would have been as a used car, since they were located in Compton, California when this car was new. Moothart continues on today as Cerritos Chrysler Jeep on the west side of Long Beach.
Just for fun, I found a picture of the original location, complete with a couple “Forward Look” cars parked out front.
Related CC Reading
One of Paul’s excellent Dodge Dart auto-biographies
Ed Stembridge taking a Dart road trip
Paul with a thorough look at Dodge Dart design
I love survivor cars like this. Only thing I’d want to change is the hubcaps which look more like they belong on a ’67 Valiant(?)
I had the wrong year…1970 Valiant!
Keep the hubcaps! “Wheelcovers” always seemed pretentious,
(Just call them full hubcaps or dog-dishes)
And keep the White Walls !
As a commenter noted yesterday, Walmart still has new whitewalls for a 1960 Stude. 2-dr. wagon.
Great story & just the right amount of research & details, Dave Skinner !
Along with those wheel covers came an upgrade to 14″ wheels, likely to increase the chances of finding affordable tires. The seat covers are not original, but they look nicely done. As far as I can tell the wheel opening trim was not available on the ’63 or ’64 models, but was in ’65 and ’66. Someone used some creative licensing on this one, but it was well done and is keeping the car alive.
I had a ’63 270 2 door sedan back in the ’70’s. It was very clean and I bought it cheap, but the motor was shot. A friend helped me with a open air rebuild, and it turned into a sweet little car. It even had power steering, the only one I have ever seen from that time period.
When I was a kid, my scoutmaster’s wife drove a 66 Dart 2 door sedan, the last year of this body style. I always thought that this 1964 was the sweet spot for this generation of Dart.
Good detail spotting. My dad had a 63 and 64 at different times, both 170 models, and they didn’t have the extra chrome gimmicks on the hood. I think this steering wheel is also from a more deluxe model, since those 170s had only the horn button, no half ring.
Indeed this is well spotted and a very nice car to boot .
-Nate
MG-B parts applied to a Dodge Dart –
Now *that’s* watcha call a hybrid.
Gotta love it !
— From a former Midget & Sprite owner.
If this car had been the 1960 Valiant or if Dodge had offered this Dart instead of a full sized car Chrysler would have hit a home run.
I see a convertible every now and then on my court. I believe a family member in his late 60’s is visiting his mother who lives here and is in her late 80’s. Same color as this one but wouldn’t know if 63 or 64 but now have a few clues.
My parents purchased for me a new 1963 Dart 170 2dr. If had not abused it, I might still have it now. After reflecting on the picture, it is better looking than just about anything available today.
Nice find.
As a lifelong observer of ’64 Darts (my dad still has the one he bought brand new in ’64 and drag raced for ~8 Years) I surmise that this is actually a Dart Sedan with 270 Trim and a 170 Trunk lid. I suppose it had been replaced on it at some time in the car’s lifetime. To find a survivor that is 61+ years old with a replaced panel is not all of that bizarre an Idea.
The front Valence / Gravel pan below the grille also has the GT/ 270 Trim on it too.
Who knows, maybe the owner added all of that trim stuff from a 270/GT?
One of the nicest CC finds in a while. I spotted a similar vintage Dart on the road a few days ago but it was a dowdy, gold-colored 4 door sedan. No whitewalls or full wheel covers.
I love the ’64 Dart. There remains some Exner.
Amazing time capsule.