Mexican B-Body
- Thread starter bajajoaquin
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Jim 68cuda
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The first time I saw one of these Coronets advertised for sale, I was 100 % certain the grille, tail lights and trunk finish panel, side trim, fender top trim and fancy interior were not original to the car. Having owned and studied 66-67 b-bodies for over 30 years, you couldn't have convinced me that these cars came that way from the factory. But, that brochure cover with the red 67 hardtop showed up a few years ago, and I knew Chrysler did build unique cars in various countries, so I started watching the Mexican Autoclassico website for 67 Coronets for sale. They always showed up with all the same trim, except for the few that started life in the US. That's how I learned that you can never say "never" when it comes to Chrysler.
Another interesting 60's Mopar from Mexico was the Dart GTS. In 68, Automex put a V-8 under the hood of an A-body, and added the Dart GTS to the model lineup. It looked like the US built 68 Dart GTS, but had the 318 under the hood and the round "318" emblems on the fenders. Like the Mexican Coronets, the Dart GTS was a high end model. So the interior looked like it would be more suited to an Imperial than a Dart.
Later, there was the Valiant Super Bee in Mexico. It started out as a Duster, but later was based on the Dodge Demon and Dart Sport. From 1970 and up, some of the Dart 2 door hardtops had the c-pillar extensions that were used on the Brazilian Chargers.
Another interesting 60's Mopar from Mexico was the Dart GTS. In 68, Automex put a V-8 under the hood of an A-body, and added the Dart GTS to the model lineup. It looked like the US built 68 Dart GTS, but had the 318 under the hood and the round "318" emblems on the fenders. Like the Mexican Coronets, the Dart GTS was a high end model. So the interior looked like it would be more suited to an Imperial than a Dart.
Later, there was the Valiant Super Bee in Mexico. It started out as a Duster, but later was based on the Dodge Demon and Dart Sport. From 1970 and up, some of the Dart 2 door hardtops had the c-pillar extensions that were used on the Brazilian Chargers.
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Jim 68cuda
Well-Known Member
Heres another picture that appears to be a factory photo of a 67 Mexican Coronet 440. Looks like this one has fender skirts. Notice the different side trim from the blue 67 Mexican Coronet 500 that was for sale a couple years ago.
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Jim 68cuda
Well-Known Member
The Mexican built 66-67 Belvedere also had some of its own trim that was different from US built Belvederes. The 66 Belvedere sedan and wagon had fender top trim similar to the US built 66 Satellite. I couldn't find a picture of a 66 Mexican Belvedere, but here's the 67.
Jim 68cuda
Well-Known Member
Besides the Belvedere, Coronet, Dart, and Valiant, A-body Barrcudas were also made in Mexico. Only fastbacks were available.
I believe the full range of C-body Dodges and Plymouths (not sure about Chryslers) were available in Mexico, but I believe they were imports.
I believe the full range of C-body Dodges and Plymouths (not sure about Chryslers) were available in Mexico, but I believe they were imports.
polara66hardtop
Senior Member
thanks bajajoaquin for the post! I now realize what my 66' coronet sedan is missing. I used to have a 67' charger, and still miss it. now I realize it is the grill I miss the most. I 'm not crazy about the coronet grill, so I'm putting that grill in mine. Obviously many central American cars are different. People argued with me all the time when I owned a 65' Polara convertible, 880. Monaco Interior, floor console ,disc brakes, and Poly head 318. My nephew bought it for me while stationed in San diego, and I got it with a Mexican title. (1987)Texas wouldn't register it, so it was Only when I moved to Iowa was I able to get a U.S. Title. I will post a pic, soon to be one of none!LoL
Jim 68cuda
Well-Known Member
I like those Dodge 3700 GTs from Spain, but it was only available as a 4 door sedan there. In Argentina, those nice little A-bodies were available as a 2 door hardtop as well. The Dodge GTX was the fancy 2 door with the 318 under the hood. The Polara RT had bold stripes, but only a slant 6 under the hood. In Argentina, the 4 door was the Coronado. While the Spanish ones had round headlights, these A-bodys in Argentina had rectangular headlights.
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polara66hardtop
Senior Member
I sold a 69' dart steering wheel to nice guy from Brazil last year. his car looked just like that. He said it was 1975 charger. They sure are different.
Jim 68cuda
Well-Known Member
I love the Brazilian Chargers with the headlights that actually show through the fixed grille.
Hot Wheels now makes a 1/64 scale diecast Brazilian Charger. I probably should pick one up. I like the Brazilian Chargers better than the Aussie Chargers.
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bluefury361
Old Man with a Hat
Man ...... This is a cool thread. It's like opening a vault and discouvering a whole world of mopars I've never even concidered.
Wonder if there were any Polara 300's .... or ...... Chrysler 500's ...... :thinker:
Wonder if there were any Polara 300's .... or ...... Chrysler 500's ...... :thinker:
Jim 68cuda
Well-Known Member
Well, there was a Dodge Polara in Brazil, but it appears to be a two door version of the old British built Plymouth Cricket/ Hillman Avenger.
fc7_plumcrazy
Old Man with a Hat
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there was some stuff, Will.
South africa and australia built C-Bodys to their own version.
South africa had fuselage Dodges which got sold and offered as "Chrysler 383". They started in 1969 and sold them till 1974.
Plymouth Furys were sold as Dodge Phonix in australia. From 1965 till 1972. All built as right hand drive cars.
There was some mix up, too. The south african Chrysler 383s had the Fury styled dashboard even though being Dodges.
On the opposite some of the australian Dodge Phoenix had sometimes Dodge dashboards even though being Furys
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bluefury361
Old Man with a Hat
70bigblockdodge
Old Man with a Hat
A buddy of mine has a 66 valiant signet from Canada it is a dart gt even has red white and blue on front fender trim without the gt emblem on it and no gt emblem c pillar. Car has documentation from Canada and dealer emblem on deck lid. Not as cool as some of overseas bodies but a tariff avoiding name game.
Jim 68cuda
Well-Known Member
1969 Chrysler SE 383 from South Africa (a 69 Monaco with Chrysler badging)
71 South African Chrysler 383
67 South African Valiant Safari (had the body of an Aussie Valiant wagon and the front end sheet metal of an American 67 Valiant)
South African 1968 Valiant VIP ( a 68 Dart with Dart GT grille and GTS trunk finish panel)
These Dart bodied Valiants as well as all the South African A-bodies including Barracudas, used the Aussie A-body Valiant's dash.
South African 68 Valiant (basically the same as an American 68 Valiant except for the right hand drive)
71 South African Chrysler 383
67 South African Valiant Safari (had the body of an Aussie Valiant wagon and the front end sheet metal of an American 67 Valiant)
South African 1968 Valiant VIP ( a 68 Dart with Dart GT grille and GTS trunk finish panel)
These Dart bodied Valiants as well as all the South African A-bodies including Barracudas, used the Aussie A-body Valiant's dash.
South African 68 Valiant (basically the same as an American 68 Valiant except for the right hand drive)
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Jim 68cuda
Well-Known Member
In Canada, the 63-64 Valiants had the body of a US built 63-64 Dart with the front sheet metal, grille and trim of the US built Valiant.
In 65 & 66, the lower trim level Canadian Valiants were basically the same as the US built Valiants. The Valiants with the higher trim level were basically the same as the US built Dart 270 and Dart GT. The 65-66 Dart GT was badged as a Valiant Signet in Canada. This was pretty much the same practice used for Canadian Dodges in the 50's. Up to 1959 Canadian Dodges used the Plymouh body from the cowl back.
By 67 Canada got both the Dart and the Valiant series.
Of course here on the C-body forum, the most loved and envied Canadian Mopars were the 1965-1969 Monaco convertibles which were a model we never got in the US.
In 65 & 66, the lower trim level Canadian Valiants were basically the same as the US built Valiants. The Valiants with the higher trim level were basically the same as the US built Dart 270 and Dart GT. The 65-66 Dart GT was badged as a Valiant Signet in Canada. This was pretty much the same practice used for Canadian Dodges in the 50's. Up to 1959 Canadian Dodges used the Plymouh body from the cowl back.
By 67 Canada got both the Dart and the Valiant series.
Of course here on the C-body forum, the most loved and envied Canadian Mopars were the 1965-1969 Monaco convertibles which were a model we never got in the US.
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