How many 1966 Dodge Darts were made?
There isn’t a single, universally accepted total for 1966 Dodge Darts. Most credible estimates place production in the low-to-mid hundreds of thousands when counting all body styles and trims, roughly between 150,000 and 200,000 units.
What counts as a 1966 Dodge Dart?
The 1966 Dodge Dart refers to a mid-size car produced in several body styles and trims during the 1966 model year. Distinguishing between the various variants—such as the standard Dart, the Dart Custom, and the sportier Dart GT (including potential convertible versions)—matters because some tallies count only the base Dart while others include all Dart-branded variants. Additionally, some counts separate U.S. market units from export or Canadian builds, which can further affect totals.
Scope and variants
Before looking at totals, it helps to understand that different sources may include or exclude certain versions of the Dart family. The following factors influence how many Darts are counted as 1966 models:
- Whether the count includes all body styles (sedans, hardtops, convertibles) or only certain ones.
- Whether trims such as the Dart Custom or Dart GT are treated as separate models or as part of the Dart family.
- Whether foreign-market Dart units are included in the tally.
- How model-year dating is assigned for late- or early-production Dart units.
These variables help explain why a single, precise number may not be published consistently across sources.
What do production tallies suggest?
Production tallies for the 1966 Dodge Dart vary by source and counting method. The consensus among historians and classic-car references places Dart production for 1966 in the broad range of 150,000 to 200,000 units when all body styles and trims are counted. Some sources that tally by year but exclude certain variants will report lower figures, while others that include multiple markets report higher totals. The lack of a single standardized count is common with mid-20th-century models that spanned several trims and export markets.
To illustrate how counts differ, here are the common sources of variation commonly discussed by enthusiasts—but note that none provide a definitive, universally agreed single number for all 1966 Darts.
- Chrysler historical records tend to emphasize overall model-year production but may not publish a neat, public-by-year, by-variant total for the Dart family.
- Hemmings Motor News and similar classic-car references often present year-by-year totals that can mix Dart variants depending on the article or data sheet.
- Online encyclopedias and hobbyist databases sometimes pull from factory records but differ in whether they separate or combine trims and export models.
Given these nuances, collectors typically describe the 1966 Dart total as a well-supported range rather than a precise figure.
Bottom line and estimates
In practical terms, the best available guidance places the 1966 Dodge Dart production, counting all body styles and trims, roughly between 150,000 and 200,000 units. The exact number depends on which variants are included and which markets are counted. There is no single, universally accepted total published in public records.
Summary
There is no definitive published tally for exactly how many 1966 Dodge Darts were produced. Estimates converge on a broad band—approximately 150,000 to 200,000 units when all variants and markets are considered. The precise figure varies with counting methods and source material, reflecting the era’s diverse Dart lineup and archival practices. For collectors, this translates into an understood range rather than a precise count, underscoring the Dart’s prominent presence in the mid-1960s automotive landscape.
