Such highs! Such lows! That was the Ford Motor Company in the late 1950s/early 1960s, as we saw with a recent Pick of the Day. Chrysler Corporation was in a similar position, though not for the same reasons. Our Pick of the Day, a 1961 Dodge Dart Phoenix two-door hardtop, was emblematic of the problems at Chrysler at the time. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Chrysler and its corporate cousins were riding on a wave in 1957 after the introduction of the Forward Look, but quality control problems sullied their reputation. Then, there was the 1958 recession, which put the hurt on DeSoto and hastened the brand’s demise. In 1960, new president William Newberg was forced to resign after 64 days on the job due to corruption. And then there was the 1961 restyle of Dodge and Plymouth that appeared out of touch with the direction of the industry.
Starting in 1960, Dodge began offering two full-size series: Dart, and the senior Matador and Polara; Darts were available in Seneca, Pioneer, and Phoenix trim levels (in ascending order). Wheelbase was 118 inches for the Dart, 122 inches for the senior Dodges. Also new was Chrysler Corporation’s Unibody construction, which addressed much of the quality concerns that had arisen in 1957.
For 1961, the two series remained, but now the only senior model was Polara. The 1961 restyle made the Dodge looked sleeker, no doubt due to its full-width grille and low-set headlights looking like it was sucking all the air out of the atmosphere. The fins were more subtle but not inconspicuous. A major distinction between the Dart and the Polara was how the side trim from the rear swept forward, with the Dart doing this at a higher part on the fender than the Polara, which was more mid-level. The Polara also featured prominent taillights protruding from the sides of the rear fenders, contrasting with the Dart’s subtle, wrap-around units (to be augmented by a midyear accessory taillight for better visibility).
Dodge offered several interesting powerplants in 1961. Of course, the Slant Six was in its second year of availability, standard on any Dart 6 model, while the standard V8 was a 230-horsepower 318. Polara started with a 265-horsepower 361”Polara V8”, but a four-barrel carburetor nudged it up to 305 horses (called the “Dart D-500” when optioned for Darts). A 383 offering 325 horsepower was known as the “Polara D-500” and was optional for both models.
For the high-performance-minded, there was a 330-horse “D-500 Ram Induction” 383 that included two four-barrel carburetors on a cross-ram manifold. Torque was an astronomical 460 ft-lbs.
This red-on-red 1961 Dodge Dart Phoenix two-door hardtop flaunts everything that was interesting (the sleek roofline) and goofy (such as the height of the driver and passenger sides of the front bench) about the brand for 1961. Even better, this Mopar is equipped with the rare Polara D-500 engine—something not often seen on Darts. Originally built with pushbutton TorqueFlite, this Dart now features a shifter on the floor. “Underneath the all-new suspension and bushings give this Phoenix a road presence that’s both commanding and smooth,” says the seller. “With a new exhaust system in place every turn of the key results in a throaty rumble a reminder of the raw power under the hood.”
Sure, you could go the expected route and pick one of those ultra-handsome GM products. Or you could lean into the kitsch and revel in 1960s Atomic Age goodness, complete with a horsepower kick that will handle most pesky classics in the other lane. For $39,900, you can drive the car that forgot the 1950s had already ended.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com