I wish we had gotten to see this 1965 Dodge Polara four-door hardtop sedan with the windows rolled down to see that great hardtop body style. But, Spokane, Washington, where it’s located, does get snow, and you can see that the photos were taken recently. The seller has it posted here on craigslist, and they’re asking $5,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
The seller says this car is still wearing tires from the 1970s, so they have to be changed, pronto! It looks like it has snow tires in the back, and that means rust to me, but they say there is really no rust, just some small spots showing surface rust. It only has around 49,000 miles on it, and they report that service stickers prove its low mileage status. The driver’s door appears to be sagging a bit, unless that’s just loose trim.
I cringe when I see a vintage vehicle being driven in the snow, or even on wet roads. We don’t get any close-up photos or any underside shots, so we have to take the seller’s word for this car being solid. There is one big mishap in this car’s history, and it’s unfortunate. The front passenger door was dented at some point while pulling into a garage, and that’ll be hard to fix and have the paint match the 60-year-old Dark Blue Metallic paint around it.
The “blue cloth and vinyl” (according to decoding the data tag) seats look outstanding for being six decades old. There is one spot on the driver’s side upper corner that needs help, but they look great, both front and rear, otherwise. Although the back seat is still wearing what I’m assuming is a decades-old clear plastic cover. The third-generation Polara was made from 1965 through 1968, and the seller says this car was driven sparingly until 1988, when it was put into storage until a few months ago, when the current owner got it. They’ve put in a new gas tank and fuel lines, and went through the brakes, but maybe should have added tires to the mix if they’re going to drive it.
According to the VIN/data plate, this is Dodge’s 383-cu.in. OHV V8 with a two-barrel carb, which would have been rated at 270 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s sent through a TorqueFlite to the rear wheels, and they say it runs and drives. Would you attempt to fix the passenger door on this Polara, or just get new tires and otherwise keep it maintained and drive it?
Cool old Polara, and it doesn’t look too bad considering what they looked like after 5 years where I grew up. The twin stripe whitewalls, if they’re Bias Plys could date to the very, very early 70’s. Don’t know about those snows. That being said it really depends on whats going on under it. A 4 door hardtop Chrysler product from the mid 60’s is a handsome car for sure. The 383 2 barrel has plenty of torque to move you around and keep up with traffic. Not sure what I’d do with it. Clean it up use it as is, or restore the body which would be a lot of $$$. It would also depend on whats needed mechanically as well. Either way neat Dodge here. Hope it goes to a good home and get driven and enjoyed like it should be.
I was wondering about that left front double-whitewall; it looks a little wrinkly. I bet it would ride like a cloud with some new tires on it.
A good friend of mine from HS had one of these in an ugly metallic green respray- his first car, bought with his money and stepdads permission. It was blue when he bought it at auction from the NV state motor pool. We were impressed by the 413 under the hood-shades of The Blues Brothers before it was ever conceived. “Cop engine, cop tires, cop interior and spotlights”..
At the end of the following summer he sold it before enlisting.
Thank you, Scotty.
I always like seeing the horsepower and torque numbers from this era.
A tried-and-true Chrysler C-body with a great engine/transmission combo, and the torsion bars up front and the leaf springs in back make for a great 60s cruiser.
5K seems reasonable, but talk the guy down, because you’re going to drop another 2K probably in belts/hoses/radiator/tires/wheel cylinders/maybe brake lines etc. But that would get you a very comfortable 4-door C-body cruiser that nerds like me and Scotty would love to drive around!
Hey, I resemble that nerd remark… I’d maybe try to massage that passenger door a bit rather than having a mismatched paint job, and I think a good upholstery shop could fix the driver’s seat back where the seam is pulling away? Change all of the 60-year-old maintenance parts that need it and then just drive it.
🎯 Rex.
Looks like the real deal.
Looks like the real McCoy.
Really nice 4 door!
I just submitted a ’68 Polara 2 door this morning. I am loving these C bodies lately.
Sort of reminds me of when a CHP officer brought a ’65 cruiser
to our school,which was next door.
I’ll never forget the “rough” idle it had! I read where they were
faster than most cars on the street at the time.