The
Dart Charger Story
In 1964 Dodge launched the "DartCharger" to promote the Charger name for 1966 production as well as get closer the accelerating sales of the Ford Mustang. Plymouth had the Barracuda but Dodge didnt have any cars in that field. Latest info in this matter is that the Dodge dealers association in Los Angeles/Orange County stood behind these cars so they had something to compete with. (More info will show up later!)
The DartCharger was born!
Starting in late August or beginning of September 1964 all cars were built at the Los Angeles plant. Some of the dealer cars was produced at Los Angeles and Detroit plant. Until now no dealer kit car has been found from the St Louis plant. The dealer kit car was simply a kit with the DartCharger stuff that was to be added on any 273 HP Dart at the salesroom.
The DartCharger came in two body styles; 2 dr hardtop or convertible. All factory cars were light yellow with two options for the interior; black interior or white/gold interior. The convertible top was always black. Hardtop cars came with standard painted roof in light yellow. Optional were black or white vinyl roof. The interior was black but in late December 1964 they offered for hardtops only, white and gold interior which was availible until late March 1965.
The LA plant produced some 180 DartChargers. They all have paint code 991 or 999 on the fendertag. All cars had DartCharger badges on each fender as well as on the dash. The center dome on the Cragar wheels was cut out and put a DartCharger emblem on! Some of the DartChargers were sold without the emblems. What I know of is two cars! According to the dealers that I have spoken with about 30% of the DartChargers was convertibles and the rest hardtops.
All the factory cars had following equipment;
273x4 Charger engine
904 HD transmission or 4 speed Hurst shifted manual transmission
suregrip - (optional)
HD suspension (optional)
Cragar S/S 13x6 wheels
front & rear bumperguards
Radio w/antenna
Woodgrained steering wheel
Standard mirror (after Nov 20, -64 all cars had outside adjustable mirror)
Night/Day mirror
Spare tire on standard rim 13x4,5
Power steering
Power brakes
Power top (convertible)
Interior light kit
Air condition - (optional)
The DartChargers were produced until March 1965 when Dodge launched the Dart Go/go package for sale. At this time the yellow paint was introduced as "spring color". The deal Dodge offered the dealers about the DartChargers was to buy at least 5 cars. Always arrived on Friday and the sale was the same weekend with good result according to the dealers that Ive spoked with.
What I have found out up til now Dodge launched the DartCharger kit dealer kit in November 1964 that the dealers could put on any cars that they had in stock. That's how it came up red, ivory and blue DartChargers kitcars. The most odd dealercar is two Dart 270 2 dr hardtop DartChargers in California!! The dealerkits was produced in 300 units.
The Dart go/go package could be put on a Dart even with a slant six!
