What years did Dodge make a 413 engine?
The Dodge 413 cubic-inch V8 was produced primarily in the 1959–1961 model years.
This article traces the engine’s timeline, explains its place in Dodge’s lineup, and clarifies how it fit into Chrysler’s broader big-block strategy during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Context: The 413 within Chrysler’s RB Big-Block Family
The 413 was part of Chrysler’s RB (raised-block) big-block family, a line that powered many Dodge and Plymouth vehicles in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was among the larger-displacement options available to Dodge during that period, offering strong low-end torque for full-size cars and fleets. The 413’s official production window for Dodge passenger cars is most often cited as 1959 through 1961, with occasional limited usage extending into 1962 in certain applications. The engine’s era ended as Chrysler reorganized its big-block lineup in the early 1960s and turned to newer designs in subsequent years.
The years listed below reflect the core window when Dodge commonly offered the 413 in its passenger-car lineup. Other Chrysler divisions and marine/industrial uses sometimes employed similar big-block variants, but those are outside the Dodge passenger-car context.
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
In summary, 1959–1961 comprise the main Dodge-facing production period for the 413 engine in passenger cars. There are reports of limited 1962 usage in a handful of models or markets, but the three-year window above represents the core era for Dodge’s 413-equipped cars.
Notes on Applications and Variants
During its run, the 413 powered a range of full-size Dodge models and served as Dodge’s largest displacement option before the lineup shifted to newer big-blocks. It was part of Chrysler’s broader strategy to offer higher-performance V8s in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a strategy that evolved as engineers introduced subsequent big-block developments in the mid-1960s.
- The 413 was used primarily in Dodge’s late-1950s to early-1960s full-size cars as part of the RB big-block lineup.
- As Chrysler refined its engine families, the 413 was gradually superseded by newer big-block designs in the early 1960s.
This shift helped pave the way for later Chrysler big-blocks that would define performance in the mid-to-late 1960s and into the 1970s.
Why the 413 Era Ended
In the early 1960s, Chrysler reorganized its big-block strategy, introducing newer displacement options and refining the RB family. The 413’s role diminished as models moved toward engines like larger or more advanced variations within the big-block lineup. By the mid-1960s, the market had shifted toward other configurations and the 413 was largely retired from Dodge’s primary production roster, though its lineage lived on in related big-block family members that persisted in use for various applications.
Summary
Dodges with the 413 engine primarily span the 1959–1961 model years, marking a brief but significant period in Chrysler’s late-1950s to early-1960s big-block era. The engine delivered substantial torque for its time and helped define Dodge’s performance posture before newer big-block designs took center stage in the mid-1960s and beyond.
