Dodge Phoenix

Dodge Phoenix
1960 Dodge PD4 Phoenix
Overview
Manufacturer	Chrysler Australia
Production	1960 to 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)
Length	(1968) 213.1 in (5413 mm)
Width	(1968) 77.7 in (1974 mm)
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 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 in line with the 1961 and 1962 Dodge Dart. For 1963 the new TD2 series Phoenix was derived from the US Dodge 440, and for 1965 and beyond the Phoenix was based on the Canadian Plymouth Fury III. Like the 1965 Fury, the 1965 Phoenix featured vertically stacked headlamps. A four-door hardtop body style joined the sedan in 1967. The hardtop 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 Australian Phoenix was discontinued. 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.

The first Australian Dodge Phoenix, coded the PD4, was released in May 1960. A Canadian Dodge with a Plymouth dashboard, it was imported in CKD packs and assembled at Chrysler Australia's Mile End facility. The PD4 Phoenix was offered only as a 4-door sedan, in two trim levels, the De Luxe and the Luxury Liner. The PD4 had a 118-inch wheelbase and was powered by a 318 cubic inch OHV V8 engine. The Phoenix name was derived from the Dodge Dart Phoenix.