Dodge Polaras for Sale

Dodgeâ€™s Polara launched in 1960 as the divisionâ€™s top model. The first Polaras (available as a convertible, hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, hardtop wagon, and pillared sedan) rode a 122-inch wheelbase. As all Chrysler Corp passenger cars (bar Imperials) did...

Dodgeâ€™s Polara launched in 1960 as the divisionâ€™s top m...

Dodge’s Polara launched in 1960 as the division’s top model. The first Polaras (available as a convertible, hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, hardtop wagon, and pillared sedan) rode a 122-inch wheelbase. As all Chrysler Corp passenger cars (bar Imperials) did starting in 1960, Polara featured torsion-bar front suspension in lieu of conventional coil springs, as well as unit-body construction. Standard power was the 325-hp Ram-Fire 383 V-8. For ’61, Polara’s styling truncated the tailfins and slid the 265-hp, 361-cu.in. V-8 as standard, with last year’s standard four-barrel now optional. Along with the continuing Ram Induction 383, Dodge now offered a pair of 413-cubic-inch heavy-breathers called Ramcharger: a 410-hp four-, and a 415-hp dual four-barrel variant.

For 1962, Polara (now Polara 500) was moved to Chrysler’s new 116-inch-wheelbase B-body. Body options narrowed to two-door and four-door hardtops, plus a convertible. Quickly realizing that its new models would be too small to compete in the full-size field, Dodge pressed a version of the Chrysler Newport into production, called it 880, and kept it around until 1965. This meant that Polara 500 was now at the top of Dodge’s de facto midsize line. The four-barrel 361 V-8 remained standard; both Ramcharger 413s remained on the books, but the 383 disappeared this year.

Non-500 Polaras returned for 1963, available in convertible, hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan and pillared sedan forms; the high-zoot Polara 500 was available only as a two-door coupe or convertible form. Wheelbase grew to 119 inches; Polara 500 got a standard 383. Other than the newly available, rare, and expensive Hemi-Charger 426, engine choices carried over for 1964, as did body style selection.

Once the larger C-body, and its 121-inch wheelbase, arrived for the 1965 model year, Polara became the foundation of a three-fullsize-model lineup, topped by the Custom 880 (in its final season) and the ritzy new Monaco. The standard two-barrel 318 (and a mandatory four-door sedan body style) remained, with a choice of two- or four-barrel 383, 413, 426, or 426 Hemi-Charger (for the racing crowd) on the order form. Body styles expanded to convertible, hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, pillared sedan, and wagons, a lineup that remained for 1966. The Hemi was removed from the option sheet in ’66, but a beefy new optional 440-cubic-inch V-8 arrived.

A restyled ’67 Polara saw some model juggling: the low-line Polara 318 offered two- and four-door hardtop body styles, and the sporty Polara 500 became its own model again, rather than a package, in two-door coupe and convertible form. Wheelbase grew to 122 inches. While low-line models retained the two-barrel 318 for economy, higher-level Polaras started life with a two-barrel 383 under the hood, and a choice of 440 and 440 Magnum four-barrel powerplants. Models and engines remained the same for ’68.

The big news for 1969 was Chrysler’s clean new “fuselage” styling. Otherwise, Polara was mechanically similar to previous models, with largely the same power teams. Early fuselage sedans are a cult favorite among police car fans for being the fastest patrol car (149.6mph) until the mid-1990s. Along with revised front and rear ends, Polara got a new model lineup for 1970: The new Polara Special (a fleet special) was available as a four-door sedan or wagon; Polara Custom took over for the Polara 500 and was available as a hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, or pillared sedan. This was the last year for the Polara convertible. Powertrains were rationalized: The two-barrel 318 was Polara’s base engine once again; with 383- and 440-cu.in. big-block power still on the order sheet.

For 1971, model names were shuffled: Polara was the base model, with Polara Custom and the plush (and one-year-only) Polara Brougham on top. The 440 disappeared for 1971, but returned for 1972, along with a two-barrel 360 (now standard on Monaco) and a two-barrel 400. New sheetmetal also graced the 1972 Monaco line. All things carried over into 1973, and by 1974 Polara was no more.

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