It was positioned as Dodge's product offer in the mid-price full-size market segment and to help fill the void in Chrysler's lineup left by the discontinuation of DeSoto in 1961.

[3] However, there is debate if the smaller car GM was developing was going to be the conventional Chevy II to offset the Corvair or a new mid-sized automobile that would become the 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle.

They were roughly the same size as the new standard-size Dodges, which made the latest Chrysler models as intermediates by default.

An unpopular design for the second year in a row, the 1961 models had awkward-looking "reversed" tailfins and a pinched grille, among other unusual features.

Their unconventional styling and the cars' smaller overall size moved Chrysler to stem Dodge's sales and market share losses.

The models were differentiated by mating a modified 1961 Dodge Polara front clip to the Newport's de-finned rear quarter panels and passenger compartment.

Dodge designers created an entirely new look for the car ahead of the cowl, fronted by a new convex grille in a very long oval shape, which shared visual similarities with the AMC Rambler.

Straighter front fenders flanked a hood with a depressed central section featuring the Dodge name in block letters above the grille.

The rear body contours were squared up with new decklids, wraparound rectangular taillights, and new quarter panels.

The grille was also updated featuring a concave design with a central horizontal break spanning the distance between the headlights.

However, this would be the final year for the hardtop wagon — Dodge and Chrysler being the last American automotive brands to offer the style.

The 1965 model year cars were the first to fully incorporate Elwood Engel's influence on Chrysler's overall corporate design themes, although he joined the company in 1961.

The introductions of the 1965 models also allowed Chrysler to rectify its 1962 mistake and reintroduce a full-sized Dodge Polara to the public.

All Custom 880s came with the standard features found in the Polara and added foam-padded seats and stainless steel window frames on station wagons and sedans.

To move its top full-size series upscale for 1966, the division adopted the Monaco name for all of the former Custom 880 models, except for the six-window sedan, which was discontinued.

The original Monaco hardtop added the 500 label for 1966 and marketed as a competitor to the Pontiac Grand Prix.