| Dodge Lancer | |
|---|---|
 1962 Dodge Lancer 170 2-Door Sedan | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Dodge (Chrysler) |
| Production | 1955–1959 1960–1962 1984–1989 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | FR layoutA-body (for 1961–62) FF layoutH-body (for 1985–89) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Dodge Dart (for 1963) Dodge Spirit (for 1989) |
TheDodge Lancer is anautomobile that was marketed in three unrelated versions byDodge during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s. The first version debuted as ahardtop version of thefull-sized1955 Dodge, and was produced in that form until 1959. The second version revived the nameplate in 1961 for aChrysler A platform-basedcompact that was marketed for two model years and replaced by theDodge Dart. The third version returned the Lancer nameplate in 1985 for a front-wheel drivemid-sizedChrysler H platform model that was in production until 1988 after which it was replaced by theDodge Spirit.
Dodge used the Lancer name from 1955 until 1959 to designate the two- and four-doorhardtop (no B-pillar) models in the full-sizedCoronet, Royal, and Custom Royal lines. The Custom Royal Lancer was a hardtop only and top-of-the-line model for Dodge in 1959. There were 6,278 two-door and 5,019 four-door hardtops made in 1959. A total of 11,397 Custom Royal Lancers were built.
The Custom Royal Lancer featured a big-block V8 engine, the 361 cu in (5.9 L) producing 305 hp (227 kW; 309 PS). A D-500 option was available, which included a 383 cu in (6.3 L) engine with a single Carter four-barrel carburetor rated at 320 hp (239 kW; 324 PS), as well as a Super D-500 version with dual four-barrel carburetors producing 340 hp (254 kW; 345 PS).
The Custom Royal Lancer featured a padded dashboard and steering wheel, Lancer emblems on the fenders, steering wheel, hubcaps, foot-operated windshield wipers, dual-radio antennas, deluxe side trim, and thick chrome eyebrows. Optional equipment included power windows and brakes, air conditioning, andswivel seats. The Lancer designation was dropped for 1960.
| 1961–1962 | |
|---|---|
1962 Dodge Lancer 170 2-Door Sedan | |
| Overview | |
| Also called | DeSoto Rebel (South Africa) |
| Production | 1960–1962 |
| Model years | 1961–1962 |
| Assembly |
|
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact |
| Body style | 2/4-doorsedan 2-doorhardtop 4-doorwagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | A-body |
| Related | Plymouth Valiant Chrysler Valiant |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 170 cu in (2.8 L)Slant-6 225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant-6 |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual 3-speedA904automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 106.5 in (2,705 mm)[1] |
| Length | 188.8 in (4,796 mm)[1] |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Dodge Dart |
For the 1961model year, Dodge applied the Lancer nameplate to a higher-priced, upmarketbadge-engineered version of Chrysler'sValiant compact. The model was introduced whenChrysler officially assigned theValiant to thePlymouth division for 1961, leaving Dodge dealers without a compact car to sell. All body styles of the Valiant were also available on the Lancer: two- and four-door sedans, two-door hardtop, and a four-door wagon. After 1962, the line was renamed theDodge Dart.
A survey of 1961 Lancer owners byPopular Mechanics based on a total of 1,023,938-mile (1,647,868 km) miles driven reported that 77.6.2% rated their cars as excellent with handling, comfortable ride, power/performance, and styling as their top likes.[2]
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The Lancer wheelbase and body shell were identical to those of the Valiant, but interior and exterior trim were more upscale for the Lancer. Lancers featured roundtaillights and a full-width grille, instead of the Valiant's cat's-eye taillights and central grille. For 1961, trim levels were the basic "170" and the premium "770". During 1961, the two-door hardtop was marketed as the "Lancer 770 2-Door Hardtop".[1] For the 1962 model year, the hardtop was marketed as the "GT 2-Door Hardtop" and carried premium trim. Two-tone paint was available and instead of the front bench seat, there were two bucket seats. Also for the 1962 model, "Lancer GT" medallions were mounted on the doors' interior trim panels below the vent window and on the sides of the front fenders just aft of theheadlamps. "GT" emblems were placed on the hood, the deck lid, and on the vinyl dash pad. The headlamp bezels and the grille's horizontal slats were blacked-out. The GT also lacked certain ornamentation found on the 170s and 770s such as the "Lancer" door scripts, the slanted chrome hash marks on the lower quarter panel, and the hook-endedstainless steel door-to-fender spears.
The Lancer used theslant-6 engine. The base engine was the 170 cu in (2.8 L) unit, rated at 101 bhp (75 kW). The optional power package consisted of the larger 225 cu in (3.7 L) engine, rated at 145 bhp (108 kW). After the start of the 1961 model year, adie-castaluminum version of the 225 engine block was made available. The aluminum 225 weighed 45 lb (20 kg) less than the iron 170 and 80 lb (36 kg) less than the iron 225. Any of the available engines could be equipped at the dealer with Chrysler'sHyper Pak parts kit for a significant power upgrade: the 170 Hyper Pak's published output was 148 bhp (110 kW), while the 225 Hyper Pak's was 196 bhp (146 kW). The Hyper-Pak shaved more than four seconds off the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time versus the standard 225, and was over a second quicker and seven miles per hour faster in the quarter mile.[3] With the Hyper Pak, a 225 Lancer could go from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.6 seconds and turn in a standing quarter-mile time of 16.4 seconds.[4] 1962 cars had the engine and transmission moved for a flatter front floor.[5]
Transmission options were a Chrysler-built A903 three-speed manual with the shifter on the floor in 1961 and on the steering column in 1962, or a pushbutton-operated A904Torqueflite three-speed automatic.
In the 1962NHRA Winternationals, Wayne Weihe won the C/FX (Factory Experimental) class with a Hyper-Pak-equipped Lancer, clocking a 15.67 E.T.[3] Although the bigger Dodges were beginning to appear at drag strips around the country, the "Golden Lancer" of Dode Martin and Jim Nelson was one of the fastest compacts on the strips in 1962. The engine was a 413 cu in (6.77 liters)Chrysler RB V8 engine modified by the Chrysler engineers' "Ramchargers" racing team. The Golden Lancer raced successfully in A/FX class and could do the quarter-mile in 12.68 seconds at 113 mph (182 km/h).[4]
Lancer sales did not meet expectations[citation needed] and sold about half as well as the Valiant. As a late part of the total redesign of Dodge's compact car for 1963, the Lancer name was discontinued. Dodge compacts for 1963 through 1976 were namedDart, a name that had previously been assigned to a larger car produced by Dodge from 1960 through 1962.
InSouth Africa, aright hand drive version of the Lancer was sold from 1961 through 1963, badged as theDeSoto Rebel not long after theDeSoto name was discontinued in the U.S. All were equipped with the 170 cu in (2.8 L)Slant 6 engine, and most had the three-speed manual transmission. As with the AustralianRV1 and SV1 Valiants, the DeSoto Rebel used the instrument cluster from the U.S. 1961Plymouth Valiant. White reflectors were mounted to the front bumper, in compliance with South African vehicle equipment regulations.
The Rebel name was re-introduced by Chrysler South Africa in 1967 as the economy-priced "Valiant Rebel".
| 1985–1989 | |
|---|---|
 1988 Dodge Lancer ES Turbo | |
| Overview | |
| Production | August 1984–April 7, 1989 |
| Model years | 1985–1989 |
| Assembly | Sterling Heights, Michigan,United States |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style | 5-doorhatchback |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | H-body |
| Related | Chrysler LeBaron GTS Chrysler LeBaron Chrysler GTS (Europe) Shelby Lancer |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.2 L (134 cu in)KI4 2.2 L (134 cu in)Turbo I I4 2.2 L (134 cu in)Turbo II I4 2.5 L (153 cu in)K I4 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual 3-speedA413 automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 103.1 in (2,619 mm) |
| Length | 180.4 in (4,582 mm) |
| Width | 68.3 in (1,735 mm) |
| Height | 53 in (1,346 mm) |
The Dodge Lancer was re-introduced in 1985 as a mid-sized 5-doorhatchback. It was a rebadged version of theChrysler LeBaron GTS and was based on theChrysler H platform, a stretched version of theChrysler K platform. The Lancer eventually slotted between theAries and the600. All Lancers were built inSterling Heights,Michigan. Production ended on April 7, 1989, and the market position was replaced by theSpirit.
A special version was available for the 1987 model year called theShelby Lancer, which was built byShelby Automobiles in Whittier, California. A total of 800 units were produced with half featuring a 5-speed manual transmission and cloth seats while the other half were equipped with a 3-speed automatic transmission and leather upholstery.[6]
Along with Shelby-themed trim changes, the cars included modified suspension, with upgradedsway bars, shorter springs, and quicker steering, as well as 4-wheel disc brakes and aPioneer CD player which were an advanced features for the time.[6][7] The Lancer Shelby is powered by a 2.2 LTurbo I engine converted to Turbo II specifications with anintercooler, producing 175 hp (130 kW) and 175 lb⋅ft (237 N⋅m) of torque.[8] Period 0-60 mph (97 km/h) tests achieved between 7.2 and 8.0 seconds.[7][9]
Chrysler took over production starting with the 1988 model year, building them in the same Sterling Heights plant as regular Lancers.The "Dodge Lancer Shelby" featured many of the same appearance and handling modifications as the Shelby, with some omissions.[7] These included the upgradedsway bars, shorter springs, and quicker steering along with other comfort and convenience features such as leather seats, power locks, windows, seats and mirrors, a tilt steering wheel, and a two-position cup holder.[citation needed] While some of the modifications from the 1987 Shelbys were included, the Shelby shocks and wheels were replaced by Chrysler units and the rear disk brakes were discontinued in favor of the regular Lancer's rear drums.[6] Most of the Shelby graphics and badges were also removed and the Pioneer CD player was replaced by Chrysler's Infinity II system. While the 1987 models were only available in red, the 1988 and 1989 models added a choice of white or black.[8]
The Lancer Shelby used a trueintercooledTurbo II engine for themanual transmission version, providing the same 175 hp (130 kW) and 175 lb⋅ft (237 N⋅m) of torque. Theautomatic variant was equipped with the 146 hp (109 kW)Turbo I.[6] 279 Lancer Shelbys were produced in 1988 and 208 in 1989 for a total of 487 units.[7]
In April 1988, Chrysler started offering some models on the European market. One of them was the "Chrysler GTS", a rebadged version of the Dodge Lancer ES. Due toEuropean vehicle regulations, the exterior appearance was slightly different. The rearturn signals were amber rather than red, the frontsidemarkers and thecentre high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) were blanked off, small roundrepeaters were installed into the front fenders and thesideview mirrors were of spring-hinged rather than rigid design. The engine options included the naturally aspirated 2.2 L (134 cu in) Four, and a turbocharged version of the same engine. From 1989 on, the 2.5 L (153 cu in) Four became available with or without a turbocharger. The 2.2 engine was dropped, except for the Turbo II version that was standard equipment on the Chrysler GTS Shelby, the European sibling of theDodge Lancer Shelby. A five-speed manual gearbox was standard, with a three-speed automatic transmission as an extra-cost option. The GTS Shelby came only with a manual transmission.
The Chrysler GTS had few buyers in Europe; the competition was too hard. Even the comparatively low prices could not help, and sales figures were very low. By the end of 1989, the GTS was replaced by theSaratoga.
Production Figures:
| Hatchback | Shelby | Yearly Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 45,853 | - | 45,853 |
| 1986 | 51,897 | - | 51,897 |
| 1987 | 26,569 | - | 26,569 |
| 1988 | 9,064 | 279 | 9,343 |
| 1989 | 2,585 | 208 | 2,793 |
| Total | 135,968 | 487 | 136,455 |
