Last week I wrote a post for a 1964 Plymouth Fury, and in it, I made reference to Plymouth’s corporate sibling, Dodge. Well, today for your review, I have a 1964 Dodge Polara 500 subject topic, Dodge’s version of the Fury. This one’s in rough, modified shape but it’s still interesting to find an example from Dodge’s downsized (’62-’64) full-size era. Located in Amarillo, Texas, this big-block equipped Polara is available, here on eBay for an opening bid of $1,500.
Dodge’s lineup in ’64 was similar to Plymouth’s with the Polara 500 sitting at the top (same as the Sport Fury), followed by the Polara, the 440, and then the 330 bringing up the markers. One difference was Dodge’s true full-size offering known as the 880. It was a touched-up and rebadged Chrysler Newport that was designed to cover that missing full-size occupier as much as throwing a bone to Desoto fans who lost their steed in ’61. One unmistakable feature of this Polara is its distinctive C-pillar, the same as the new for ’64 design employed by Plymouth. Beyond that, it’s pretty rough-looking with faded paint, rust, and lots of contusions. The seller tells us that this Polara was a 50th-anniversary “Gold Edition”, and was originally finished in code ZZ gold. It probably wasn’t hot-rod looking enough so somewhere in its long past, it was redone in race car red.
The seller is vague about the engine, other than telling us that it will turn over by hand. The listing states, “Appears to be correct engine by code on block. Either a 361 or a 383 car“. Well, if the code can be determined, it seems that the proper version of Chrysler’s “B” block can be determined. The engine has been modified with headers and a Holley carburetor – at the least, but it doesn’t look as if it has run in many moons. It’s missing some necessary parts like a radiator and a fan. This is a four-speed manual transmission outfitted car – always a nice discovery.
As for the interior, what interior? The seller states the floors “are not really bad“. Yikes, I wonder what really bad ones would look like. The entire environment is practically a write-off, there are no seats and pretty much nothing else other than a degraded instrument panel and an aftermarket steering wheel.
As with the Plymouth, this is subjectively speaking, a great-looking car – especially with that distinctive C-pillar. But, as the seller suggests the “Body needs a lot of love“. Yeah, that and a lot of other stuff, starting with $$$. Still, owing to its performance cred, something the Plymouth Fury didn’t possess, it would be fantastic to see this Polara restored, wouldn’t you agree?
Last summer, my brother and SIL celebrated their 50th anniversary,,yeah, I know, I made it 17, but he had a party, a reunion of sorts, and a guy named MIke was our childhood buddy down the block was there. Hadn’t seen him in 50 years. He had a ’64 Dodge like this, 361, 4 barrel and a 3 speed. It was a fast car.
Anyone else in music culture that may have had this car? That’s right, “Parked in a rickety old garage, is a brand new shiny red super stock Dodge”. That song came out in early ’64. Some sources say hers was a ’63, and rumored to be a true story. One story says Jan( or Dean) was at the Pasadena police station for a traffic offense, when several detectives brought in a little gray haired lady in handcuffs. Jan( or Dean) couldn’t resist, and asked what the deal was? Apparently, the Dodge was her sons and terrorized the locals on Colorado Blvd. The song was born. I know it may seem corny today, but we, as gearheads, LOVED that song. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7f9hsFrKUY.
Howard that’s a neat twist but don’t think it’s accurate. The origins of “The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)” stem from a very popular Dodge ad campaign in southern California that launched in early 1964.[5] Starring actress Kathryn Minner, the commercials showed the white-haired elderly lady speeding down the street (and sometimes a drag strip) driving a modified Dodge. She would stop, look out the window and say “Put a Dodge in your garage, Hon-ey!”. The song soon followed and Minner enjoyed great popularity until she died in 1969. That’s how the story goes on Wikipedia anyways. Yeah I checked because Jan and Dean at the local police station just doesn’t sound correct. Back when I was a pump jockey another guy there had a 64 with a 413 under the hood, 4 gear and would do crazy in leg burnouts. These aren’t heavy cars and were very popular at the dragstrip back in the day. This one needs a lot of luv.
Thanks, I did see that about Minner, and she was usually seen in a Dodge Dart, I think in part, Dodge didn’t want to advocate street racing, and she did show up at race tracks. The song was admittedly fictional, I got that story off one of the forums the deal with lyric meanings, but with Jan and Dean promoting songs like Dead Mans Curve or Drag City, I could see Jan or Dean in a police station paying a traffic fine.
If your going to post something for sale, at least clean out the inside of the car.
Barn Finds featured one of these in gold in 2021:
https://barnfinds.com/1-of-12-1964-dodge-polara-500-golden-anniversary-edition/
If the seller’s car originally looked like the one on this link, it COULD be worth restoring, depends on if it truly came with a 383. That big block with a 4 speed will make a nice street cruiser but the investment here will be bigger than what the car will be worth.
Love the fuzzy dice ,
this would be a great project
A bondo bucket. bondo everywhere.
good luck to owner, send it to bondo heaven.
Take 50K out of your investments and go to town, the interior will suck 10K. Then from the bottom up, this will educate someone into realizing that restoration is a love and not a profit business
I love these years of Plymouth’s and Dodges.
Too bad it’s not an auto transmission with the push buttons? 361 or 383 is ok.
And, about a gallon or so less Bondo.
Someone has previously loaded filler in the DS front fender and lower part of the door.
It appears that someone has knocked some of it out to be more transparent about the condition of the vehicle?
Hopefully someone will get it back on the road, whether it’s show quality or go quality?
Just my opinion!
Job one: Get that stupid steering wheel off of there.
Unless the seller put that on there to move the car, that steering wheel tells you all you need to know about how this cars’ interior ended up looking like this. If you have the money to blow, go to town!
I had a black 64 sedan with the 318. Put a 4 bbl on and street raced at the Frye strip outside of town. It was my uncles, originally a cop car in Beverly Mass. He cracked the block with just water in winter, but it hD a posi rear end and was good in snow, and drag
I HEARD THAT! Midway.😬
As a former owner of a 64 Sport Fury with 426 4spd I have to disagree with that statement that Plymouth didn’t have the performance cred of Dodges. This particular Dodge looks like it’s performance has been tested quite a few times, but there’s enough left of it to make it worth a restoration, IMO. The big parts like the engine, transmission, sure-grip (posi) rear, and Hurst shifter are there and with no reserve it might sell low enough to make it worth buying. These were good looking cars and that fuzzy dice on the floor needs to be hung from the mirror again. Maybe not that same one though. I hope it goes to someone who will give it the love it needs.
Just get it running, cleanup the interior a bit, add a floor mat and front seats (don’t mind that steering wheel at all), make it road worthy and drive the wheels off it! Bumps and bruises won’t stop it from being a fun ride.
That 4 spd is one of its best parts.
Bidding is up to $2550 and I really would not mind giving this beast a look, but what would I do with all the bondo after it is removed? This car has honestly seen a better day. Buy it, get it running add some junkyard seats and drive the hell out of it, or until all the bondo falls off.
The car looks way too far gone, but there is a pile of factory big block, 4 speed standard parts (that are very tough to find) for a BB 4 speed conversion on a better body
Radio’s missing and I have one a stock AM from a 64 dodge just like this one
Its for sale too
“But parked in a rickety old garage,
Is a brand new, shiny red (1964) Super Stock Dodge…:
Please, someone save this car!
Oh the memories of a car like this… My parents had one for some strange reason I remember the grill and tail lights, and I also remember being a toddler climbing around in the back seat with my other brother and my older brother was in the front seat.mom and dad were talking to a cousin I think standing in front of the car when my older brother pulled it out of park, it rolled backwards down the driveway across the street and down about a 35 foot cliff (I was told when I was older and asked mom about the memory) the car was stopped by trees and stickers bushes. I don’t remember getting rescued from the car but I remember seeing it be lifted out by a tow truck.
I would like to see someone restore this old gal to her original glory. These are cool cars. Brings back many memories for me as my brother had a 63 plymouth golden commando, push button automatic with a posi rear end, I believe it was a 383 , and it was wicked fast. I remember the interior of that car and it was stunning. I always wanted to one.
I especially like the 4 speed in this car!
Just to be sure, Wikipedia describes a Barn Find as:
Barn find a Low-quality classic car
A barn find is a classic car, aircraft or motorcycle that has been rediscovered after being stored, often in derelict condition. The term comes from their tendency to be found in places such as barns, sheds, carports and outbuildings where they have been stored for many years. The term usually applies to vehicles that are rare and valuable, and which are consequently of great interest to collectors and enthusiasts despite their poor condition.
Wikipedia
Some on this sites comments cry “Scam” if there are little or incorrect details. If I am selling a classic anything, I would do my due diligence to make the best presentation and therefore get the best possible price. But not all sellers are professionals. They provide what details are readily available. And they don’t research pricing. This is why some are listed very low and most are listed very high. As in, “I know I can get this price because my cousin Jerry is an expert and he said so.”
Also they, or someone takes pictures with whatever lighting and other conditions present themselves. But they are not trained photographers. Craigslist is full of lousy pictures.
If I saw an ad for a “Barn Find” that was cleaned and prepped for show with great pictures I’d probably cry “Scam”. Lol
Also, I remember seeing a show (don’t remember which one) where they took their Barn find to auction keeping the dirt on it to show it’s authenticity.
And yes Virginia, people do fake some Barn finds.