1961 Dodge Dart Phoenix D-500

[StevenGuthmiller]

I've been having real problems getting re-motivated since finishing my '64 Bonneville convertible over a year ago.

I started looking at converting a '59 Desoto 4 door into a convertible, but abandoned that.

Then I thought I would continue with my '64 Pontiac line up by beginning a '64 Lemans convertible restoration, but have been having a hard time keeping interest in that as well.

What's been simmering in the back of my mind for quite some time is doing a full detail version of an old X-EL re-pop of the Johan 1961 Dodge Dart.

I've been wanting to do a D-500 version of this unusual body style for quite some time, and I thought this might get the juices flowing again with it's odd styling and the monstrous long ram induction system.

Sometimes it takes something particularly peculiar to get my juices flowing, and if this doesn't punch the ticket, I'm not sure what will.

 

Anyway, I've begun the process of rummaging through what I have on hand to find the needed components to build this model.

It's going to be challenging project as it will require extensive parts swapping, and a ton of scratch building, but I'm hoping it's going to get the motor running again.

 

So far, I've began the process of opening the hood, and starting to thin the thick body in some areas, as well as beginning the scribing process.

Being as the '61 was of uni-body construction, I should be able to make one of the more recent Mopar kit chassis work, and as I have several Lindberg '64 Dodge/Plymouth kits on hand, I believe I'll try using one of those.

Chassis fit looks pretty good, but fender wells of some sort will need to be found or fabricated, and the firewall will require modification.

Once I get all of that figured out, The engine should be relatively easy using a modern Mopar big block and a set of Johan long ram tubes that I have on hand.

Then the real work can begin!

The interior is going to require a nearly complete scratch build, except for the dash and steering wheel, but in all honesty, I've come to enjoy complete interior rebuilds.

 

Anyway, wish me luck!

Something tells me it's going to be a long slog, but I think it'll be worth the effort in the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited April 2 by StevenGuthmiller

[Ulf]

Oh my, how I have longed for this.

[Bucky]

Will be watching with great interest. I like the '61 much better than the '62. I am confident that you'll turn out a great result!

[Shark]

The Lindberg frame looks like a pretty good fit.

[espo]

After following your Bonniville build, I'm looking forward to this as well. Builds of your type don't happen overnight so just do what you do the way you do it. 

[Jay Whittaker]

I have no doubts you’re going to have a stunning results, seeing your builds of the past. 
 

Texas 3D makes a drop-dead gorgeous long ram RB Mopar. I just picked one up for my ‘57 300 custom. HTH

THIS build has my attention!!

Edited April 3 by Jay Whittaker

[nickfzr61]

Wish you luck? I think everyone here will agree that luck has nothing to do with it. Okay maybe a little but your skill is the main ingredient by far. Glad to see your starting another build. Always look forward to them. 

Not to be facetious but Good Luck.

Edited April 2 by nickfzr61

[Bainford]

Excellent choice, Steve. Very interesting styling. The rear 3/4 view of a '61 Dart is just sublime. The '60 & '61 Darts are my favourite of the swoopy Mopar era. This is going to be cool.

May the force be with you.

[1972coronet]

I've long found the car's nomenclature to be redundant : D-500  ! Haha.

One suggestion, good sir : when you get to the engine/trans combo, keep in mind that '61 was the last year of the cast iron , A-488 Torqueflite (AMT '58 Chrysler 300 is the best source for that trans, IMO, as it includes the "park" drum on the back).

Why'd you lose interest in the '64 Le Mans ?  

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yup, I'll be watching too. Should be a real treat to see what you do with the chrome on the rear fins.

I expect impeccable craftsmanship, as usual.

[NOBLNG]

Great subject Steve! I really like the styling on these cars.😎

[BK9300]

No doubt there will be lots to learn from this - will be interesting and the first time I will have been able to follow along, in real time.

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

I've long found the car's nomenclature to be redundant : D-500  ! Haha.

One suggestion, good sir : when you get to the engine/trans combo, keep in mind that '61 was the last year of the cast iron , A-488 Torqueflite (AMT '58 Chrysler 300 is the best source for that trans, IMO, as it includes the "park" drum on the back).

Why'd you lose interest in the '64 Le Mans ?  

I hadn’t yet investigated the transmission options, but yes, I had either the AMT ‘57 Chrysler, or ‘58 Plymouth transmission on my radar.

 

As far as the LeMans goes, I think it’s just the fact that the ‘64 Tempest/LeMans/GTO styling is not particularly exciting to me.

It’s hard for me to get motivated if the subject bores me.

However, I’ve completed enough of the initial work on that project that I’m pretty certain that I will revisit it in the not too distant future.

Maybe I’ll get really crazy and try to work two projects at once!! 😮

 

Not likely. 😉

 

 

 

Steve

[Bills72sj]

Good to see you are back at it again. I have been in a slump as well. Started at least 5 projects but none of them made it as far as paint. I am currently distracted as I am rebuilding my spare 1:1 455 Pontiac engine for my 72 GP. I will be following your progress.

[slusher]

Great build  subject to get many interest even me I will be following…

 

[bobss396]

My aunt Adele had one, the base model, zero frills with the 6 and manual shift. She drove that up until around 1975.

[drodg]

Steve I am really looking forward to this build.  I assume it will be beautiful after seeing your 64 Pontiac and 68 Dodge Coronet.   I restored, well not quite a 1960 Polara many years ago.  I finally ran out of interest and I had more money in it than I would care to admit.  I sold it with being about 75% done.   That being said those 60-61 Dodges are gorgeous cars.   

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks everyone!!

 

Just sat down for a little while this afternoon to try to begin cracking the inner fender well nut.

I had some extra Moebius '61 Pontiac parts, including a chassis pan, so I hacked off the front fender liners and began figuring out how to get them to fit the Dodge.

So far, so good.

Of course, this is just the beginning.

Still plenty of work to do.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[LennyB]

Nice choice for a subject Steve. I built one of these OOB back in the day and have wanted to take another crack at it with all the potential improvements over the original.  Have yet to get my hands on one however. Will be watching with interest to see where you go.  

[Rigor]

Looking forward to this one 

[gtx6970]

These were/ Are very odd yet neat lookign cars  and quite unique even for the period 

 

I built one several years ago, But kept it a curbside model 

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks fellas!

 

I had been thinking about how to crack this very tiny nut in order to differentiate this model from a standard Dart to a D-500 version, and I thought, the only way I'm going to figure it out is to get into the shop and see what I could come up with.

I could tell immediately that I wasn't going to get it exactly in scale due to the size of the parts that I was working with, but I still ended up being pretty proud of the results.

Still might do a little more cleaning up, but it appears that it will work just fine.

 

This is the kind of stuff that I LOVE experimenting with, and the sort of things that keep me interested in the hobby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[LennyB]

It will work more then just fine😊

[NOBLNG]

Nice work on the emblem Steve.👍 It reminds me of the Willys emblem I had to scratch.

 

Edited April 5 by NOBLNG

[slusher]

Man, that’s small, looks spot on!