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| Dodge Phoenix | |
|---|---|
 1960 Dodge PD4 Phoenix | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Australia |
| Production | 1960–1972 |
| Assembly | Mile End, Australia Tonsley Park, Australia Port Melbourne, Australia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door hardtop |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Dodge Dart Dodge 440 Plymouth Fury |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 318 cu in (5.2 L) V8 383 cu in (6.3 L) V8 |
| Transmission | 3spd automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | (1968) 119.0 in (3023 mm)[1] |
| Length | (1968) 213.1 in (5413 mm)[1] |
| Width | (1968) 77.7 in (1974 mm)[1] |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Dodge Custom Royal |
| Successor | Chrysler by Chrysler |
The Dodge Phoenix is an automobile which was produced by Chrysler Australia from 1960 to 1972.
The Phoenix was introduced in May 1960 as an Australian assembled version[2] of the American Dodge Dart,[3] 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.[4] All Phoenixes for Australia had right-hand drive.
The Phoenix was subsequently restyled in line with the 1961 and 1962 Dodge Dart. For 1963 the new TD2 series Phoenix was derived from the US Dodge 440,[5] and for 1965 and beyond the Phoenix was based on the Canadian Plymouth Fury III.[6] Like the 1965 Fury, the 1965 Phoenix featured vertically stacked headlamps.[3] A four-door hardtop body style joined the sedan in 1967.[4] The hardtop was fitted with a 383 cubic inch V8 engine[4] whilst the sedan continued with the smaller 318 cubic inch V8.[4] The two body styles continued to be offered until the Australian Phoenix was discontinued.[7] In addition, variants of the slightly longer U.S. station wagon were sold from the beginning for duty as hearses. Eventually, these were modified with two doors and oversized rear quarter windows, in the British hearse tradition.
Although the 1965 and later Phoenixes were basically Plymouth Furys, they did feature the North American style full size Dodge Polara instrument panel (adapted for right hand drive). They also continued to use the old-fashioned "clapper" windshield wipers (while North American models used modern parallel-action wipers).
After the Phoenix was discontinued, the Australian-developed Chrysler by Chrysler inherited the role of the top level luxury model in Chrysler Australia's model range.
- ^ a b c Chrysler Australia sales brochure for 1968 Dodge Phoenix
- ^ Latest Dodge is Assembled here, Australian Motor Manual, 1 July 1960, page 11
- ^ a b The Phoenix Retrieved from allpar.com on 12 September 2008
- ^ a b c d Glass’s Dealer Guide, Passenger Vehicle Values, South Australian and Northern Territory Edition, June 1973, page 42
- ^ Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, 2010, page 84
- ^ Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, 2010, page 87
- ^ The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, pages 120-121