[57ChryslerDart]

As a lifelong "car guy", I frequent dozens of automotive related discussion forums and "social media" sites ... and I'm always a bit surprised by the negative comments directed towards our 2013-2016 Dodge Darts ... more specifically, that FCA / DODGE has dishonored the Dart's "Muscle Car" legacy by giving the "DART" moniker to an "Economy Car".

While it's true that there were so-called "high performance" Dart models produced in the '60s & '70s with (273ci, 318ci, 340ci, 360ci, 361ci 383ci, 413ci, 440ci, & 426ci HEMI*) V8 engines, the majority of these "classic" Darts came with the economy-minded (170ci, 198ci, 225ci) Slant-6 engine.

* NOTE: Only eighty (80) 1968 Hurst Hemi Darts (i.e., the so-called "factory race cars") were ever produced.​

I recently stumbled upon some Dodge Dart television commercials from the '60s & '70s that are proof positive that DODGE considered the Dart to be their "Low Price" / "Ecomony Car" ... and marketed them as such!

Checkout these TV Ads for the 1960 Dodge Dart that originally aired on "The Lawrence Welk Show" (and featured Lou Crosby and "The Lennon Sisters"):

1st Generation (1960-1961) Dodge Dart Ads​

The "Economy Car" theme continues in this 1962 Dodge Ad:

2nd Generation (1962) Dodge Dart Ad​

These 1964 & 1966 Dodge Dart Ads tout the Dart as the "New kind of Compact in the Large Economy Size" and the "Dodge Sized Compact" :

3nd Generation (1963-1966) Dodge Dart Ads​

 

[57ChryslerDart]

The "Compact Car" / "Low Price" labels were still evident in these 4th Generation (1967 - 1976) Dodge Dart television Ads:

1967 Dodge Dart Ad

1969 Dodge Dart Ads

1970 Dodge Dart Ad

1971 Dodge Dart Ad

1973 Dodge Dart Ad

1974 Dodge Dart Ads

1975 Dodge Dart Ad​

 

[57ChryslerDart]

These old magazine print Ads provide even more evidence that the "Classic" Dodge Dart's were (first & foremost) marketed as an "Economy / Compact Car" (vice a "Muscle Car"):

​

 

[57ChryslerDart]

Just a BUMP of an old thread ... for

members that still think the Dodge DARTs of the '60s & '70s were considered "Muscle Cars" vice "Economy Cars".

 

[FastEddie]

I laugh when I hear guys comment. About all the chrome on a Dart Limited.
I'm 55 and remember as a kid when cars looked more like this.
I always told my wife. My dream car is a 59 DeSoto.

 

[FastEddie]

The 1967 Dart GTS 383
The holy grail of power for the Dart.
You could get a 426 or 440 custom setup. But the 383 was a factory option.
That car must have been stupid fast.

 

[alpinegreenneon]

My 2nd car was a '70 Dart Swinger two door with the 198 slant six and auto trans. I was 23, it was my 1st Mopar and I have been Mopar ever since. I drove away from the dealer for $2500 for a brand new car, so yes it was an economy car.