Dodge and Plymouth offered the Max Wedge V8 in their B-bodied intermediates from 1962 to 1964. The official name of the potent engine was Maximum Performance Wedge, also known as the Street Wedge. In lighter Mopars like the Belvedere and Polara, these cars were screamers. The seller’s ’64 Polara 500 has one of those engines and its numbers matching – but it’s also been modified to produce 600 hp!
The Polara 500 was marketed to sell against the Chevy Impala and Ford Galaxie 500. The 500 carried a higher level of trim and an unknown number of them were built in 1964 with the Max Wedge. The numbers may only be in the hundreds, which makes this car a rare find even though it’s no longer stock. We get the impression the seller has owned it for years, but a lack of suitable storage space has predicated a sale before it succumbs to the elements.
We assume the upgrades made to the engine were done over time by the seller. The 426 cubic incher has been stoked to 489 CI, and the pistons, heads, camshaft, transmission (automatic) and more have been tweaked. The motor has an issue in delivering oil to the rockers, so it’s started and moved very little. The carport where the car resides today is a more recent domicile for the Dodge as the seller lost his/her access to garage storage.
The Polara has some rust which is growing slowly, and the hood has been changed as it doesn’t match the color of the rest of the lower portion of the Mopar. Some extra parts will go with the deal, and the interior looks to be in remarkably decent shape. Located in Malibu, California, this Dodge is priced to sell (according to the seller) at $10,500 here on craigslist. The big question is do the mods to the drivetrain hurt the Dodge’s eventual value when restored? BTW, kudos to T.J. for the tip!
The dashboard is not a 64 Dodge.
What’s different about the dash Gary? Thanks.
My Dad had a 64 Polara and the speedo was horizontal with gauges on each side and underneath.
You’re right @gary. Maybe the IC on this car was an option on the wedge?
Funny the things we remember from when we were driving around in Dad’s old car.
It was the last year for the pushbutton automatic.
It’s a Polara 500 and not a base.
Like a Sport Fury the 500 had a different dash than the base.
Nope. What @bluetec320 posted is the dash used in 330, 440, and Polaras.
It’s a Plymouth dashboard. Could this be a Canadian Dodge? They used the Plymouth dashboard.
For what the car is and what it could be seems fairly reasonable in today’s market.
Hope someone grabs it and makes it a rocket again. These cars never get the recognition they deserve in my opinion. Good luck to the buyer.
600 HP??? I wish I had a dollar for every one of those wild, overrated claims.
Let’s see the dyno documentation.
Figures don’t lie.
And it has trouble circulating oil too???
Meh. I called, and got a goofy voiced outgoing recorded message from “Mortimer” and a full voice mailbox.
I’m skeptical that this actually a real ad.
I sent a text message with my contact info which showed it was delivered. If I do hear something I’ll update. But, I’m not holding my breath.
Max Wedge? Street wedge? Max had cross ram intake, special exhaust etc. The list goes on and on. The street 426 was a single carb small head engine not unlike a street 413 as found in thousands of Mopars. Last used in 65 Furys if I remember correctly.
Max vs Street are apples and oranges. Different Engines.
1964 dash would have the”push-button” shifter (a “theft deterrent” some 60 years later), the last year of their production.
The 413 and the 426 wedge engines would run pretty hard as I remember and just throw a strong 440 in these
b bodies and high 10’s, they are quite light. Many were thrashed a 1/4 mile at a time.
I have dealt with FE engines, 428CJ, having oil delivery issues. I would not run it at all until this issue is resolved. If the funds are there, take it down for an overhaul and inspection. This will be a fun project for any Mopar fan.
Buy-in seems reasonable if it is what it says it is. Nice looking hot rod.
Oiling issue is worrisome. Get it sorted out and just drive it.
Its a real ad. The ad has been updated to show some rather unfortunate serious rust issues in the q-panels, roof, and firewall so probably rust in other area’s not shown. Also the original heads, intake, carb and exhaust manifolds particular to that engine are also gone.