Dart Agonistes

"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01) 11/05/2014 at 16:10 • Filed to: dodge dart

5

32

Believe it or not, this small tweak bothered me as a little kid. 1972 - front end looked great:

Then the neighbor lady came home with a stripped version of this:

For 1973 - why the ode-to-Pontiac nose? Ruins a nice clean front end design. It's a small thing, but it always bugged me. Any change that bugged you?

505Turbeaux > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 16:21

3

Nova 72

73 Nova

Always bothered me

Coty > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 16:21

0

Yeah. That one.

ACESandEIGHTS > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 16:23

4

I loved how the Dart was both old-lady and classic muscle... in the same car.

What change bugged me? The untimely death of Pontiac, which was in its ascendancy.

But seriously: 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse was still hanging on by a very fine thread. Then 2000 hits and it's a... Mini 3000? Complete with shitty Grand-Am-like, uh, scalloped doors?

1999

2000

Steve in Manhattan > 505Turbeaux 11/05/2014 at 16:23

0

That is unfortunate.

Steve in Manhattan > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 16:29

3

And, of course it's not a small change, but the grandaddy of them all:

To this:

Steve in Manhattan > ACESandEIGHTS 11/05/2014 at 16:30

1

Agreed. I can't think of an instance when those doors ever improved a design.

crowmolly > 505Turbeaux 11/05/2014 at 16:33

1

Tucking the bumpers on a '73-'74 is a popular mod

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 16:37

3

you have every right to be annoyed by that.

Being the Montego Man there is my grille (68-69):

1970: Mercury wat are you doing?!

1972: MERCURY STAHP

505Turbeaux > crowmolly 11/05/2014 at 16:44

0

my ex's brother has a 74 with tucked bumpers, a fuel injected 427 and a 6 speed. And it is purple. And I love it

505Turbeaux > Coty 11/05/2014 at 16:47

0

I figured you would be in for the 66

vs 67 Beetle headlight change. Gawd I hate that

Coty > 505Turbeaux 11/05/2014 at 16:48

0

My '67s a Euro, so '66 lights. No worries.

Boxer_4 > ACESandEIGHTS 11/05/2014 at 16:50

1

The scalloped doors were an easy fix on the 3G Eclipse. All that was needed were the doors off of a Dodge Status coupe. Just swap out the glass and the door cards, and you're set.

I wish I could find a picture of a non-riced out one with the doors swapped.

Steve in Manhattan > 505Turbeaux 11/05/2014 at 16:58

1

And here's my GM bitch - dad had a '69 Impala - the rear end:

Then, in 1970:

Change for change's sake? Why do this? Uglier.

505Turbeaux > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 16:59

0

agreed on that one too. I realized I can go so deep on this just in VW's, not to mention all the mindless changes the domestics did

SonorousSpeedJoe > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 17:18

1

The refresh of the previous-generation Camry. I thought it looked fine when it debuted despite everyone else lamenting the melted-butter styling, and then they made a slight adjustment by extending the headlights slightly further downward. It's such a stupidly small change, and yet it completely ruined that generation of the Camry in my eyes by making it look melted enough that I just couldn't bring myself to like it.

2007-2008:

2009-2011:

Steve in Manhattan > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/05/2014 at 17:19

0

This is a prime example - not only did the car gain weight, the styling got worse! The 1969 front end was understated (for the time) and looked good even w/ 4 headlamps.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 17:20

0

That's nothing compared to the war crime that was the 1973 B-body refresh.

1972 Satellite ^^^^ (LOOP BUMPER!!!!)

1973 Satellite. (GAAAAAGG)

Steve in Manhattan > 505Turbeaux 11/05/2014 at 17:21

1

Go deep! My project is on hiatus, and I can't watch election results anymore.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 17:22

0

Does that count though? The Bigstangs were a whole different generation than the II. Although yes, it is a very drastic change

Steve in Manhattan > SonorousSpeedJoe 11/05/2014 at 17:23

0

Agreed - the later car looks more amorphous, less ... like a car.

Steve in Manhattan > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 11/05/2014 at 17:24

0

Probably doesn't count in the context of this discussion. On the other hand, the larger car disappeared, and we left with a misshapen lump to replace what was arguably a classic.

Steve in Manhattan > 505Turbeaux 11/05/2014 at 17:32

1

This might be controversial, but I always thought this:

was an improvement on this:

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 17:33

0

This is very true.

505Turbeaux > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 17:35

0

I disagree with this, but really only slightly. I have little love for either of those!

Steve in Manhattan > Coty 11/05/2014 at 17:39

1

Again, this might be controversial, but I thought the Super Beetle improved on the 'original' offered at the time.

Coty > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 17:44

0

They ride better and have more space in side but they are buy far the ugliest way to own an ACVW, and they're harder to lower like I do with mine.

Steve in Manhattan > 505Turbeaux 11/05/2014 at 17:44

0

Chevy ruled the roost in those days when it came to full-size 2 and 4 doors. That 77-forward Impala was nearly every police car. They sold hundreds of thousands of them.

Philbert/Phartnagle > Steve in Manhattan 11/06/2014 at 03:13

0

Much love!

Philbert/Phartnagle > Steve in Manhattan 11/06/2014 at 03:14

0

Much MEH!

Philbert/Phartnagle > Steve in Manhattan 11/06/2014 at 03:15

0

Yeah, I was almost physically sick when I saw the first 74' model.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Steve in Manhattan 11/06/2014 at 09:33

0

Yeah the grille is actually one of my favorite features and why I'd never own a 70+ Montego. Which is a shame because I liked the rest of the bodies on them.

But god, the beak kills me. Maybe this was Acura's reference recently?

Steve in Manhattan > Philbert/Phartnagle 11/06/2014 at 10:51

1

Thank you. It's a small thing, I know, but I noticed it at the time, even as a little kid.