The Polara joined the Dodge line-up in 1960 as their top-tier product, though it would later be succeeded by the Monaco in that role. The marketing guys chose the name to capitalize on the Space Race of the early 1960s and that moniker referred to the Polaris Star. This 1972 edition is a 3-seat station wagon that has been transformed into a muscle machine with a 500 hp, 440 cubic-inch V8 power plant. Located in Corinth, New York, this hot rod is available here on eBay for $12,500 (although you can make an offer).
We’re not certain if this Dodge is a Polara or a Polara Custom. The latter was the only way to get the 9-passenger set-up with the rear-facing extra seat. With that being the case, Dodge built 7,660 copies of the wagon in 1972. At one point, this wagon was a family transport whose greatest excitement may have been hauling kids to and from football or soccer practice. Today, in its souped-up fashion, it’s mainly used for car shows (and maybe an occasional traffic light drag race?).
The VIN identifies the original engine as a 360 V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor. That motor is long gone, having been replaced with a 440 from a 1967 Chrysler product. To register 500 hp on a Dyno test, the car has had several performance upgrades that are internal and external to the motor. Aluminum radiator and Edelbrock heads, headers and dual exhaust, and an MSD ignition are in place now along with the requisite 4-barrel carburetor.
Changes to the external appearance of this wagon seem related to just the blacked-out hood with a raised scoop, presumably to help the 440 breathe better. The dog dish hub caps won’t help much in downplaying the performance nature of this modified “family truckster”. This Polara seems to have eluded the rust bug and the interior looks to be reasonably tidy as well. New rubber is on all four wheels, so no tires will be needed.
I can only imagine the roar of the intake when you stand on it.
Love them 440 4bbl when you mash the go fast they always cough twice then redline. My dad had a 74 New Yorker 2 dr. he parked it in the back yard when he got a company vehicle pulled the plugs dumped in some oil and turned crank by hand. The mice and lack of stone underneath ate at that car for 15 years and when I was 15 I asked if I could have it when I turned 16 my dad refused saying it would take too much to get it road worthy so I said well can I drive it around the back yard and he said that things locked up, fuel lines are clogged, it will never run but if you wanna try go ahead. I biked 3 miles into town with 5 gallon gas can and filled it up, when I got back I dumped it all in behind the license plate and went and nabbed the battery off his Kubota once I turned that key I didn’t let off and I pumped the petal til she got a drink and she roared to life my dad couldn’t believe it. I floated that thing around our 2 acre go-kart track about 2 laps before the rotted exhaust wadded up a rolled out the back leaving headers only and man can a 440 sing when the 4 barrel flops open. The noise upset the neighbors who called my parents complaining I was rattling the pictures on their walls and they lived ¼ mile away. My dad sold it to their son at the end of summer for $175 so he could derby it at the fair, that boy got his money’s worth cause that boat lasted 4 years at the Elkhart County 4H Fair. Mopar or No Car.
That’s evil looking. Turn up at the little dears’ soccer game in that and the other moms will hurry their kids back to their SUVs and minivans and scurry away.
Rocket 🚀 queen.
Nice! I would flat black the rear “coved” tailgate area and put a large Yosemite Sam “back off” decal on the tailgate window. Also throw some extra tires in the back for all the burn outs.
French in everything chrome then go plum crazy now we are talking BAD
We had one when I was a beginning driver that was EX of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. I am not certain about the engine but it was most certainly NOT Stock and could empty a fuel tank faster than you might believe when you put your foot in it. The car was a bright yellow with all the fancy wood trim applied to the exterior with an all black interior. There were faster cars but not many. A true sleeper and could take a number of people when using all the seats. Ours rusted away but lord it was fun to drive in it’s day.
I miss those days of yesteryear when cars had unique styling. My brother and sister and I used to ride in the back of our parents cars and identify each passing car by make, model, and year. Since most cars today and for the past decade or so are nearly indistinguishable, thank goodness todays kids have handheld devises to entertain themselves with (another perk of growing up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s is a fading memory)
Perfect grocery getter and family wagon.
This is a Polara Custom. My father bought one new in ’72, it was passed down to me in ’02, and I sold it in ’17. Was kind of hard to let go of the car I learned to drive in, but one had to go. Ours was green over green, quite nice, and well-optioned. The 360 was the standard engine, although the ’72 could be ordered with a 383-2 or -4 or 440-4. There were 3487 Polara Custom wagon built in ’72. The number in the listing was total Polara wagon production. The front bumper was different on the Custom and the roof rack was standard, so this one was removed. I miss the old green beast sometimes, but I’ve long wanted to replace it with a Monaco or Town & Country wagon.
I should add the the Polara Custom was a mid-year addition, with the first ones rolling off the line in Feb. of 1972. The idea was to have a higher-end full size wagon for those who couldn’t swing the pricier Monaco. That’s why the Custom has the different bumper, standard rack, extra chrome and doo-dads, and other options included that cost extra on a straight Polara, many of which came with the base 318.
I dont why the writer says “we dont know if its a Custom” , it says “Polara Custom” right on the rear quarter panel and it does have the rear seats
I would love to make a police wagon tribute out of this . Not what Sgt. MacDonald drove on Adam 12 but close enough for fun .
If the Blues Brothers needed to take the kids to hockey practice.
To fire “rubber biscuits!”
🎶Cow cow lubba ‘n a blubba lubba
Hey low a sum did a lubba goin’
Hey ride wanna take a-lubba do
How long long suppa dubba
How low a mail take a lubba hubba
Hey ride wanna take a lubba hubba
How low a mail take a lubba hubba
Hey down nothin’ take a luvva do
Hey ride a sippin’ and a hubba dubba🎶
I can dig it. Anybody care to venture a guess at the mpg
My guess would be 6… 6 gallons per mile.
I would get every bit of 4 mpg. All day
Clark Griswold needed this to……catch Christi !
my buddy had a War Wagon, even had the painted name on the back. We probably put 2 dozen used tires on the back of the car. It was a burnout machine.