Nameplate year of origin:1956.
Current bodystyle lifespan:1960 through 1961.
Predecessor to this model:Adventurer (1957 to 1959).
Replacement for this model:Dodge Custom 880 (1962 through 1964).
Percentage of division’s sales volume:44.47%.
Corporate siblings:Chrysler Windsor, Dodge Polara and DeSoto Fireflite.
Primary competition:Buick Invicta, Mercury Monterey and Oldsmobile Super 88.
Notable changes:Completely restyled. Former sport model nameplate, now desig-nated as top line model.
Major standard equipment:Cloth and vinyl front bench 6-way manual seat, full-floor carpeting, padded instrument panel, Easy-Grip steering wheel, variable-speed, electric windshield wipers, backup lights, exterior bright side moldings, stainless steel wheel covers, Torqueflite automatic transmission, and 8.00 ×14 BSW tires.
Legroom — front 46.1"
Legroom — rear 44.1"
Headroom — front 34.6"
Headroom — rear 33.1"
Cargo capacity (cu. ft.) NA Fuel capacity (gals.) 23.0
Models Available
Change from Shipping Change from Style Number Base MSRP LY Wt. (lbs.) Production LY
Adventurer 2-Door Hardtop PS3-M23 $3,663 -17.25% 3945 3,092 +424.07%
Adventurer 4-Door Sedan PS3-M41 $3,579 NEW 3895 5,746 NEW
Adventurer 4-Door Hardtop PS3-M43 $3,727 NEW 3940 2,759 NEW
TOTALS Avg. price $3,656 -20.31% Production 11,597 +1588.1%
35 1960 • Dodge
1 9 6 0
DODGE
“Presenting the 1960 Dodge … in two new lines!”
As were all other 1960 Chrysler Corporation products (except Imperial), new Dodge models were built with unit-body construction. This meant that all major unit-body com-ponents were welded to the frame instead of bolted, mak-ing them more rigid and quieter. While it was an excellent attempt at modernization, and it did have the desired ef-fect upon improving the cars and their quality, it did not do much to help sales, despite massive advertising of the new feature. Unfortunately, the notorious 1957–1958 qual-ity issues far overshadowed any good coming out of Chrysler during this period. Styling was similar among all models but still carried the look of a Dodge, which was first set out with the 1955 Forward-Look cars. New for Dodge this year, and perhaps a first warning sign that Chrysler was intending to do away with the DeSoto, was a two-wheel-base car-line. The smaller cars, considered economy com-petition for Ford and Chevrolet, rode on a 118" wheelbase shared with Plymouth. This new line was called the Dart series, and came in three trim levels: Seneca, Pioneer and Phoenix. The larger cars rode on a 122" wheelbase that was shared with DeSoto and the smaller Chryslers, as well as all Mopar station wagons. This was the conventional Dodge line and came in two models, the Matador and Polara.
Dodge would use this type of split, full-size lineup through
1964. The Dart series had taken over the position formerly occupied by the Coronet, and the larger Dodge line took the place of the Royal and Custom Royal.
Two new engines were offered in conjunction with the introduction of the smaller line of full-size cars, and both would prove very important. The first was the famous 225 CID OHV 6-cylinder “Slant 6,” as it became known.
This new engine put out 10 more horsepower with 5 cubic inches less displacement than the six it replaced, and had a slightly higher compression ratio. The engine was initially offered in aluminum and steel block versions, but the alu-minum block was not very popular with buyers and was soon dropped. The engine was known as the “Slant 6” for its unique positioning, angled over 30 degrees in the en-gine compartment. The second new powerplant was the equally well known 318 CID V8, which replaced the 326 CID V8 of 1959. This new V8, specifically designed for the new, smaller full-size cars of Plymouth and Dodge, quickly proved to be a reliable engine that delivered good fuel econ-omy. The V8 also spawned several other bored-out variants.
As history has shown, both of these engines turned out to be so dependable and popular that they would survive in car applications through the early 1980s, and in truck ap-plications through the late 1990s.
Matador 4-Door Hardtop
Polara 2-Door Convertible
Polara 4-Door Hardtop Polara 4-Door Hardtop
1960 • Dodge 36
Model year production:565,919, up 2.6% over 1959.
Domestic market share:6.1% (6th place).
Base price range:$2,316 to $4,756.
Industry average base price:$3,391.
Dodge average base price:$2,906.
Introduction date:October 1959.
Assembly plants:Detroit (Lynch Road), MI (2); Detroit ( Jef-ferson Ave.) MI (3); Los Angeles, CA (5); Newark, DE (6);
and St. Louis, MO (7).
Data plate identification:Ten digit code read as follows: 1st digit is a series letter (e.g., 6 = Polara V8 series); 2nd num-ber identifies trim grade (1–7; Polara is 7), 3rd digit 0 for 1960; 4th digit is assembly plant code; followed by 100001 and up for serial number. Body style identification found on separate plate. Example: 6702100001 is a 1960 Dodge Polara with a 318 CID V8 engine, serial number 100001, built in Detroit, MI.
Powertrains
Gross Transmission
Engine HP Availability Dart Matador Polara
225 CID Aluminum 145 3-speed manual S -
-or Cast Iron Block, 1-bbl., 6-cyl. Powerflite automatic $189 - -Torqueflite automatic $211 -
-318 CID Dart, 2-bbl., V8 230 3-speed manual $119 -
-Powerflite automatic $308 -
-Torqueflite automatic $340 -
-361 CID Super Red Ram, 2-bbl., V8 295 3-speed manual $158 S
-Powerflite automatic $347 $189 -Torqueflite automatic $369 $211
-383 CID Ram Fire, 4-bbl., V8 325 3-speed manual $178 $20 S
Torqueflite automatic $389 $231 $211 383 CID D-500 Ram Induction, 2 ×4-bbl., V8 330 3-speed manual $537 $379 $359 Torqueflite automatic $748 $590 $570
Major Options
Dart Polara
Heater and defroster $74 $74
Airtemp air conditioning $445 $445
Tinted glass $30 $30
Power steering $77 $77
Power brakes $43 $43
Power seat $96 $96
Power windows $102 $102
Electric clock $16 $16
Music Master AM radio $58 $58
White sidewall tires — std. sizes $34 $58
Options common to most models. Items may be standard equipment, optional at different pricing, or unavailable on certain models. This chart is only a guide.
Paint Colors
Pewter Metallic M M
-1
Charcoal Metallic NN-1 Deep Burgundy Metallic OO-1
Vermilion PP-1
Fawn TT-1
Cocoa Metallic UU-1