From new structures to the muscle-car era

Dodge entered the 1960s with new engineering and new nameplates. The first Dodge Dart, a midsize model, appeared in 1960, and in 1964 the brand celebrated its 50th anniversary as the Dodge Charger concept debuted.

Through the decade Chrysler helped create the American muscle-car market with affordable high-performance cars, among them the Dodge Charger.

The 1960s muscle-car boom gave Dodge a performance image that would last for decades. The 1970s were harder: foreign competition and an economic slowdown challenged every American automaker, Chrysler included.

The Charger began as a concept shown in 1964, ahead of the production car that followed. The Dodge Challenger made its debut in 1970 and paced the Indianapolis 500 that year. In 1976 Dodge introduced the compact Aspen.

Dodge remained a Chrysler brand throughout the period. Lee Iacocca was appointed Chrysler's president in 1978, and on September 7, 1979 Chrysler petitioned the U.S. government for $1.5 billion in loan guarantees to avoid bankruptcy. Congress approved the loan guarantees on December 21, 1979.

Starting with the 1960 model year, Chrysler built Dodge full-size cars with unibody construction — an approach that became the industry standard for mass-produced vehicles.

The Charger and the Challenger became the defining Dodge performance nameplates of the era, while models such as the Dart and the Aspen served buyers looking for midsize and compact cars.