Retro cars blog

Posts Tagged ‘dodge’

1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee classic car

In 1949 Dodge introduced the Coronet which was the top trim level offered by Dodge. It was similar to the Meadowbrook models in many respects, deviating in their interior appointments and minor differences with trim. The base level four-door sedan bodystyle was offered for under $1930. The top of the line version was the two-door station wagon which had seating for six and cost $2865. An L-head six-cylinder engine produced just over 100 horsepower could be found under the hood. A three-speed transmission with Fluid-Drive was standard equipment.

For 1950 the Dodge Coronet continued to be Dodge‘s top-of-the-line vehicle. It still was very similar to the Meadowbrook; it include all of its features plus added addition chrome trim on the wheels, rear fender guards and was adorned with the ‘Coronet‘ name proudly displayed on the exterior of the vehicle. Little changed for the following year. For 1952 the eight-passenger sedan was no longer offered. In 1953 the Dodge Coronet incorporated an air scoop on its hood. Under the Ram hood ornament could be found the word ‘Dodge V-8‘ for the eight-cylinder variants. The Hemi head overhead valve V8 engine was capable of producing 140 horsepower. The six-cylinder unit produced 103 horsepower.

1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee American muscle car

The 440 cubic-inch V8 Six Pack became available in 1969. With this 390 horsepower engine, a zero-to-sixty time of 6.6 seconds could be achieved. The 426 and 440 horsepower engine were still available offering 425 and 375 horsepower respectively. Unfortunately, sales continued to fall – less than 7,240 examples were produced in 1969. Styling remained unchanged from 1968. The Coronet Super Bee and R/T versions were outfitted with the 426 cubic-inch Hemi V8. They were offered in two-door coupe configruation of which 166 examples are estimated to have been produced. 90 two-door hardtops were also constructed. In the R/T configuration, there were 97 constructed of these two-door hardtops and 10 convertibles.

1969 Dodge Coronet Super Bee retro car

The muscle car era was coming to a close and things were fading fast by the early 1970′s. Government regulations, safety concerns, and an impending oil embargo meant that engine sizes were declining. Manufacturers responded by incorporating the new government safety items to their vehicles, detuned their engines, and tried to figure out what the American public would want next. For the Dodge Coronet, Dodge decided to simplify their line, now only offering the vehicle in four-door configuration as either a sedan or station wagon. The exterior molding and much of the trim had been removed. The Coronet was Dodge’s base trim level vehicle with the introductory price costing $2720 in 1972. The 198 cubic-inch slant-six engine produced 100 horsepower while the 225-slant six produced 110 horsepower. The 318 cubic-inch V8 produced 150 horsepower. The top of the Coronet line was the Coronet Custom which included all standard Coronet features plus color-keyed carpeting, wheel opening, and three-spoke steering wheel, among other options.

1969 Dodge Coronet R/T American muscle car

Dodge’s R/T performance history dates back to the late 1960′s. Over the years many different Dodge models offered an R/T edition. The first R/T, which stands for ‘Road and Track,’ was a high performance version of the 1967 Dodge Coronet.

1969 Dodge Coronet R/T Retro car

Offered in both hardtop and convertible form, the standard R/T featured a 440 cubic-inch V-8 power plant, heavy-duty suspension, beefier brakes, larger tires, and R/T badging. It that wasn’t enough, you could order the legendary 426 cubic-inch Hemi engine rated at 425 horsepower.

After a big marketing push in 1968, styling changes on the 1969 Dodge Coronet R/T were substantially more modest. The Coronet’s visage was revised so that the grille-headlamps combination mimicked the delta taillight shape.

Dodge’s R/T performance history slated with the Coronet R/T. Models were offered in 1967, 1968, 1969 and ending in 1970. During this time Hemi- and 440 Magnum-powered R/T’s ruled the street and the drag strip.

1969 Dodge Coronet R/T Classic car

In 1968 the Coronet was restyled and given a smoother, rounder profile. Quad headlights were incorporated into the full-width grille. In the rear the taillights were incorporated into a full-width panel. 10,456 CoronetR/T versions were sold. 230 examples of the Coronet 426 cubic-inch V8 were produced. The Coronet was completely restyled. Bucket seats, dual exhaust, heavy-duty suspension and brakes, were all standard equipment.
The 440 cubic-inch V8 Six Pack became available in 1969. With this 390 horsepower engine, a zero-to-sixty time of 6.6 seconds could be achieved. The 426 and 440 horsepower engine were still available offering 425 and 375 horsepower respectively. Unfortunately, sales continued to fall – less than 7,240 examples were produced in 1969. Styling remained unchanged from 1968. The Coronet Super Bee and R/T versions were outfitted with the 426 cubic-inch Hemi V8. They were offered in two-door coupe configruation of which 166 examples are estimated to have been produced. 90 two-door hardtops were also constructed. In the R/T configuration, there were 97 constructed of these two-door hardtops and 10 convertibles.

1969 Dodge Dart retro car

The Dodge Dart was first introduced as a show-car in 1956 and became a production model in 1960. Sitting atop a 118 inch wheelbase the Dart was not the largest in the fleet but was considered by many as a small, full-size vehicle. When production began the Dart was available in three body-styles, the Seneca, Pioneer and Phoenix. The Seneca was the base model, the Phoenix was the premium and the Pioneer was the intermediate. Multiple engine choices were available including the 318 and 361 cubic-inches which could be modified with various carburetors to increase the overall horsepower rating. A 225 slant six was available adding to the versatility of the vehicle

1969 Dodge Dart muscle car

Dodge introduced the Dart Swinger 340 in 1969. It came equipped with a 275 horsepower 340 cubic-inch V8 and four-speed manual gearbox with Hurst shifter. The suspension was Rallye and exterior displayed ‘Swinger’ bumble bee stripes and 14 inch wheels. Around 20,000 examples of the Swinger 400 were produced in 1969. Just over 6,700 of the GTS versions were sold.

Stylish sports car 1969 Dodge Dart

The Dart had lived a long production life span and had endured multiple aesthetic and mechanical changes throughout the years. It had gone from a 118 inch wheelbase to a low of 108 inches. It was a full-size, it was a compact; it was a daily driver, it was a high-performance racing machine. It could be had in two-door, four-door, convertible, hardtop, fastback, and even a station wagon. Produced for 16 years, Dodge had evolved and adapted the Dart to all the different trends, safety and emission concerns, and government regulations that the market had to offer. When individuals today envision Dodge‘s of the late 1960′s, rarely does the Dart come to mind, rather it is often overshadowed by the Charger and the Super Bee. This is unfortunate, because the Darts had class, character, and were very durable, many still around today. Country-specific Darts were sold in countries such as Australia, Spain, Canada, Brazil, and Columbia. With approximately 3.7 million compact Darts sold, the vehicle had achieved an undeniable reputation for longevity, durability, and value.