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A Body, C Body ??? What is a 1961 Dodge Dart?
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Author:  ptretrorod [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:09 am ]
Post subject:  A Body, C Body ??? What is a 1961 Dodge Dart?
Hi,

I am unsure what the body code is for my 1961 Dodge Dart. Can anyone please help?

Thanks in advance!
Author:  slantvaliant [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:28 am ]
Post subject: 
I don't think Chrysler Corporation used the body codes (A-body, etc) for models before '63. Your Dart was made before the Dart started sharing the Valiant chassis, too.
If we extrapolate, I'd think of the early Darts as B-bodies, but that won't help you find parts.
Really cool cars, though!
Author:  Dennis Weaver [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:32 am ]
Post subject: 
I think the '61 Dart is closer to what we'd call a "C-body" in later model terms.

D/W
Author:  60 Pioneer [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:50 am ]
Post subject: 
I have a '60 Dart, and there is no official letter designation for the '60-61's. I've heard them refered to as "early A-bodies", as well as C-bodies, but according to this chart there is no designation.

http://www.chryslerheritage.com/images/ ... 0Chart.pdf

They are a bit of a transitional (some would say bastard) car because a lot of the styling and design came from the Forward Look Designs of the late '50's, but they were a uni-body design that incorporated the "new" technology of the slant 6 design.

FYI

Bill
Author:  Reed [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:19 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
They are a bit of a transitional (some would say bastard) car because a lot of the styling and design came from the Forward Look Designs of the late '50's, but they were a uni-body design that incorporated the "new" technology of the slant 6 design.
This is what makes them so cool. Awesome styling + "modern" engiineering.

Hey 60 Pioneer, know anybody in the Northwest with a 60 Belvedere they would seel cheap? Thanks!
Author:  ptretrorod [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:02 am ]
Post subject: 
Hey thanks everyone! I really like my car even though one site I read said it was not a good seller at the time. I like this car better than most on the road today (new cars).
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:24 am ]
Post subject: 
That's right—no official letter code, but the '60-'61 Darts are sort of proto-B-bodies. (Not proto-C-bodies, those would be the larger-than-Dart Dodges sold in '60-'61).
Author:  60 Pioneer [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:24 am ]
Post subject: 
ptretrorod wrote:
Quote:
I really like my car even though one site I read said it was not a good seller at the time.
Yeah, i was surprised when I found mine and looked up the value. Apparantly, they are not that valuable...but that's OK by me. I got mine for a decent price, drove it home, and people check it out wherever I go.

Reed wrote:
Quote:
Hey 60 Pioneer, know anybody in the Northwest with a 60 Belvedere they would seel cheap? Thanks!
Not off hand. I saw that post about the '60 Belvedere. I'm in the upper midwest and there is a big car show/swap meet in Jefferson, WI coming up in September. That would be the place to look, although I wouldn't expect any deals. But occasionally you can find the needle in the haystack.

SlantSixDan Wrote:
Quote:
That's right—no official letter code, but the '60-'61 Darts are sort of proto-B-bodies. (Not proto-C-bodies, those would be the larger-than-Dart Dodges sold in '60-'61).
Yeah, they're hard to classify because of their size, especially since they were smaller than the full-size cars

To All,
Check out:

http://u225.torque.net/cars/dodgedart/earlier.html

http://www.forwardlook.net/

http://www.moparfins.com/
Author:  Reed [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yeah. My hope is that some farmer in Eastern Washington or Oregon has an old Belvedere sitting in their barn (or the farmer's kids) and would be happy to see it out of there. I probably won't find one anytime soon, but I can just wait, save money, and rebuild the slant six I have in my garage in the meantime.
Author:  Orange72 [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
The 60-62 Valiants/Lancers were considered "A" bodies, but yeah, they were definitely different from the Darts back then. I think that's why people lump the early Darts into the same group as the Valiants; because they ended up sharing the same chassis and wheelbase. Identification convenience, I guess you could say...
Author:  Dennis Weaver [ Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
That's right—no official letter code, but the '60-'61 Darts are sort of proto-B-bodies. (Not proto-C-bodies, those would be the larger-than-Dart Dodges sold in '60-'61).
You ever work under a '60 or '61 Plymouth or Dodge full-size sedan, Dan? The suspension and subframe layout is closest to a C-body, in my opinion (but makes no difference since they weren't classified in those terms yet). The intermediate ("B-body") came out in '62.

D/W
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