With the driving types in mind, Dodge is introducing a Dart Sport Rallye coupe for the mid-1973 mode year.
"In an industry-wide shift of many buyers away from the muscle or specialty compact car, there has been a trend toward the smaller, less powerful car which is both economical and fun to drive," said Robert D. Loomis, Dodge general sales manager. "And the Dart Rallye is just such a car for men and women who enjoy driving."
Loomis acknowledged that "great advancements have been made in the auto industry since the days of goggles and long white coats. The trend by car builders and designers over the years has been to respond to buyer demands for comfort, safety, appearance, convenience, ease of operation and silence."
Today's cars are all of these desirable things--so much so, that there isn't much for the operator to do after turning on the ignition but steer and stay alert.
"For people who regard their car only as transportation, that's fine," Loomis said.
"But there always has been and still is a large number of aficionados, whose greatest enjoyment from their car is in the very pleasure of driving. These are people who appreciate the engineering that goes into smoothly meshing gears. They get satisfaction from grasping and operating a stick shift manual transmission, from the feel of smooth cornering, snug braking, and from a car's balanced lean on a winding road."
There is a distinct difference between this car buff that separates him from the racy type for whom power is the primary gratification.
The name Rallye identifies with that type of driving that invites skill and coordination in operation, not just acceleration. The Rallye driver enjoys driving in traffic as well as on hilly, dipping back roads, not just open stretches of concrete.
Certain cars lend themselves especially to this type of driving -- like the Dart Rallye: a five-passenger coupe with a small-block 318 cubic-inch displacement V8 engine and a four-speed, close-ratio manual transmission with a 3.23 rear axle ratio (3.55 axle is optional). Disc brakes and carpeting also are standard equipment.
The Rallye package includes power steering, a Rallye suspension, deluxe vinyl seat, E70x14 raised white letter tires, Rallye wheels, Tuff steering wheel, and "Dodge" lettering on the rear quarter panel to provide sporty identification. Bucket seats are optional.
And most important of all, the Rallye-equipped Sport appeals to the budget in contrast to heavier, more exotically-equipped muscle cars--both in basic price and in reduced cost of operation. The Sport Rallye offers an appealing alternative to competitive four and six-cylinder cars.
The Sport Rallye, first displayed at the Chicago Auto Show, will be at Dodge dealerships in March.