Dodge Phoenix (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Dodge Phoenix is an automobile
which was produced by Chrysler Australia
from 1960 to 1973.
The Phoenix was introduced in May 1960 as an Australian assembled version of the American
Dodge Dart
, positioned above the locally developed Chrysler Royal
as Chrysler Australia’s luxury model. It borrowed its name from the top Dart, the Dodge Dart Phoenix, but unlike its American namesake it was offered only as a four door sedan and only with a 318 cubic inch V8 engine.The Phoenix was subsequently restyled each year in line with revisions to American Dodge models (initially the Dart and later the Polara
) until a change of policy for 1965 saw the Phoenix based on the American Plymouth Fury
for the first time. Like the 1965 Fury, this model featured vertically stacked headlamp
s. A four-door hardtop
body style joined the sedan in 1967. The new model was fitted with a 383 cubic inch V8 engine whilst the sedan continued with the smaller 318 cubic inch V8. The two body styles continued to be offered until the final Australian Phoenix was built in 1973. The Australian developed Chrysler by Chrysler
then inherited the role of the top level luxury model in Chrysler’s Australian range.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
which was produced by Chrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia
Chrysler Australia is the importer of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for sale in the Australian marketplace. However, there had previously been a "Chrysler Australia Ltd" which had operated as a vehicle manufacturer in Australia from 1951 until 1980....
from 1960 to 1973.
The Phoenix was introduced in May 1960 as an Australian assembled version of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Dodge Dart
Dodge Dart
The Dodge Dart is an automobile built by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1960-1976 in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets. The Dart was introduced as a lower-priced, shorter wheelbase, full-size Dodge in 1960 and 1961, became a...
, positioned above the locally developed Chrysler Royal
Chrysler Royal (Australia)
The Chrysler Royal is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1957 to 1964.-AP1:The first version of the Chrysler Royal, the AP1, was introduced in February 1957. It was a development of the American Plymouth P25 design of 1953 which had itself been produced by Chrysler...
as Chrysler Australia’s luxury model. It borrowed its name from the top Dart, the Dodge Dart Phoenix, but unlike its American namesake it was offered only as a four door sedan and only with a 318 cubic inch V8 engine.The Phoenix was subsequently restyled each year in line with revisions to American Dodge models (initially the Dart and later the Polara
Dodge Polara
The Dodge Polara was an automobile introduced in the United States for the 1960 model year as Dodge's top-of-the-line full-size car; after the introduction of the Dodge Custom 880 in 1962, the Polara nameplate designated a step below the full sized best trimmed Dodge model; the Polara that year had...
) until a change of policy for 1965 saw the Phoenix based on the American Plymouth Fury
Plymouth Fury
The Plymouth Fury is an automobile which was produced by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1956 to 1978. The Fury was introduced as a premium-priced model designed to showcase the line, with the intent to draw consumers into showrooms....
for the first time. Like the 1965 Fury, this model featured vertically stacked headlamp
Headlamp
A headlamp is a lamp, usually attached to the front of a vehicle such as a car or a motorcycle, with the purpose of illuminating the road ahead during periods of low visibility, such as darkness or precipitation. Headlamp performance has steadily improved throughout the automobile age, spurred by...
s. A four-door hardtop
Hardtop
A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. It has been used in several contexts: detachable hardtops, retractable hardtop roofs, and the so-called pillarless hardtop body style....
body style joined the sedan in 1967. The new model was fitted with a 383 cubic inch V8 engine whilst the sedan continued with the smaller 318 cubic inch V8. The two body styles continued to be offered until the final Australian Phoenix was built in 1973. The Australian developed Chrysler by Chrysler
Chrysler by Chrysler
The Chrysler by Chrysler is a luxury automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1971 to 1976.-CH Series:The original CH Series Chrysler by Chrysler was introduced in November 1971 replacing the Chrysler VIP as Chrysler’s competitor to the Ford Fairlane and the Statesman in the...
then inherited the role of the top level luxury model in Chrysler’s Australian range.