Where is the Dodge Dart Made?
Posted by Joshlin Grayson on Jun 3rd 2020
The Dodge Dart made its mark in history in 1959 for the 1960 model year. Designed to replace the Plymouth as a smaller option in the standard, low-priced car segment, the 1960 Dart featured all the fins and chrome that the ’50s held dear.
It had a 118-inch wheelbase, which was smaller than the standard Dodge sedan and was fitted with a standard 3.7-liter slant-six cylinder engine but two more powerful V8 engines were available. By 1976, the Dodge Dart had lost its fins and its adrenaline-rushing performance that it had enjoyed in the 60s, and it was retired until being resurrected in 2013.
In its heyday, the Dart was assembled in one of several Chrysler Dodge assembly plants. 1960 and 1961 models were assembled in Windsor, Ontario while the reworked 1962 Dart was assembled in Newark, Delaware. From 1963 to the end of its life in 1976, the Dodge Dart was assembled in Belvidere, Illinois, Hamtramck, Michigan, Los Angeles, California, and St. Louis, Missouri. When the Dart was resurrected in 2013, production continued solely in Chrysler’s Belvidere assembly plant.
Is the Dodge Dart a Muscle Car?
Absolutely! While the Dart never gained the fame of its siblings like the Charger or the Challenger, it was every bit of a muscle car. The most notable Dart was the 1969 Dart GTS, which came fitted with a 440 cubic inch V8 engine. Originally rated at 375 horsepower when it rolled off the factory line, the 1968 Dart GTS was so performance-oriented, that you’d be hard-pressed to find a GTS without aftermarket modifications.
For that same year, Dodge released an even more powerful Hemi Dart with a 426 Hemi engine. The rocket under the hood is thanks to the 426 cubic inch V8 Hemi engine that ran at a compression ratio of 10.25:1 and used dual 4-barrel Holley carburetors to generate 425 horsepower at 5,000rpm and 490lb-ft of torque.
The Hurst-engineered engine was so rare that only 80 were made. Designed solely for the drag strip, the Hemi Dart came with a non-warranty disclaimer. The Hemi Dart would reach speeds of up to 130MPH in less than 11 seconds and would smash the quarter-mile as quickly as 9 and 10 seconds.
The Dodge Dart was known as a ‘Sleeper’ thanks to its tout performance under the hood and compact measurements. Interested in restoring a Dart? Currently restoring one? Check out our Dodge Dart parts at Collectors Auto Supply where you can trust you’ll get the right part the first time.
