You don’t see many Dodge Custom 880 convertibles at all, let alone one that is still owned by the original purchaser and is still wearing its original Seminole Red paint. This car is for sale here on eBay with a $10,000 opening bid–it’s apparent the original owner still likes the car! You can find this convertible in suitably warm Homosassa, Florida, where I’m sure it has spent most of its time with the soft top down!
The 1964 Custom 880 had a brand new grille design versus the 1963 cars. As I’m sitting here looking at it I’m wondering how the car got air to the radiator–perhaps under the front bumper? That big “DODGE” lettering made it clear who made this car. I suppose the dual corner fender ornaments made it easier to aim this large convertible?
Ergonomics hadn’t entered the area of dashboard design much–I find this layout pretty confusing at first glance, although I’m sure I would get used to it after a while. At least the speedometer is easy to read. Lots of glitz and glamour here! The ad states that the dash pad is in great shape.
The seller notes that the seats need to be reupholstered, and that a new carpet set is included but not installed. With power steering, power brakes, power windows and factory air conditioning, this would be a nice interior once completed. A push button automatic and the original 413 cubic inch V8 would mean some relatively quick (for the time) if thirsty cruising. It would be nice if there were pictures of it, but still. Oh, those nice looking whitewall tires were new within the last six months as well.
I love how colorful this vinyl is! What a great cruiser this would make. Have any of you owned one of this large Dodges? Please share your experiences with the Barn Finds community in the comments.
Even though it’s still in the original owners name it doesn’t mean he still owns it. The description is a little light on the history you would expect from someone that has owned the car for 50+ years.
Too many useless pictures of the interior, why none of the engine, door jambs, rockers and lower fenders. I hope the car is as clean is it’s made out to be, but the way the ad is layed out and the cars location, New Jersey plate and shipping from Florida, leave some doubt. I might be too skeptical, but it’s buyer beware nowadays.
Steve R
It’s always been buyer beware. Not just nowadays.
im the original owner it was in florida not nj the front plate was given to me by a friend in 1990 for car show kicks only as with the bart simpsons on the seat . yes i still own it and yes it does need to have the interior redone due to sun damage over the years but i drive it occasionally to keep it up but not too much any more since my heart attack this car as is can be driven any where and has 125,000 orig miles on it
The fronts of these look so bland,
especially compared to the back.
The front is pure American Motors to me.
I did not have this MoPar in my memory bank, so the title surprised me a bit.
Dodge? No way, I think it looks like an Ambassador. That may bring rarity, but not necessarily desirability. YMMV.
I had one of these ’64 880s back in high school. It has been a highway patrol car with the 413 Max wedge and was very fast. This is indeed a Dodge and a very fun car although the background on this one is suspect.
The standard engine was the 361 v8. The 413 v8 was quite a step up in power. This is an impressive car in red.
From what I understand the 880 was a mid year addition to the Dodge line. Dealers were screaming when they first saw the new downsized 62’s. With no “big car” to offer Chrysler added what was really a ’62 Newport with a ’61 Dodge front end and dash for top of the line car. Chrysler got a redesign for ’63 and ’64 but the 880 carried on with the ’62 Newport body for 2 more years getting a ho-hum redesign of the front end and dash along the way. They finally got a new body for ’65 and I think that is when it became the Monoco.
My 1st car was a ’62 Dodge 880 2 door. Front end was from a ’60 Dodge, Back end was ’61 Chrysler. I still have the original owners manual from when I bought the car back in ’70. Big old tank….361 with push-button automatic. No park lever….had to use e-brake when parked.
Geezerglide85, you hit it right on the money 100%. I like the look of this year better than the 63s though. The front grill was leaning toward this year, but it still had the plucked chicken look in the rear. That combo certainly didn’t go together IMHO.
t became the Monaco in 1966. The car took over where the Desoto left off in 1961. With only a few months to put the 880 together, Chrysler Corp scrambbled to get it done by late August of 1961, where it became the “Flag Ship” for the Dodge brand. It was fazed out after the 19675 model year to become the Monaco.
I grew up with early 60’s Chryslers. I don’t remember many of these around. I think it is very attractive (and a great color) . My dad loved them, the first car I drove was his 1963 Newport wagon (I had been driving trucks for years by then) comparing this front end to my 1963 Polara, it looks classier to me, more like a 64 Impala.
A great find. Dont think I’ve ever seen one. Kudos to whoever purchases it and refreshes it.
1st car was a 1963 Dodge 880 4 door. That thing was huge, but very cool. Push button drive, and rear view mirror mounted on the dash.
That’s a nice looking drop top. I don’t think there were many of these made, and if it’s truly a factory 413 ci. it has to be rare. That said, it’s not an especially sought after model. I think the opening bid is a bit high, I would expect to see a final bid in the $11 to $12k range.
I currently own this same car and a 2 door hardtop both from 1964. The coupe is for sale with an asking price of $7500. It is still in the original owner’s name and titled in Hollywood, California. Love this Dodge over all others.
I’m not familiar with this model but I kind of like it, it does have a lot of impala look to it. I am familiar with the 413, it’s really a nice engine. The power window switch on the driver door looks identical to the one on my ’56 dodge…probably the only thing in common.
I didn’t think the 413 was available in a Dodge in 64… but i found this on a Hemmings web page “While the 413 never appeared in the retail sales brochure, it was still on the dealer order form and in the service manual, so a small number of customer cars reportedly went out the door with it.” If this car really has a factory 413, it’s probably a pretty rare option
Jane Hathaway may have taken Jethro for a date in this one. Nicely equipped car.
I like how it’s supposed to be in Florida but has a New Jersey plate
If this info is correct then he would have been 17 at the very least to be the original owner down to 13. I am in this age range and I don’t know of any 13-17 year old kids buying a new 1964 car. Must be all this new math that was taught after I got out of HS in 1969. No wonder this country is going in the toilet.
Also a good friend of mine had the ’63 version of this car. The pivot of the top’s frame was a weak point band most broke early on. He could get the top up and down as long as there was 2 other people holding the top’s frame down on the pivots because instead of their being round, the bottom had broken off and left an upside down U at the pivot..I could have bought it from him in 1972 for $125.00 the amount the dealer gave him in trade on his ’72 Maverick. The Dodge had 115,000 miles on it
Looking at the grill, at first I thought it was an AMC product or something from Australia.
I agree, I was thinking a Rambler Classic.
Cool car. Interesting combination of some remaining Exner styling cues with the more restrained, tailored lines of the 60’s. I do agree with others that the grille is bland and nothing about it says “Dodge,” but I still like this car overall. A 1964 Dodge convertible with factory a/c must be quite rare. Echoing the comments of Anthony R above I checked the original sales brochure and it shows the 361 V8 as standard and the 383 optional, not the 413. If indeed this is an original 413 it would be quite rare and a “near-Chrysler Letter Series 300.”
I owned a 64 4 door, a/c PS, pb, nice dependable car rode like dream. 383 4 barrel. Wish I had it back. Great car, built like a tank.
My Father ordered a 1962 convertible, blue with blue interior and tiop. It came in with black top and interior. The dealer’s sales material listed blue interior and top, but the factory said no; and built it the way they wanted to.
My Father had been dealing with that Dodge store since 1946, and the owner stated that he would call the factory rep and get my Father a Newport in all blue for the same price. One problem, same deal; blue convertible got black interior and top.
My Father was in shock, I took him by the arm,into the nearby Pontiac store where a Catalina could be had with 5 or 6 top colors. He chose Bamboo Cream with a darker interior and a tan top. It came in as ordered in 4 or 5 weeks. He never set foot n the Dodge store again, and bought a new car every 2 years for decades. Almost all were GM’s, Pontiacs and a few Olds and Buicks.
Not every old convertible has visual appeal.This would be exhibit A.Horrid dash/ interior…forgettable design.
wow thats a busy dashboard
My first car in 1978 was a hand me down from parents 1964 4 door dodge 880 with a 361 and three speed manual on the floor from factory, now I recently purchased 1964 dodge 880 limo 361 but it is push button tranny.
got a hand me down 64 {best looking of all years} my sr. year in high school. mine had the 383 w/stromberg 2 barrel, another student had a convertible with the 413 wedge. most 413’s went to police but not all. don’t think they’ed have ordered a convertible. anyway it was a great car on the highway, and after adding coil helper springs on rear axel and 6 ply mudgrips it would do pretty well off road. light foot one and get 14-15 mpg. drive it like i did and get 8-10. 0h well at .32 cents per gallon who cared? i loved the push button automatic, the torqueflite was almost indestructable, a pleasure to drive. pleeaasse don”t judge an 880 til u drive one. if i ever see one at a show or cruise in i’ll beg the owner to take it for a spin for old times sake. at 65 i’ll promise not to drive it like i did in “72” ps. keeping it tuned up and the choke adjusted so it’l start is probably the worst part of ownership.