Now here’s one you don’t see every day, a 1966 Dodge Polara convertible. We haven’t covered too many Polaras from this era and I believe this may be the first convertible version to grace our pages. It could be a Polara 500, or maybe it’s just a standard Polara, it’s hard to say at this point – more on that to follow. There’s no mistaking that bright blue finish, which I’m certain wasn’t part of Dodge’s palette in ’66 but it looks good so let’s check it out. Found in Henderson, Nevada, this Dodge drop-top is available, here on craigslist for $14,980.

Some of the specific model confusion is brought about by the removal of all the nameplates and badges. That said, the shaving appears to have been well executed. The very blue hue is probably not one that I would have picked from a swatch but this long, stretched-out convertible wears it well. The chrome is still bright and there’s no sign of rust or crash damage. There are a few included images of the underside and it all presents exceptionally well – it’s very sound looking. The mileage reading of 70K miles seems believable though there’s no claim of authenticity to that recording. And of course, the Cragar S/S wheels will perk up the appearance of just about anything on wheels. As for the folding top, just one image is included and it’s not too detailed so that’s another item for further investigation. The only styling cue that keeps me on the fence with this Polara is the eyebrow-styled taillights – they are distinctive, I’ll give Dodge that!

Research indicates that the Polara 500 came standard with bucket seats and a center console so it seems that we’re only halfway there with this example – buckets but no console. Transplanted seats? Perhaps. Unfortunately, they appear to both have some separated seams. As for seatbelts, maybe they’re rolled up in the front but there’s no sign of their existence in the back. The instrument panel’s twin pods are catchy, they project a twin turbine sort of theme. Note the back seat, I spy what looks like a radio speaker grille but it shows as being bent or damaged. Regardless, it’s a neat feature, my ’66 Impala had one and it did help backseat passengers make out what would normally sound like a garbled radio transmission.

Under the hood is a 383 CI V8 engine that has maybe been modified so it’s unknown if it started life as a 270 or a 325 HP variant. My recollection is that the installed air cleaner assembly is for the 270 HP version but I’m not positive on that matter. The distributor, and perhaps the intake manifold too, have been swapped so a close-up look-see or an inquiry will be necessary. So, how’s it run? Well, the seller states, “This car is completely worn out and will need a complete restoration. Although it runs and drives, everything is worn and loose.  This car will fail any pre-purchase inspection completely although we can drive it around the parking lot. It must be taken home on a trailer or tow truck“. Wow, who’d a thunk it? Gotta give the seller points for honesty and directness.

The seller also adds, “If you are handy, you can make the dream come alive with this rare Dodge convertible“. Yeah, but at what starting point – if the whole ball of wax is as worn out as the seller contends, methinks that asking price is going to need some reconfiguring. I like the price for a sound car, but for one where “everything is worn and loose”, well that’s a Dodge of a different color, right?