Dodge Matador

The Matador was one of two new models produced by Dodge in 1960 when the marque dropped its long-running Coronet, Custom, Custom Royal, and Lancer models.{{cite web |url= https://www.allpar.com/threads/1960-dodge-cars-dart-polara-and-matador.227927/#post-1085222025 |title=1960 Dodge cars: Dart, Polara, and Matador |date=16 November 2020 |website=allpar.com |access-date=24 June 2022}} Sharing the same newly engineered unibody platform as the slightly smaller Dodge Dart, the Matador was designated Dodge's full-size base trim vehicle, with the Dodge Polara becoming the make's full-sized premium model.{{cite web |title=1960-1961 Dodge Polara/Matador |date=28 November 2007 |website=How Stuff Works |url= http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1960-1961-dodge-polara-matador.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210123235702/http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1960-1961-dodge-polara-matador.htm |archive-date=23 January 2021 |access-date=14 June 2022}} The Matador line was positioned as a lower priced option to the Polara line to serve as the base-level, full-size car to above the newly introduced and successful {{convert|118|in|mm|0|adj=on}} wheelbase Dart series.{{cite web |title=1960 Dodge Matador: Full-Sized, One Year Only Mopar |url= https://www.throttlextreme.com/1960-dodge-matador-full-sized-one-year-mopar/ |website=throttlextreme.com |date=11 June 2022 |access-date=24 June 2022}} However, full-sized cars in the U.S. market were at their lowest sales level since the end of World War II, and 1959 was not the best time to launch a new nameplate into the full-size segment for the 1960 model year.{{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Adam |title=One Year Only: 1960 Dodge Matador |url= https://barnfinds.com/one-year-only-1960-dodge-matador/ |work=Barn Finds |date=4 May 2019 |access-date=24 June 2022}}

The 1960 Matador and Polara were built on {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} longer wheelbase along with the 1960 DeSoto and Chrysler models. All Matadors featured a standard "Super Red Ram" {{convert|295|hp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} {{convert|361|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} V8 engine. The "D-500 with Ram Induction" {{convert|383|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} with dual four-barrel carburetors was optional, along with a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission.{{cite web|url= http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/dodge/60dwag/bilder/13.jpg |title=Dodge Dart and 1960 Dodge Station Wagon Specifications |page=13 |website=lov2xlr8.no |access-date=24 June 2022}} Similarly to other contemporary Chrysler automobiles, the automatic transmission was controlled by mechanical pushbuttons on the left side of the instrument panel.

The Matador (and the similar, better-trimmed Polara) featured styling cues that were carried over from 1959 models, themselves an evolution of Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" cars introduced in 1957. Exner was responsible for some of the most memorable vehicles during the tailfin era.{{cite web |last1=Strohl |first1=Daniel |title=Concours of America to honor Virgil Exner's automotive designs with special class |url= https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2013/11/21/concours-of-america-to-honor-virgil-exners-automotive-designs-with-special-class |work=Hemmings |date=21 November 2013 |access-date=24 June 2022}} The 1960 Dodge version has been described as a "rocket age design."{{cite web |title=1960 Dodge Matador 4 dr sedan |url= http://www.autoarcheologist.com/1960-dodge-matador-4-dr-sedan.html |website=autoarcheologist.com |date=2013 |access-date=24 June 2022}} Now built on a new unibody chassis, the 1960 Matador continued the Dodge styling hallmarks of stacked "jet pod" taillights; however, the size of the lights was greatly exaggerated, with the lower light set into the rear bumper. The design also incorporated Dodge's shortened tailfins, which included small vertical taillight lenses placed on the vertical surface at the back of the fin. The shortened fin was meant to exaggerate the length of the "jet pods" holding the taillights. The front end featured a small grille comprising six stacks of aluminum rectangles nested in a massive, complex front bumper assembly.

The interior featured cloth and vinyl bench seats with premium trim and an "X-within-an-X four-spoke steering wheel." The dashboard was "space-age-styled," featuring a bridged-over sweep-style speedometer on top flanked by gauge pods and an optional "revolving turret clock" centered on the instrument panel. The "satellite-styled" clock featured a stationary pointer with the hour numerals on the top revolving dial, minutes on the lower dial, and the seconds by an orbiting red dot.{{cite web|url= https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/auction-classic/curbside-classic-1960-dodge-matador-polara-incredible-cars-somehow-overlooked/ |title=Curbside Classic: 1960 Dodge Matador & Polara—Incredible Cars Somehow Overlooked |first=Stephen |last=Pellegrino |date=5 April 2024 |website=curbsideclassic.com |access-date=23 May 2024}} Other options included vacuum door locks on four-door models and new front swivel seats with a folding center armrest.{{cite web|url= https://oldcarbrochures.org/United%20States/Dodge/1960_Dodge/1960-Dodge-Polara-and-Matador-Brochure-Lg/slides/1960_Dodge_Polara_and_Matador_Lg-15.html |title=1960 Dodge Polara and Matador large brochure |page=15 |website=oldcarbrochures.org |access-date=23 May 2024}} The seat automatically rotated out upon opening the door and returned to position when closing the door.{{cite web|url= https://www.motorcities.org/story-of-the-week/2023/the-1960-dodge-polaras-matadors-offered-aircraft-styling |title=The 1960 Dodge Polaras & Matadors Offered Aircraft Styling |first=Robert |last=Tate |date=9 August 2023 |website=motorcities.org |access-date=23 May 2024}}

All 1960 Dodge station wagons used the {{convert|122|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} wheelbase providing {{convert|98.5|cuft|2}} of cargo space with the back seats folded flat. The Matador trim was available in six- or nine-passenger (with a rear-facing third-row bench seat) versions, both featuring a roll-down rear window into the tailgate.{{cite web|url= http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/dodge/60dwag/bilder/8.jpg |title=Dodge Dart and 1960 Dodge Station Wagon Specifications |page=8 |website=lov2xlr8.no |access-date=24 June 2022}}

The Matador had less exterior chrome trim and plainer interiors than the Polara. The majority of cars built by Dodge and sold during the 1960 model year were in Dodge's new "smaller" and less expensive full-sized model, the Dodge Dart, which fielded three sub-series (Seneca, Pioneer, and Phoenix) of its own.

A total of 27,908 Dodge Matadors were produced for the 1960 model year. The Low sales volume of the Matador, the continuing popularity of the Dart models, and the launch of the compact Lancer meant the Matador nameplate was dropped for the 1961 model year leaving only the Polara as the full-size Dodge.

The Matador nameplate was later used by AMC from 1971 until 1978 for its mid- and full-sized AMC Matador cars.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Corey |title=Rare Rides Icons: The AMC Matador, Medium, Large, and Personal (Part I) |url= https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/12/rare-rides-icons-the-amc-matador-medium-large-and-personal-part-i/ |work=The Truth About Cars |date=29 December 2021 |access-date=24 June 2022}} Coincidentally, Chrysler went on to purchase American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1987.{{cite news |last1=Holusha |first1=John |title=Chrysler is buying American Motors; Cost is $1.5 billion |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/10/business/chrysler-is-buying-american-motors-cost-is-1.5-billion.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 March 1987 |access-date=24 June 2022}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|editor-last=Gunnell |editor-first=John |title=The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 |publisher=Krause Publications |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-87341-096-0 }}

{{commons cat}}

• {{imcdb vehicle|make=Dodge|model=Matador|Dodge Matador}}

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{{Dodge early timeline}}

Matador

Category:Full-size vehicles

Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles

Category:Coupés

Category:Sedans

Category:Station wagons

Category:Cars introduced in 1960