First model year 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix found in Michigan barn after 15 years
- This 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix was parked for 15 years
- The car is one of the earliest Dart examples
- It was given its first clean in years
Published on Oct 29, 2024 at 1:47 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Oct 29, 2024 at 4:47 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This stunning 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix had its first wash after being stashed away in Michigan for more than 15 years.
Dodge introduced the Dart in the model year 1960, meaning this example is one of the oldest around.
It was snapped up ‘a long time ago’ by the current owner’s dad who had carried out various repairs and restorations.
Sadly, for the last 15 to 20 years, it had been parked gathering dust and was in desperate need of a good clean.
The 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix was in pretty good shape
Thankfully, Detail Dane was on hand and he has plenty of experience when it comes to sprucing up old motors.
You may remember he’s previously worked on this rare Ford F-150 Ranger Free Wheeling that was left abandoned for 17 years, or this super cool Audi R8 that had years of dirt and grime washed away in seconds.
So, the 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix was in very safe hands with Dane.
The detailer had headed out to Michigan after meeting ‘fellow car guy’ Jerry who happened to have a barn full of old cars in need of some TLC.
However, Jerry had since washed all the vehicles himself – all except two, one of which was the first generation Dart.
Although it had spent years off the road, the Dodge Pheonix didn’t appear to be in particularly bad shape.
The bodywork, engine, and interiors were all more or less in solid condition.
It was given its first clean in years
However, as you’d expect it was pretty filthy – its once gleaming chrome was dull, the paintwork was covered in a thick layer of dirt, and the seats were equally as grim.
Of course, none of this was too large a task for Dane who set to work with his power washer, soap, and buffer to get the yellow paintwork looking as bright as it did in 1960.
The chrome was carefully cleaned and buffed to return its shine, while the tires and engine also had a good scrub.
He paid similar attention to detail when it came to the car’s interior – meaning that by the time he was done, the Dart looked brand-new.
Nice work.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Across her career she's covered a wide variety of topics, including celebrity, cryptocurrency, politics, true crime and just about everything in between.
