Ya they were. Solids trough 67. 68 and 69 were hydraulic.
V8 vs. Commando v8
- Thread starter Princess Valiant
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65Val
Average Length Member
'66 and '67 got these badges...straight for '66 and curved for '67...
EDIT: While surfing for 273 badges, I found these...
EDIT: While surfing for 273 badges, I found these...
Cuda Al
Well-Known Member
Rustyfish
Member
I wish Dodge had made ‘65 4bbl badges or Charger 273 badges, but they already had Dart Charger being produced.
Through 1965 I don't believe Dodge considered the Dart as a performance car, more of an economy car. The Dart Chargers were were an LA Dealer concept, not Dodges. Meanwhile Plymouth was trying to compete with the Mustang and Falcon performance versions. Dodge didn't even try to compete in the Pony Car segment until 1970, six years after the introduction of the Mustang and Barracuda.
When I bought my '65 Dart GT in '66 it was a special order car, 273/235 4 speed, light yellow (881) with black vinyl top, white and gold interior, and 13" Cragar mags. Not another one in my area. There were '66 performance Darts around, and available at the dealership, Chuck Hutton Dodge. My dad wanted me to buy a new '66 Dart, but at the time they looked like Dodge just hung some square front fenders on a '65 Dart and they had a line speedometer, which I detested. Then there was the Inland shifter issue. Anyway, I chose to buy the slightly used '65 model and I'm glad I did, because it ran exceptionally strong for some reason.
No offense intended to owners of '66 Darts, just the memories of an 18 year old boy's decisions in choosing the first car he bought.
When I bought my '65 Dart GT in '66 it was a special order car, 273/235 4 speed, light yellow (881) with black vinyl top, white and gold interior, and 13" Cragar mags. Not another one in my area. There were '66 performance Darts around, and available at the dealership, Chuck Hutton Dodge. My dad wanted me to buy a new '66 Dart, but at the time they looked like Dodge just hung some square front fenders on a '65 Dart and they had a line speedometer, which I detested. Then there was the Inland shifter issue. Anyway, I chose to buy the slightly used '65 model and I'm glad I did, because it ran exceptionally strong for some reason.
No offense intended to owners of '66 Darts, just the memories of an 18 year old boy's decisions in choosing the first car he bought.
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My first car was a 65 270 post sedan with a HP273 and a 3 on the tree. Wish I still had that one.
Rustyfish
Member
My '65 Dart seems to be somewhat of a puzzle. It's a 270 but with many GT options except for the badges. 4 speed, HiPo 273, Sure grip, but then they ordered with split bench front seats. Weird.
Any 65 Dart could have be ordered with the 273/235 engine and a 4 speed, even the lowly 4 doors. By the numbers I have 300 273/235's went out the door on all 65 Dart 4 doors. Of those 300, 20 were equipped with a 4 speed
Yes, the 273 was available until 69 with a 2 bbl and hydraulic cam with the same profile as the 318...
Now that you've cleared that up.....and thanks, was one more prolific than the other? It seems "I've seen" more of the Commando than the Charger.
I don't think there are any specific numbers. Commando 273 has turned int a generic term for the HP273's regardless of brand. Both are the same except for the badging on the cars and the applique on the air cleaner lid. It would take a while but I could look up the production figures for both brands throughout the years.
65Val
Average Length Member
Some think ALL 273's, 2 or 4bbl, are Commando's.....along with HP heads, HP manifolds, etc., etc......which is just plain wrong.
Exactly!
DesertRat
Leading edge boomer
I found the 273 four barrel badging in the aftermarket and put them on my 67 notch because that is what is in the car. Seemed appropriate at the time although I have never met anyone who knew they were incorrect. (this site excepted)
It's fun to cruise up next to someone at a stop light and hear them say "that's got a 273 4 barrel in it" LOL
DesertRat
Leading edge boomer
Yes, especially when they hear it run. Even the mopar guys in my local circle don't know that it is incorrect, except the one friend who taught me about mopars.
Mine usually rattles a little bit! Like a snake! LOL
My 64 273 has those same emblems on the front fenders.
Yeah the 273 never got any HP exhaust mannyfolds, cept for the D Dart with the Dougs headers.
While I do find this funny, I wonder how it became part of the language.Commando also means that you're not wearing underwear....
I was in the Army for a short time in 1984. I always wore underwear. I never looked at the other guys foot lockers but I do know that we were all issued the same amount of clothes.
Was I the only guy that wore underwear in the military?
Valiant63
Early A-body Valiants
Wow. You guys really get off tracking on a tangent when you want to. The original poster was asking about the two different emblems which are found on plymouth's only. The regular V8 emblem is for the 273 2 Barrel as someone already stated and the Commando V8 emblem is the higher compression four-barrel version of the engine which has domed Pistons and "hotter" camshaft.
Just one of the many aspects of my strange brain.
It can be hard to follow sometimes. Imagine living with it every day.
You have to wonder, "why"? Why would the dealer or a customer order a performance engine with a slow shifting transmission? Maybe it was for hauling a trailer? who knows?
The reason it cane equipped with the split front bench seat was simple - buckets were not offered on any 270 or 170; only the GT’s. As far as the numbers for the HiPo 273 and 4 speed - the 273/235 was installed in 591 270 2 door hardtops; 112 in the 2 door sedan; 275 in the 4 door sedan and 121 in the 270 convertible. For the 4 speed 271 in the 2 dr hardtop; 47 in the 2 door sedan; 15 in the 4 door and 48 in the 270 ‘vert. All numbers courtesy of 65dartcharger
Rustyfish
Member
Thanks! I had already inquired with Ulf and he gave me the same thing. If only I knew how many had the sure grip also, which mine does.
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