Once again, time at CC for more cobbled up pentastar variations. This time, bits of two mid ‘60s ones with more rhinoplasties than Michael Jackson’s wandering ghost.
No idea how this baby got put together. The Dart’s donating bits must have been bolted back when Chrysler products were more plentiful in these lands. Originally I wondered if I had found some odd South American variant, but was put out of this error when the not-quite-matching front fenders were pointed out.
The original owner had far better taste than the current one, who seems to be a “grille enthusiast.” Lots of enthusiasm on his part, for the added grilles have been seesawed/wired/stuck together in ways that vex the mind. As some old friend once told me: “Ugly stuff takes a lot of work too.”
And here is the pièce de résistance. The original owner must have been a Pentastar fan, for some effort was placed in giving this Dodmouth the full Exner Imperial experience. This lowly Valiant 200 never imagined it would benefit from the glory of those free-standing taillights.
Sans grilles, I actually like this Dodmouth, for I prefer the Dart front over the formal Valiant’s. If it were in better shape, I could dream of taking it home.
About a Valiant, with no Dart genes:
It’s not the full Exner Imperial experience until there’s a toilet seat on the decklid. For a car like this one, an actual toilet seat would suffice.
Any guesses as to the donor of the grilles? The center one looks like it may have been ripped from an early ’80s LTD/Crown Victoria.
My first thought on that center grille was the bottom of a plastic milk crate.
And, yeah, somehow wedging the toilet seat trunklid of a ’60-’61 Valiant onto this Dodmouth would have been in perfect (dis)harmony with the rest of the design ethos.
Mebbe it’s a special variant for El Salvage-or? Looking like a rather rebellious model at that, parked facing the opposite direction of all the other vehicles in the photo.
For awhile Chrysler sold a Valiant in Canada that had a U.S. Valiant front end and the rear end of the Dodge Dart. Folks called it a “Plodge”. So this combination of the font end of a Dodge Dart and the back end of a Valiant really is a Dodmouth. Maybe giving it the Imperial tail lights makes it a Dodmouth Daliant Super DeLuxe Special Brougham LSE?
This Dodmouth is no less than a work of art, in progress, and not finished.
Sorry, I wasn’t paying due attention when typing. I meant:
This artless Dodmouth is no less than finished, and not in work, or progress.
Guess its a good thing the authorities dont tow junk/abandoned cars off the street, makes interesting content. I know for sure if that heap was parked in front of my house and none of my neighbors knew who it belonged to Id raise some serious hell to get it towed off.
I love it; folk art, of a modestly high order.
That poor thing just needs a crusher.
Not yet, no; looks to me as though it’s still managing to serve as transport for someone without money for something fancier.
I suspect those rear turn signals were added because the car’s turn signal switch failed, and whatever cobble-up replaced it didn’t have the provisions for operating combination stop/turn lights.
Beyond that: all the ’63-’66 Mopar A-body front ends bolt onto all the bodies with perfect match-up (except for trim). This? Why, it’s a 1965½ Bodged Art!
There is a Dodge Dart Convertible parked near here, no top, rained in,bumpers falling off, total rust, total wreck, but it is used for a daily driver. A true,”Urban Assault Vehicle”. One of these days it may be for sale on Barn Finds for absurd money.
Just put a little air in those tires and it will be good to go again!