1960 Dodge COP or NOT?

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Don't know if this is a Forward Look, I was 6 years old most likely when this rolled off the assembly line.

Is it a cop car? I'll toss it up to a poll!

1960 Dodge Dart Seneca - $5800 (Sebastian, FL)

1960 Dodge Dart Seneca

VIN: 5106154558
condition: fair
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 82000
paint color: grey
size: full-size
title status: clean
transmission: manual

1960 Dodge Dart Seneca 4 door sedan. Runs and drives, 318 V8, 3 speed on the tree, power steering, original steel wheels and a set of period 60's after market magnesium wheels which are currently on the car, factory spotlight, was ordered for a police department when new. Restore or drive as is. $6000.00 or best offer.

post id: 6833689963
posted: 2019-03-04 21:00
updated: 2019-03-09 19:33

Geeeez that back window gotta be worth 5 grand.

 

[Rapidtrans777]

I don't see anything there that makes me think "ex-cop car". Mine is a no vote.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

I would need to documentation that it was ordered by a police department for police use, otherwise it is just a 4-door sedan.


Alan

 

[CBODY67]

In THOSE model years, an accessory spot light was quite popular. Even some with a rear view mirror built into the back side of them! Considering that the outside rear view mirror was completely factory-optional back then. There were also many aftermarket outside rear view mirrors, back then, too. "Yankee" was one popular brand, as I recall.

A darker gray metallic factory color, with a white top, with possibly an orange accent side paint stripe, would look nice with all of that re-done chrome.

CBODY67

 

[Davea Lux]

Nothing about this car really suggests police. The 3 speed manual was popular with police departments in the early 60's, but that alone does not mean much as 318 engine with 3 speed was a popular choice for older folks who did not like automatics. Would be much more convincing as a cruiser with 361 or 383 with the manual transmission.

Dave

 

[hergfest]

VIN would start with 59 if it was a Police Package. This one is 51.

 

[detmatt]

I have a bunch of parts for one of these.

 

[1978 NYB]

Doesn't appear to be a cop car. A lot of people added spotlights in 50's and 60's.

 

[Sixpactogo]

Looks pretty much original except for the alternator and fender mounted turn signals. 61 was the first year for an alternator. Also.....It is not a full sized car. Was listed as an intermediate size. First year for Dart. First year for Unibody. Seneca was the low cost model and Pioneer in the middle with Phoenix the top of the line Dart. Also not even a C body or an A body. Most of these cars rusted out before they were 2 years old since they were not undercoated. I have a 60 Phoenix that grew up in California and Montana. One of the few that survived the elements.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

except for the alternator and fender mounted turn signals

Oh yea I forgot to mention those, maybe this is the first of the first of the GM alternator conversions (rare factor).

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

The 3 speed manual was popular with police departments in the early 60's,

Yea I'll second that as one of the cab drivers husband became a Alabama State Trooper about that time when he got out of the Air Force. Told me he drove a Chevy with a 409 4x4bbl 3 speed on'a the tree, other stories were him and his partner would drive passed out drunks home (think VIP) where his partner would shag the guys wife, and they use to run moonshine across the state for some extra cash, and when that hit the fan being the Yankee he became the fall guy and had to go. Ha Ha...

 

[ImpJay]

The script advertising Holman Motors just doesn´t fit to a cop car and it looks to have been attached to the trunk lid from the day one.

 

[CBODY67]

The script advertising Holman Motors just doesn´t fit to a cop car and it looks to have been attached to the trunk lid from the day one.

Many state and regional government entities bought by "state bid" and didn't allow any dealership advertising to be attached to the vehicles. Local entities might allow it, though, at their option/bid spec.

CBODY67

 

[TNTrooper428]

Many state and regional government entities bought by "state bid" and didn't allow any dealership advertising to be attached to the vehicles. Local entities might allow it, though, at their option/bid spec.

CBODY67

Although, I don't believe this to be a real cop car based on what I am seeing. My 67 Ford Custom THP Car had a "Smith Motor Company Brownsville TN" dealership script still attached to the rear deck lid and it was a special order car.

 

[Shamu70]

What’s up with the “head-room” roof channel?

 

[detmatt]

What’s up with the “head-room” roof channel?

Good design.

 

[78Brougham]

61 was the first year for an alternator.

Thought 1960 was the first year for the alternator. So I looked it up... '60 was the first year. I believe they started on the Valiant however and then went corporate wide in '61.

"Chrysler first introduced the alternator in the 1960 model year. Due to the increased electrical loads on the charging system the old generator could no longer provide enough amperage (electrical volume) to operate all of the electrical components on the car."

The History of Chrysler Alternators, Dodge alternators
alternatorparts.com/chrysler-alternator-history.html

I believe the '60 and '61's were classified as full size cars then down to mid size starting in '62.

 

[Bill Watson]

Alternators were optional on U.S.-built 1960 Mopar cars (except Valiant which was standard) and standard for 1961. Canadian-built 1960-62 Chryco cars had the generator as standard equipment, including the Valiant, and standard for 1963.

The roof bit actually strengthens the roof stamping. Started that in 1959, which also had the added benefit of more headroom in the rear seat.

The 1960-1961 Dodge Dart was a full-size car on a 118" wheelbase and did battle with the Big Three - Plymouth, Ford and Chevrolet. The Dart was actually based on the Plymouth. Ford and Chevrolet were both on a 119" wheelbase.

And this would be a C body as the bigger Dodges, DeSotos and Chryslers shared the basic cowl, floor and rear floor pan / bracing. Same situation as with the 1965-1973 Plymouth Fury.

The 1962 body was shorter and narrower and was the first year for the B body.

 

[Sixpactogo]

The 1960-1961 Dodge Dart was a full-size car on a 118" wheelbase and did battle with the Big Three - Plymouth, Ford and Chevrolet. The Dart was actually based on the Plymouth. Ford and Chevrolet were both on a 119" wheelbase.

Actually the 60 / 61 Darts were not a full sized car. They were classified as an "intermediate" since they had the 118" Wheelbase while the Full sized Polara and Matador had the 122" Wheelbase that competed against the Ford Galaxy and Chev Impala
Also, none of them were called C bodies since they didn't use the A, B & C until 62

 

[Bill Watson]

Sorry, but 118" wheelbase was full size in the late 1950's and into the 1960's. Intermediates came on the scene for 1962, when the Ford Fairlane (115.5")and Mercury Meteor (116.5") were introduced. Plymouth and Dodge dealers were rather upset with their 1962 models as the Plymouth and Dart were now in Fairlane / Meteor territory, even though they were priced in the Galaxie / Chevrolet territory. Popular Mechanics in its Auto Issue of January 1962 classified the Plymouth, Dart, Fairlane and Meteor as Family Size (115"-117"). The Family Size cars were bigger than the Compacts (100"-114") but smaller than Full Size (119"-126").

Please compare the prices of the 1960 model line ups - Plymouth, Dart, Chevrolet and Ford for one, and Polara/Matador and Pontiac for the second. You'll see who was competing with whom.

The intermediates moved into 118" when the Fury, Galaxie and Chevrolet moved into 120" and longer wheelbases.

In the 1960's the Ford Galaxie and Chevrolet were on a 119" wheelbase. Ford moved to 121" for 1970 and remained there until the downsizing in the late 1970's. Chevrolet moved to 121½" for 1971 and also remained there until the downsizing later in the 1970's. And the Fury moved from 119" to 120" for 1969 and 122" for 1974.

By the way, the full-sized Polara (and Matador) were considered to be in Low-Medium territory and in competition with GM's Pontiac and Edsel in 1960. Dodge almost gave up the Low-Medium territory for 1962 when they had nothing bigger than the intermediate sized Dart. Dealers were furious at that situation. Thus the rush to bring out the Custom 880. The full-size Dodge never regained its position in the market place.

It is accepted that the C body did not exist back in the Forward Look era, but the C body actually had its roots with the 1957 Plymouth (118"), Dodge (122"), DeSoto (122" and 126") and Chrysler (126"). These models evolved into the C bodies of 1965 - Fury (119"), Dodge (121"), and Chrysler (124"). Imperial was added to the C body group for 1967.