1960 Dodge Phoenix

1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix Police Package

Offered by Auctions America | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | October 4-5, 2012

The Dodge Phoenix was not a stand alone model (at least not in the United States). It was a two-year only trim option on the Dart, which, upon its introduction, was not the compact car that most people remember. The Dart was an all-new model for 1960. It was a short-wheelbase (compared with the Polara), entry-level, full-sized Dodge. It undercut the Polara in price – but it’s still a pretty big car.

The Phoenix trim line was tops, above the entry-level Seneca and mid-range Pioneer. This car was spec’d as a Police Package car, even though it was ordered by a 20-year-old hot rodder in Pennsylvania. What the Police Package came with was a high-performance 383 V8 (6.3 liters), a 4.10:1 gear ratio and a heavy-duty three-speed Borg-Warner manual transmission.

The owner replaced the transmission with a four-speed Chevy unit immediately after taking delivery. It isn’t listed what transmission is in the car currently, but, according to the lot description, this was the only high-performance Dart built with a manual transmission – surely it would be more valuable with the three-speed.

Virgil Exner’s finned styling would disappear from the Dart after 1961 – and the car would never look this good again (okay, the muscle-car variant wasn’t so bad). But the Dart became a smaller and more compact, less stylish car with ever new iteration. You don’t see Mopars like this too often – yet there are three 1960 Dart Phoenix’s in this sale alone. And all have rare options.

You can read more about this car at Auctions America’s website here. Or check out the other two and the rest of the auction lineup, here.

Update: Not sold.

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  1. Pingback: October Auction Roundup | Classic Car Weekly

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