I glanced at the car’s white silhouette from the distance as I drove by, and its rather whimsical face truly spoke to me. It stood in the corner of a car show I hadn’t known about, but with its dignified silhouette and bright round eyes it just stood out from the rest. A sixties Dodge Dart? In this city? Had my eyes been right?
I quickly searched for parking to check out the small group of cars arranged around San Salvador’s Beethoven Plaza. It had been years since I had seen an early Dart back in my California days, and I had no idea any had ever reached Central America. Yet, after coming across some old Plymouths in recent years, I’ve figured that Chrysler products were kind of a thing in this city; long ago.
So it was a ’65 Dart, and unlike many of the finds I’ve come across in this city, this Dodge was free of the odd-customizing locals love. No funky stickers, paint jobs, or even a loud stereo. Nope, this old Dart was mostly in its original condition. A 270 model, the car’s upscale trim for ’65, still carrying factory upholstery and paint. Plus the original 273 V-8 engine.
As I learned, the Dart was a one-owner vehicle that had recently passed to new hands, with the new owner resisting any notions of restoration or unnecessary mechanical work. Not that his efforts were free of peer pressure from the locals, but so far holding such suggestions at bay.
So, other than mechanical work needed to keep the Dart in running condition, the car was pretty much as he had found it.
For those who need a brief recap, the Dart was Dodge’s original “premium-compact.” The model on which the division’s fortunes largely rose during the 1960s. Not that the nameplate was wholly new, as it had shown up in a dart-like concept car in 1955 and then in Dodge’s entry-level full-sizers of 1960.
The “premium compact” Dart first appeared in ’63 based on its corporate sibling the Plymouth Valiant. Being a Dodge, the Dart gained a stretched wheelbase plus more options and trimming. And, of course, distinctive styling (Chrysler was still a few years away from turning into a badge engineering machine).
With those upgrades, the “premium compact” became a product befitting Dodge’s higher standing in the corporation’s pecking order. A story already told at CC previously, most notably HERE.
The Dart was restyled for ’65, adopting a more dignified stance better suited to a more sober 1960s automotive landscape. Still, some elements of whimsy derived from the original 1963 design remained. Seen in person, it all adds to a package filled with a distinctive and unique spirit.
It’s a design that is both sober-looking and agreeable. With a demeanor that sets it apart from the rest of Chrysler Corp.’s more severe-looking contemporary products.
So these Darts were quite the small hit from the moment they appeared in ’63. One can see why; they were a distinctive-looking, right-sized, and nicely optioned package.
Then again, other corporate attributes were still around when these Darts came off the production line. Like poor assembly, a theme that shows up again and again in more than one period review. And now I’m left wondering, is this poor-fitting trunk lid the result of some local mechanic’s poor skills? Or did it come as such from the factory?
Yeap, that’s one large gap and an ill-fitting trunk lid… If it came like this from the assembly line, no wonder people took a quick liking to Toyotas.
On the other hand, be that defect from the factory or not, everything else in this Dart must have been well put together. After all, a car with almost sixty years on its body doesn’t appear too often. A sign that this was one of the “good ones.”
I’ll admit that after reacquainting myself with the model, I liked it very much and found a great deal to appreciate. While the name doesn’t resound nowadays in the way Mustangs, Chevelles, or even Chargers do, I could see why buyers of the period liked them.
For one, the car’s size looks ideal for maneuvering around town; even in Central America. Not too large, not too small. Then, the cabin looks quite ample and airy (regardless of the thick C-pillar), though that narrow rear door is clearly unchanged from the lowly Valiant.
Finally, the car’s profile doesn’t look as low as a contemporary Chevrolet. So less hunching down to reach those seats.
Regarding the Dart’s dashboard, it is legible and clear enough for the time. It’s got some oddly placed controls from today’s point of view, but it’s less glitzy and distracting than others of the period.
Also, this one came with TorqueFlite and A/C. And as far as I can tell from Dodge’s brochures, the upholstery seems to be all original.
I’ll agree the Dart is not as trendy nor as exciting as some of the more desired models of the 1960s. The car’s styling certainly doesn’t exude the youthfulness of the era, the quality of the period much desired today. But the Dart was ultimately aimed at the parents, not the kids.
And being a kid no more, I find much appeal in the car’s buttoned-up classiness and its rational approach, with a welcomed sprinkling of fun details. After all, one thing is to be a grown-up, another is to be a bore. Right?
You can only be original once, as the saying goes. By the end of the show, I caught the Dart’s owner giving a tour of the vehicle to some folks. When the question came about the car’s paint blemishes, the paint-over idea was quickly put to rest by the owner who preferred to leave the car as found. It was quite a departure from the norm around here.
Under the hood, the corporate 273 V-8 is in place. With some minor aftermarket bits to keep it working (unavoidable around here).
A close-up of Dodge’s logo on the hood, better known as the Fratzog. A design that lasted from 1962 to 1981.
More Fratzog bliss, this time in the hubcaps.
As it will be clear to most, the photos were taken throughout the whole afternoon, with San Salvador’s tropical rain making a notorious intervention midway (The show itself had its own entry already). So the show went from sunny, to rainy, to lightly attended in the end. By the end of the afternoon, I asked my wife what her favorite pick of the event was. Like many, she preferred the more youthful offerings, with a green 1970 Cutlass Supreme being her pick.
As for myself, my choice was the Dart. A practical and now rare 1960s package, with just the right amount of whimsy to seal the deal in my mind.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1965 Dodge Dart GT – The Elemental MoPar
Curbside Classic: 1964 Dodge Dart 270 – The Valiant Brougham
Vintage Car And Driver: 1965 Dodge Dart GT – A Counterpart To The Barracuda
Terrific find and writeup. I agree: when I was a kid I thought these were dowdy, but now I see their elegance.
Pretty neat to have survived so well .
-Nate
Nice find and a real survivor all right, just needs a little upholstery help on the seat and good to go for years to come.
I think that poor fitting panel mystery can be solved by looking at that small crimp in the chrome trim at the rear of the quarter panel. Looks like it may have been backed into something at low speed, pushing the driver’s side rear quarter just a bit out of alignment, and thus the gap. I know pretty much nothing of body work, but I’d imagine that would be a fix that would involve more work than it looks like. Probably best to leave it as-is.
The owner seems unique for the area, in light of his choice to leave this as found. I’d do exactly the same, except for the upholstery work mentioned above. And I too gave cars like this no thought whatsoever when they were common, but I have so much more appreciation for them now. Understated styling and practical design are not nearly as common as they used to be, and they are sorely missed attributes. Kind of like my frequent complaint about how UNcommon good old Common Sense has become. Clearly I’m getting old.
Nice. It was 1965 or ‘66 in my town yesterday, as I saw a Dart of this vintage plus two ‘65 Falcons, a coupe and a wagon. All were white.
When I look at the front of this car, this is what I see. The same googly-eyed look, and way too much underbite.
Was trying to attach a photo of an Amphicar. Trying again…
Dodge BTW is reviving the Fratzog starting with the new Charger this year.
In Canada, the Dart was sold as the Valiant 200 until the 1966 model year back when Valiant was its own separate division in the Great White North.
http://www.oldcarscanada.com/2011/02/1965-valiant.html
https://flickr.com/photos/carphotosbyrichard/3153409487
My 2 cents: I don’t remember the modern obsession with panel gaps a thing back then. If the doors/hood /trunk lid opened and closed right and if it sealed against wind and water, things were fine. Bigger problems were poor paint jobs or badly aligned trim, and Chrysler struggled with these things more than the competition.
This is one sweet Dart!!
I remember asking my dad if doctors drove these cars because, to me as a 3 year old, those tail lights looked like pills!
My BIL just bought a 63 Dart and post pictures when I get them. Apparently it’s had the tower of power replaced by a newer 318 with a 4 speed.
I’ve always liked the Darts and Valiants. To me they represent a solid car on a budget
Sort of funny things one thinks of as a child.
I once thought a Bedford was merely a Ford with a sleeper cab.
I like those rational-era compacts; I think the grille design was very influential over here, minus the Dodge googly-eyes.
I love the 65 and 66 Darts. Nice find, so thanks for sharing. I noticed a Duralast battery. Does AutoZone have stores in San Salvador?
No proper AutoZone stores in San Salvador, but they seem to have some tie-in with local AutoRepuestos, which sells the Duralast brand.
That said, the city is filled with American franchises of all other types. I do my shopping at Walmart and Office Depot. It feels slightly surreal when I think about it.