Dodge Dart GLH Concept: A Modern Tribute to a Classic Icon

The Dart that might have been. Most folks forget that FCA under its merger agreement was under enormous pressure to meet fuel economy numbers imposed on the Dart. What came at launch was a significantly European engineering design, utilizing Fiat like proven mechanics that ignored American tastes and needs. I am to this day stunned that the attractive, comfortable and capable Dart was so bungled by FCA that it never became a huge success. Once again Triple T and I agree, with some design changes, the Dart would have been so much better received, but first impressions saddled the car from launch and FCA never updated it enough to overcome their mistakes. Darn GLH looks great to this day, does it not? ll think the Dart, based on my driving experiences with one, was a really nice car. Sadly, the Dart became a convenient target for journalist who found a punching bag to go after to grab onto a negative story line that was repeated for years. First impressions just matter forever sometimes.
Indeed, looking here at this Dart we truly must speculate about the Dart that might have been, if only.....

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The Dart that might have been. Most folks forget that FCA under its merger agreement was under enormous pressure to meet fuel economy numbers imposed on the Dart. What came at launch was a significantly European engineering design, utilizing Fiat like proven mechanics that ignored American tastes and needs. I am to this day stunned that the attractive, comfortable and capable Dart was so bungled by FCA that it never became a huge success. Once again Triple T and I agree, with some design changes, the Dart would have been so much better received, but first impressions saddled the car from launch and FCA never updated it enough to overcome their mistakes. Darn GLH looks great to this day, does it not? ll think the Dart, based on my driving experiences with one, was a really nice car. Sadly, the Dart became a convenient target for journalist who found a punching bag to go after to grab onto a negative story line that was repeated for years. First impressions just matter forever sometimes.
Indeed, looking here at this Dart we truly must speculate about the Dart that might have been, if only.....

Have owned two. Son still has one with 150000 plus miles and he won’t let go of it for anything. Great cars. What a shame that it didn’t catch on better.

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Sigh….another in a long line of vehicles that should have been. Sadly, the Dart was killed too early, as with its bigger brother Chrysler 200. Great cars and absolutely fell in love with them (especially the 200). Part of the failure with Dart was they flat out came out and said “we’re going to do an SRT Dart” and…..never did. The rumors were all wheel drive, and about 300hp. Well heck yes, sign me up! And it never came to fruition. Doesn’t help when your CEO blasts the cars as not good in public, Sergio really did dumb there.

He blasted them because FCA was losing their rear on them, it was obsolete before it even hit the market. He was pretty Salty that he was talked into spending billions on a clear loser as the market for transport sedans collapsed. It could have been class leading, reviewed better than the Accord, and still a loser at Sterling Height cost structure. Dart was mandated by the Fed to secure saving the company.

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