1960.E2.80.931961 Dodge Polara

the 1960 polara , other full-sized dodges featured styling cues carried on 1959 models, evolution of virgil exner s forward cars introduced in 1957. top-of-the line polara , dodge matador continued ride on 122-inch (3,099 mm) wheelbase of predecessors, while new line-up of still full-sized dodge darts rode on shorter 118-inch (2,997 mm) wheelbase. polara available 2-door convertible, 2-door hardtop coupe, 4-door hardtop sedan, 4-door hardtop station wagon, , conventional (pillared) 4-door sedan.

like these cars, both 1960 full-sized dodges continued make s styling hallmarks of stacked jet pod tail lights, however, size of lights increased compared previous year s lamps, lower lights set rear bumper. design incorporated dodge s trademark shortened tail fins, which, on polara, included small vertical tail light lenses placed on vertical surface @ of fin; again, purpose of shortened fin meant exaggerate length of jet pods holding tail lights.

the fins on darts shorter both in length , height because unlike full sized dodge s, polara , matador, darts based on plymouth , used plymouth sheet metal forms , plymouth rear door. plymouth rear door did not have part of fin whereas on full sized dodges fin started on rear door (on 4-doors) , continued there. allowed fin start sooner, on door, , end sooner, relative tip of round tail light , still appear long or longer on dart. net effect fins on dart stunted whereas on polara , matador fins appear in proper proportion rest of car. front, car featured small grille consisting of 8 stacks of anodized aluminum rectangles nested in massive (and complex) chrome front bumper assembly. top model in line-up, polara featured better interior fabrics , trim treatments. polaras received more trim on outside of car, notably chrome stone guard aft of rear wheel housings, full-length chrome spear, , wide chrome base chrome spear atop headlight housings.

for 1961, dodge dropped matador, leaving polara sole senior dodge model. darts on shorter wheelbase continued. 1961, exner s styling department reversed car s fins, making them taller flowed toward rear window. fins sloped towards rear of car, cut towards center (to allow single tail light housing on each side) of rear of vehicle, wrapping downward , along side fender form c-shaped line accentuated in chrome. overall effect made rear of car seem pucker angles design created. front, massive bumper treatments had been dodge hallmark since 1957 replaced simple bar design, above massive concave grille shared dodge dart.

the 1961 styling overhaul of dodge line-up different else on market @ time (save 1961 plymouth, equally unique in styling) , consumers voted on 1961 restyle car-shopping dollars. sales of fullsize dodges plunged lowest levels since firms founding in 1914, 14,032 units produced in united states. second straight year, make carried dart saw sales of 142,000 units year. total dodge sales 1961 down 53% compared 1960, dropping make sixth in american market ninth place.