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1960
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto |
Valiant debuts. Everything but Imperial is unibody built. Slant Six replaces flathead six. Valiants feature alternators. William Newburg succeeds Colbert, who moves to chairman. Newburg lasts two months. Townsend succeeds Newburg. Valiant dominates short-lived compact stock car class.
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| 1961 |
Dodge |
First all new Dodge truck in 1961.
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| 1961 |
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
|
Dodge version of Valiant is the Lancer; DeSoto discontinued. Colbert resigns as chairman, succeeded by George Love, Exner replaced by Elwood Engel. |
| 1962 |
Willys |
Wagoneer introduced.
|
| 1962 |
Nash |
George Romney resigns as AMC president to campaign for and win Michigan governorship.
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| 1962 |
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
|
50 turbine cars built.
|
| 1963 |
Willys |
Willys Motors becomes Kaiser Jeep; V6 appears on CJs.
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| 1963 |
Nash |
Entire AMC line named “Car of the Year” by Motor Trend.
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| 1963 |
Dodge |
Sub compact Dart.
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| 1963 |
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
|
Dart compact debuts. 5 year/50,000 mile warranty.
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| 1964 |
Dodge |
Dodge A400 van.
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| 1964 |
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto |
Chrysler buys a share in Rootes Group and controlling interest in SIMCA. The Barracuda beats the Mustang to market by two weeks, Richard Petty takes a first at Daytona in a Hemi Plymouth; Hillman founded in 1871 to build bicycles (first car 1907) and controlled after 1928 by the Rootes Brothers; Humber, formed by Thomas Humber about 1900; Humber bought Commer Cars Ltd who were, rather confusingly, truck builders, and then in 1928 Hillman as Rootes was formed. Humber known for the late thirties Humber Snipe and Super Snipes models which lasted until 1964; Sunbeam, like Hillman and Humber, were originally bicycle makers who produced their first car in 1900. In ’23 a Sunbeam was the first British car to win a Grand Prix. Associated with Talbot-Darracq from France, Sunbeam became part of Rootes after Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq collapsed in ’35. The French remainder became Talbot-Lago, later part of SIMCA. Americans best know Sunbeam for the Sunbeam Alpine; Singer, another bicycle maker, built its motorized tricycle in 1901, and its first car in 1905. They pre-dated the Airflow with a concept called Airstream, and in ’48 built a model called the SM1500 which became the Singer Hunter in 1955, which featured a SOHC engine until 1958. They joined Rootes in 1956. The Singer Hunter eventually became the Hillman Hunter.
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1965
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Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
|
Dodge Hemi-Charger and Plymouth SuperStock debut.
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| 1966 |
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
|
“Street Hemi” offered. |
| 1967 |
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
|
Lynn Townsend Chairman of the Board, Virgil Boyd President; Dodge Coronet R/T and Plymouth Belvedere GTX; Richard Petty wins NASCAR championship in a Plymouth. |
| 1968 |
Nash |
Javelin introduced; AMX introduced.
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1968
|
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
|
Dodge Super Bee. First Federal emission controls.
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1969
|
Dodge |
Dodge Charger Daytona.
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1969
|
Chrysler / Plymouth / DeSoto
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First year of fuselage styling. Dodge Charger Daytona built for stock car racing. A 440V8 with triple two barrels—a six pack—is available for the Plymouth Roadrunner and the Dodge Super Bee.
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