Hidden away in this garage is a Dodge that is something out of the ordinary. It is a 1964 Polara 500, and the owner holds documentation that verifies that it is #3 out of 12 vehicles to roll off the line with the mighty 426ci Street Wedge V8 under the hood. Its condition appears to be extremely impressive, and it is a car that many Mopar enthusiasts would be proud to find parked in their driveway. If you are one of those people, you will find the Polara located in Gresham, Oregon, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set the price of admission on this classic at $47,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Matt H for spotting this rare gem for us.
With 1964 marking the 50th Anniversary of vehicle production for the company, Dodge found some subtle ways to celebrate. This Golden Anniversary Polara 500 is finished in a shade called Anniversary Gold, which was a color introduced for that model year. It is a soft and subtle color, and on this car, it appears to be in excellent condition. The paint holds an impressive shine, with no apparent flaws or defects. This is hardly surprising because the owner indicates that the Polara has accumulated a mere 4,500 miles since he treated it to a complete restoration. Its cause is further helped by the vehicle being stored in a climate-controlled garage when it is not in use. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and rust doesn’t appear to be an issue. There is nothing visible in the limited exterior shots, and the owner doesn’t mention anything in the text of his listing. The trim and chrome are in excellent order, as is the tinted glass. The wheels that the car rolls on are not original, but they suit the character of the Polara admirably.
Lifting the hood reveals what makes this Polara 500 such a special car. What we find hiding in the engine bay is the mighty 426ci “Street Wedge” V8 that should be producing a healthy 385hp. The Window Sticker reveals that the original owner also ticked the boxes beside the 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission, 3.23 Sure Grip rear end, power steering, and power brakes. As a package, this was a potent one. Pointed at a ¼ mile, this Dodge should complete the journey in 14.5 seconds. That figure looks pretty impressive by today’s standards, but it marked this Polara as something special when it was new. The car appears to be numbers-matching, and it is in excellent mechanical health. The owner holds documentation from the Chrysler Registry that confirms the company built a mere 17,787 examples of the Polara 500 Hardtop in 1964. This car is #3 out of a 12-car production run that came equipped from the factory with the Street Wedge. That means that this car offers a wonderful combination of rarity and stunning performance.
The interior of this Polara 500 features distinctive upholstery finished in the correct 3-tone combination of Gold. The best way to describe it would be that it’s in as-new condition. Once again, this is an area of the car that came in for detailed attention during the restoration process, and the lack of use since the owner completed the work helps explain its overall condition. Admittedly the photos are limited, but they show no evidence of wear or other issues with the vinyl or carpet and none with the dash or wheel. The gauges look crisp and clean, while the interior features a console and an AM radio with a rear speaker.
This 1964 Dodge Polara 500 Golden Anniversary is an attractive vehicle with a lot of positive points. Its overall condition is impressive, and the Street Wedge V8 under the hood helps cement its credentials as a rare high-performance classic. That rarity also makes it difficult to judge its potential value. I looked at what is on offer in the market today, and my search revealed another example for sale at present. It features the same paint shade, wheels, and the 426 under the hood. My first thought was that it was an additional listing for the same vehicle, but then I realized that it didn’t feature power steering and power brakes. That owner is offering his Polara for $50,000. I also found one that was recently sold at auction for around the same figure. Those examples suggest that the sale price of this car is very competitive. Is it competitive enough to tempt you to pursue it further?
Stunning example of automotive history that in every way is worth the asking. The 1/4 mile time might have been 14.5 seconds in 1964 but I bet at least a second comes off that time with modern tires. Hopefully whoever purchases this car will continue to preserve it.
What’s the “SP” on the license plate mean?
Special License plate for antique automobiles.
Oregon offers two types of one-time registration for collector cars. SP stand for special interest cars that are 25 years old or older. AQ are for antique cars that are 50+ years old.
There is another ‘special plate’ for OR. The original (or YOM–year of manufacture) plates are also valid for an SP rego. Instead of a year on the expiration sticker, it gives you an “SP” sticker. Same one time only fee, but you get to use the ‘right’ plates’ for the car. They do not have to be THE “original” plates for the car (altho’ that’s what mine are) as long as they are the right style for the year of the vehicle. They can be purchased from plate dealers or obtained from other collectors, etc. should your car not have the original OR plates on it. They’ve had these policies on the book since the 70s at least.
I had a 64 Dart GT that came from the factory in Anniversary Gold, and a previous owner painted it red.
JUST TO CLARIFY:
MoPar never did actually produce a “50th Anniversary” model Dodge that year. And that so-called “anniversary gold” color was available on any MoPar product in `64, from Valiants/Barracudas to the Imperial. There was nothing visible that denoted any anniversary model Dodge in `64. Just an FYI.
that color carried over to other Chrysler products in ’65, too.
Well, Will, I can tell you that my ’64 Dart did have a badge in the center of the steering wheel that said “50th Anniversary”. And yes, it was the correct steering wheel.
Regardless of paint color, every 1964 model year Dodge automobile had a 50th anniversary logo in the steering wheel center.
I had a 1964 Dodge Custom 880 convertible, light blue metallic paint and matching blue leather interior. It was loaded including factory A/C & the 413 motor.
Supposedly the Custom 880 was a special series to celebrate the 50th anniversary, and was based on the larger Chrysler body. But as pointed out above, the only mention of the 50th anniversary was indeed the steering wheel center cap.
Love it! Wish I were rich.
That hardtop design was so indicative of Chrysler somehow.
Yeah, those tapered B pillars are unmistakable.
Those are actually the C pillars. A B pillar is the center post like a sedan would have.
That is one of the prettiest rooflines ever made.
My first decent car was a 1964 Dodge Polara 500 . that was in 1970, It was red, with red and white interior. Bucket seats, console, automatic, and a 318 motor. It was a wonderful car, and I have memories of that car If only I had kept it, but alas. Love this car
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I bought a 64 Polara new in 64 383 with 4 speed trans off the showroom floor.Red outside and in. Drove it to Darlington speed way for the 500 mile race.The winner was Buck Baker in a red 64 Dodge . Made me feel mighty proud of my Dodge driving home.
Had a 64 dart wagon that had a 50th Anniversary logo on the horn button.
Nice color option. Then they sprayed the roof white? Don’t care for vinyl tops or painted tips.
$75 option for the street wedge back in 1964, love it. This is a great car at an extremely fair price knowing how few were made and are still around. If it only had power windows…
Someone with real experience please answer how drivable these were/are? I know they are racr capable in the right hands, but are they really tame enough for the street? I get in enough trouble with my 340, lol.
An ex neighbor of mine owns a 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury rag-top. It has the same 426 as this Dodge, but has a 4 speed in it. I’ve driven the car and unless you’ve got your foot hard on the happy pedal, they are very street able. Just an absolute joy to drive.
I also had a 64 Sport Fury convertible, 426, four speed, ps, pb, and sure grip 323 rear. It was black inside and out. I ordered it at Derenne Chrysler Plymouth in Savanah, Ga in early 1964 and got it about six weeks later. I had a job that required that I call on customers in the Atlanta area and it was my only car. It was very streetable and easy to drive. The 426 engine was a lot more that the $75 as mentioned above because it came with heavy duty suspension, brakes, and either automatic or four speed. If I remember right it was about $800 which drove the price of my car to about $4,200 before dickering. My car was later treated to a rotisserie restoration and the color was changed to red.
The 426 Street Wedge (which was 365HP, not 385) was neither hard to drive daily nor particularly fast. It had small-valve 361-2v heads, log exhaust manifolds, a mild hydraulic cam–none of the parts that made the Max Wedge legendary. It was no less streetable than Grandma’s New Yorker. It was actually considered a bit of a dog in its heyday, hence the low sales numbers. 14.5 in the quarter is quite optimistic. A 340 in good tune will consistently show this thing the taillights, especially if it’s in an A-body.
My first car was a 1964 Polara 500 I bought in May of 1970 when I finished high school and it had the 50th anniversary steering wheel. A few years later I bought my sisters 1964 Polara 500 convertible that she and her husband ordered new that also had the 50th anniversary steering wheel. Both factory original.
“C” pillar? B is door latch if it’s a sedan. At least that’s old school interpretation.
A-pillar is the windshield post. B-pillar is the center post of a sedan (which 2 dr hts don’t have, tho’ 4 dr hts do have a B pillar for the door attachment, even tho’ it doesn’t show). C-pillar is the one at the ‘back’ of the passenger compartment, and D-pillar is the back post on a wagon.
Seeing the space underhood of a torsion bar car makes me smile.
hello i’m french and i have one but with the 318 poly, she was sold new in france by simca in 1964. when i buy this car the previous owner transformed it into a convertible with hard top. it is now restored in hard top coupe
Oregon offers two types of one-time registration for collector cars. SP stand for special interest cars that are 25 years old or older. AQ are for antique cars that are 50+ years old.
Awesome looking car. I hope the car goes to a good owner. Given its originality and rarity, I’d think it’d be worth the $47k asking price, depending on how it runs and drives.
Who gives a crap about special license plates this and that? The bottom line here is a very nice car for less than some POS Ford Bronco that sells for $85,000 at Mecum almost every month. Beautiful car with paper work.
Late to this discussion but I’m the original owner and still have my 1964 Dodge Polara 500 2 dr. hardtop. Repainted factory spruce green, 383/330 hp. torqueflite push button trans., ps. pb. 38,530 orig. miles. Built in Windsor, Ont. Canada and purchased at Argyle Chrysler in Cooksville, Ontario. It’s been in heated storage since 1992. I’ve just given it to my oldest son.
There’s no 50th Anniversary badge in the steering wheel.
Wow…I understand that “Canadian” Polara 500’s are pretty rare. Chrysler Canada didn’t advertise the Polara 500 in their sales brochure. They were advertised as “spring specials”. I would bet your Dodge has a May delivery date It’s my understanding, they did a 1 week run of Polara 500s and Sport Furys only..hardtops and convertibles. Dodges and Plymouth came down the same assembly line in Windsor Ont…hence the Plymouth dashes in Dodges..