Cars with history: Dodge 3700 GT

In Cars with history today we have decided to feature a vehicle that had a great deal of history in Spain, thanks to the business and personal adventure of Eduardo Barreiros (known as the Spanish Henry Ford): the Dodge 3700 GT. A car that came from another model that was not the best choice of the era for building under licence in Spain (the Dodge Dart, which Barreiros also assembled).

By 1971, the first guidelines for the future Dodge 3700 GT were already in place. The idea was to introduce a new model that used the platform of the earlier Dodge Dart, making use of machinery and parts that were still in stock. This Dodge was essentially the same as the Dodge Polara being manufactured in Argentina shortly before; in fact, the bodies had to be imported from that country in the first years.

As was typical of American models of the time, comfort was its main strength. The car was offered in two versions, designated as 3700 and 3700 GT (the latter had better finishes and included a four-speed manual gearbox or an automatic as an option).

The engine used in these period giants was the famous 3.7-litre, 165-horsepower Slant Six, which underwent no technical changes until the end of its life in 1977. The only variations in the drivetrain were in the gearboxes, which ranged from manual to automatic. Likewise, redesigns were not an everyday occurrence in the life of the 3700, the most significant one arriving in 1974.

As a curiosity, the 3700 GT was one of the few cars in Spain fitted with air conditioning, a true touch of luxury for the time (1973). It was also one of the few (the only one, I would say) that allowed the rear-view mirror to be adjusted from inside the car. There were also special versions converted into ambulances, hearses, an unusual station wagon, limousines and a convertible; some of them can still be seen on the road. Among the special editions, we should also mention the 18 examples built of the Dodge 3700 Boulevard, which had a sportier character (fibreglass body and tubular chassis) and was bodied by Pedro Serra in 1972.

The Dodge 3700 GT met its end because of the oil crisis, which so unfortunately crossed the path of this car and of those Spaniards who had begun to see in the 3700 a good option of great luxury and comfort.

Source | Club Dodge España, Wikipedia, Escudería