What is the Plymouth equivalent to the Dodge Dart?
The Plymouth equivalent to the Dodge Dart is the Plymouth Barracuda, with later years featuring the Plymouth Duster as a direct, budget-friendly counterpart. Both models shared Chrysler’s A-body platform with the Dart, serving distinct market niches within the same family of cars.
To understand the relationship, it helps to see how Dodge and Plymouth aligned their compact and mid-size offerings on the same engineering backbone. The Dart evolved through several generations (and body styles) from 1960 onward, while Plymouth offered two principal siblings—the Barracuda in the mid-1960s and the Duster in the early 1970s—that shared underlying architecture and performance-oriented goals with the Dart.
Historical pairing of Plymouth models with the Dodge Dart
Below are the primary Plymouth models that historically served as the Dart’s closest counterparts on the same Chrysler A-body platform.
- Plymouth Barracuda (1964–1974) — A two-door coupe that shared the A-body underpinnings with the Dodge Dart, established as Plymouth's sportier alternative during the mid-1960s.
- Plymouth Duster (1970–1976) — A budget-friendly, performance-oriented two-door coupe built on the same platform as the Dart, introduced to broaden appeal with a lighter, more affordable option.
These pairings illustrate how Dodge and Plymouth leveraged shared architectures to offer distinct personalities within the same model family, catering to different buyer tastes while maintaining common engineering.
Why this matters for collectors and enthusiasts
Understanding the Dart’s Plymouth counterparts helps explain how Chrysler balanced brand identity with shared engineering. The Barracuda is often celebrated for its styling and performance emphasis in the mid-60s, while the Duster represents the more accessible, stripe-friendly side of the era’s sportiness. For collectors, matching Dart options with their Plymouth peers can simplify restoration choices and provide authentic-era context.
Summary
In summary, the Plymouth equivalent to the Dodge Dart is best identified as the Barracuda in the 1960s, followed by the Duster in the 1970s. Both Plymouth models shared the same Chrysler A-body platform and complemented the Dart by offering distinct styles and price points within the same engineering family. This pairing reflects Chrysler’s strategy of diversifying a single platform to meet varied customer preferences.
What was the Plymouth version of the Dodge Dart?
The Plymouth versions of the Dodge Dart, particularly the fastback coupes, were the Plymouth Duster (1970-1976) and the Plymouth Scamp (1971-1976). The Duster was a direct response to the Darts' success and was built on the same A-body platform as the Dart, but with some key styling differences, such as the grille and rear trim. The Scamp was a slightly different, more basic version.
You can watch this video to learn more about the history of the Dodge Dart and how it relates to the Plymouth Valiant: 1mAmerica's Transportation Experience / AACA Museum YouTube · Dec 18, 2024
- Dodge Dart was Dodge's version on the Chrysler A-body platform. It was a compact, affordable, and sporty car that was available in a variety of body styles.
- Plymouth Duster was the Plymouth version of the Dodge Dart, also built on the A-body platform. It was a success for the Chrysler Corporation, and Dodge requested its own version.
- Plymouth Scamp was a budget-friendly version of the Duster, which was also available in 1971-1976.
You can watch this video to see a 1973 Plymouth Scamp and learn about some of its modifications: 50sDead Dodge GarageYouTube · Apr 13, 2025
What was the Dodge version of the Plymouth Duster?
The Dodge version of the Plymouth Duster was the Dodge Demon, introduced in 1971. The two cars were essentially the same vehicle mechanically, sharing the Mopar A-body platform, but had distinct front and rear styling. The Demon was replaced by the Dart Sport for the 1973 model year due to a negative public reaction to the Demon name and horned devil logo.
You can watch this video to see a walkaround of a 1974 Hemi Duster: 59sHigh Octane ClassicsYouTube · Mar 17, 2025
- Dodge Demon: The Demon was Dodge's 1971 to 1972 rebadged version of the Duster.
- Similarities: It was built on the same Mopar A-body platform as the Duster, meaning the two cars were very similar underneath the body panels.
- Differences: The primary differences were the front end treatment and the taillights, which were unique to each brand.
- Name change: The "Demon" name and devilish logo were controversial and were replaced with the "Dart Sport" for the 1973 model year.
What's the difference between a Dart and a Duster?
The Demon and Dart Sport was the Dodge version while Duster was a Plymouth. Most of the sheet metal was the same between the Dodge and the Plymouth, except the front grille and the rear trim between the taillights. The Dart Sport had the infamous "beak" front grille while the Duster retained the Scamp front grille.
Is a Plymouth Valiant the same as a Dodge Dart?
The Dart was available in all the same body styles as the Valiant, except there was no Dodge equivalent of the Barracuda. All Darts used a larger, 111 in (2,800 mm) wheelbase, except for wagons which used the Valiant's 106 in (2,700 mm) wheelbase.
