Hard to believe, but this donated 1969 Dodge Polara wagon still runs and drives despite looking like it hasn’t seen the road in many years. It’s also a genuine California black plate car that is equipped with a powerful 383 under the hood, and while it has its share of cosmetic flaws, it’s still better than it deserves to be considering it was likely left for dead before it got dropped off at the donation center. This seller is one of my favorites and has offered the wagon with no reserve here on eBay and a YouTube video in the listing appears to show the Dodge driving happily under its own power.
Now, listed – you have to be realistic about a donated vehicle. I read through the comments on eBay and of the relatively few negative feedbacks this seller has received, I’m still sort of shocked at the buyers who seemingly had no clue a donation vehicle could hide a few surprises. The Dodge as it’s shown here looks to be reasonably straight with good glass, average bodywork, and chrome bumpers that still shine up nicely. Obviously, there’s a ton of work to do to make this Polara fit for road-going use, but it’s always encouraging to start with a car that still runs and drives.
What I’d love to know more about as it relates to these “finds” is how each car ends up being donated in the first place. Sure, I get the nuances of the heirs or the municipality moving a forgotten vehicle off to the scrapyard or the donation facility, but how does it end up being forgotten like this Polara in the first place? Any car with California black plates has been in the state for some time, and this Dodge had to have been hiding in a garage or the back of an apartment complex parking lot. How did it go from being a registered vehicle to one that was evidently completely forgotten about? The interior is in fair condition with plenty of cosmetic flaws, like the completely cracked dash.
The current bid is just $1,325, so whoever takes this land yacht home won’t likely be breaking the bank to do so. If I were a repeat buyer of this particular eBay seller, I feel like the YouTube channel practically writes itself: “Tune in for another episode of me driving a completely unreliable vehicle home from the donation center!” The listing notes that the Dodge will still need carburetor work and general servicing of the engine and brakes, but that’s pretty typical for any older vehicle like this that’s been sitting. Do you think there’s a diamond in the rough with this Polara wagon, and should someone attempt to drive it home?
I like the way the rear “window cleaner” spoiler on the top
blends in with the body.
Anyone else remember the “Superlight” option on the front grille?
Don’t have clue what your talking about , please enlighten me.
Punch in,& go to this link –
http://www.hagerty.com/maintenance-and-tech/space-age-dodge-super-light/
I remember them. I worked for Quality Dodge in KCKS in 1969. These were nice cars.
I just saw today on another car that had one the Super Light was so bright the federal government outlawed them because they were to bright and blinded on coming drivers.
Just like those stupid LED low beams that every new vehicle
comes with.I wonder just how those ever became legal?
Nice Vehicle and a low budget refurb it can and will make a nice drive it derelict. If you bought it for 2,000 and put in 5,000 (which is CHEAP) it would be a great family mover NOT perfect but Perfect transportation.
I always thought the fuselages looked better as station wagons than any other body style.
Not being from California I never really understood the draw to have a California black plate, does it somehow change the emissions standards of the car. This is the same state that spent millions of dollars upgrading their equipment then changed the diesel emissions standards so they went out and purchased more equipment that met the new standard and sold off the equipment that wasn’t even two years old at a loss, they were so strict about it that if you purchased one of the trucks you had to have it towed off the state or county property after which you could then start it and drive it to your destination out of state.
I relocated to California in 1975. Having to do it over, just about any state would have been a better choice. This state is NOT the California it was when I moved here
The black license plate in this case means that the car has been registered in sunny, dry California since it was brand new, and not brought in from out of state, possibly from the “rust belt”.
In California, any vehicle 1976 or newer must pass a smog test every 2 years. For that reason, 1975 and older cars tend to be preferred.
I think our Ford wagon had a 400 engine, so at first I thought 383 was abnormally large for a wagon engine. Until I remembered, they were all pretty big back then since gasoline was 30 cents a gallon or less.
Makin some time on the Interstate/Turnpike on the family vacation !!
Pop Cans
My old 69 Polara convertible had the superlite option, while living in NY, I could run that light but when I moved to Texas it was illegal.
I have a extra grille and light in my garage waiting for the yet to be bought project car.
In our fire department we were doing vehicle extrication
on a four door sedan.When we were done,I kept the Superlight
off of it,as I thought it was kind of cool.
I kept it for a few years but tossed it.I wonder if that was a mistake.