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1962 Dodge Lancer 770

Dodge's entry-level model, the Dart, received new styling for 1962 and rode on a two-inch shorter wheelbase that now measured 116-inches. Its overall length of 202-inches was 10-inches shorter than in 1961. Body styles included a two- and four-door sedan, and station wagon, with prices that ranged from $2,240 to $2,645. Power was from a standard overhead-valve Slant Six with a 170 cubic-inch displacement, an aluminum block, and 101 horsepower. A 225 CID Slant Six and Hyper-Pak six were optional, with 145- and 195-horsepower respectively. Dodge's eight-cylinder engines included a 318, 361, and 413 cubic-inch options. The Dart was optional with the 318 that had either 230 or 260 horsepower depending on the configuration.

The Dart 330 was the intermediate trim level on the Dart line and came with a cigarette lighter, rear armrests, front foam cushion, and additional body styles that included a nine-passenger station wagon and a hardtop coupe. The top-line Dart model was the Dart 440 SEries that added a few trim enhancements and interior accouterments.

The Polar 500 shared its chassis and body with the Dart series, differing from its sibling by its carpeting, bucket seats, dual exhaust, and larger 361 cubic-inch V8. It also had a Deluxe steering wheel, padded instrument panel, wheel covers, and an outside rearview mirror. Polara 500 body styles included a hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, and a convertible. Prices on the Polara 500 ranged from $2,960 to $3,260.

The Custom 880 had a 122-inch wheelbase and a length of 213.5 inches. It was a new luxury model that Dodge introduced on January 21st of 1962 hoping to fill part of the void left by the demise of its DeSoto line. It wore a Chrysler body with the front end of a 1961 Dodge, available in a wide range of body styles. The only available engines had eight-cylinders, and like the Polara and the Darts, a three-speed manual was standard. A three-speed TorqueFlite automatic was optional.

1962 was the final year for the Lancer name on the compact Dodge platform. The Lancer became a stand-alone model in 1961, based heavily on the year-old Valiant, and targeted the small car sales market. The Valiant, previously retailed by all Plymouth, Dodge, and Chrysler dealers, was officially badged a Plymouth.

The base Lancer was the Lancer 170 Series and was offered as a two- and four-door sedan, and a two-door station wagon. The Lancers rested on a 106.5-inch wheelbase and measured 188.8-inches in length. Only minor updates were applied to the Lancer in its final year of production, with slightly restyled taillights, and the convex grille had both vertical and horizontal bars replacing the previous horizontal bars of 1961. Chrome trim was used around the windshield and the rear window, and a short chrome stripe could be found on the rear fender feature line. The Lancer, in block letters, was located on the side of the front door, just below the front feature line. The Dodge name, in block letters, was placed on the trunk lid and a Dodge crest was on the front of the hood. Approximately 17,100 examples of the Lancer 170 were built in 1962.

The other Lancer option was the top-of-the-line Lancer 770, with all the body styles of its Lancer 170 sibling plus a GT Hardtop Coupe priced at $2,260. The two-door sedan was priced at $2,050, the sedan at $2,110, and the station wagon at $2,400.

All of the 1962 Dodge Lancers were equipped with six-cylinder engines. The GT came with the larger 225 CID Slant Six, full wheel covers, optional two-tone exterior paint treatment, pleated all-vinyl bucket seats, and a padded dash.

Transmission options included a 3-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic 'Torque-Flite' with pushbutton controls.

Dodge built approximately 26,100 examples of the Lancer 770 with 14,140 of those being the GT. Lancer 770 models received exterior trim and a plusher interior than their Lancer 170 siblings. The Lancer 770 was priced approximately $100 higher than the Lancer 170 equivalents.

by Dan Vaughan

GT Hardtop Coupe

By 1961, in the fight for small car sales, Detroit was all in. Lancer, a new Dodge entry for 1961 was based heavily on the year-old Valiant. And in a showroom shuffle, the Valiant, previously retailed by all Plymouth, Dodge and Chrysler dealers, was officially badged a Plymouth.

The 1961 Lancer substituted Valiant's Mercedes-like grille for a more conventional, full-width design that bore resemblance to the 1960 Pontiac. Body styles included a four-door sedan, two-door sedan, two-door hardtop, and four-door station wagon. A 170 cubic-inch Slant Six engine, rated at 101 horsepower, was standard and a 145 horsepower, 225 cubic-inch version was available. Transmission choices included a 3-speed manual, or a 3-speed automatic 'Torque-Flite' with pushbutton controls.

For 1962, the Lancer added a sporty 'GT' two-door hardtop model. With pleated all-vinyl bucket seats, padded dash, an optional two-tone exterior paint treatment and full wheel covers, the GT was an immediate success. Other revisions for 1962 included an updated grille texture and new color palette.

This Lancer GT was purchased in 2010 from the original owner's estate.

Before the creation of the Daimler Chrysler in 1998, the Dodge Lancer was the model for the Dodge division and used to denote models three times in its history.

Designating both two and four-door pillarless hardtop models in the Coronet, Royal, and Custom Royal lines, the Lancer name was used by Dodge from 1955 to 1959.

A two-door hardtop version of the mid-level models designed by Dodge in 1955, the Lancer ran in the production line until 1960.

On V8 powered models, a V8 emblem was customized to the side, just below the V in the side trim.

The Lancer name was passed on to a clone on the compact model Valiant which was met with huge success during 1961. Given round taillights with full-width grilles, Lancers used a Slant-6 engine.

South Africa introduced a right-hand drive version of the Lancer that was sold from 1961 to 1963 though renamed as the DeSota Rebel. Equipped with the same 170 in³ Slant 6 engine, most came with the 3-speed manual transmission. In accordance with South African vehicle equipment regulation, white reflectors were mounted to the front bumper.

Though not meeting sales expectations, possibly due to the total resign of Dodge's compact car line, the Lancer was discontinued in 1963.

Re-introduced in 1985, a mid-sized 5-door hatchback version cloned from Chrysler LeBaron GTS and based on the Chrysler H platform.

Replaced by the Spirit, production ended April 7, 1989.

All production and design work was done in Sterling Heights Michigan.

by Jessican Donaldson