Chrysler made a strategic error in 1962 by downsizing its full-size Plymouths and Dodges. And, thus, the B-body was born. They thought Chevy was doing the same, but instead, they were preparing for the new intermediate Chevelle in 1964. Dodge recovered a bit in 1963 when the wheelbase was lengthened and the sheet metal revised, making the Polara look bigger than it was. The seller has a running ’63 Polara 440 which needs some cosmetic love. With the change in wheels, the car looks more menacing than it is. Located in Vancouver, Washington, this Mopar project is available here on craigslist for $5,700.
The Polara name was derived from the Space Race of the 1950s that gave way to other nameplates like the Ford Galaxie, Mercury Comet, and Chevy Nova. In 1963, your “big” Dodge choices were the 330, 440, and 500 series, with the latter intended as the sporty/performance model. The 440 was the biggest seller at 44,000 units across all body styles. Slanted headlights returned for the last time in ’63.
This Dodge may be original except for the wide wheels in the back and narrow ones in the front (wannabe strip car?). A somewhat docile 318 cubic inch V8 populates the engine compartment, paired with Chrysler’s push-button automatic transmission (which would go away after 1964). The seller may have recently acquired the automobile, as he/she hasn’t driven it out of the neighborhood.
The condition of the interior suggests the posted mileage of 83,000 is right on for the age. The car appears to be solid overall, with a little rust in the trunk and here and there. But nothing that should require panel changes. Since the car’s roadworthiness isn’t certain, a trailer is the recommended means of transport. This looks like a cool old Dodge to restore!
I love Mopars but the best thing about this one, it’s not in my garage or driveway.
sorry to ruin your fun but this is a Dodge 440, NOT a Polara. 440 was the intermediate model, Polara being the next trim level up then Polara 500 being the top model. “Polara 440” was was specifically a Canada-only model sold during the 1965 and 1966 model years
Love this car. I’d drive it.
I always liked the ’63 and ’64 models. A great refresh from the 62’s. Ya gotta admit the 62’s were homely. This isn’t big money for a car like this. Fix some rust, paint and new cloth inserts for the seats and it could be a fun project without breaking the bank. If it was a stick I would like it even more, I always liked to row my own gears. It has power steering but if it were mine I would upgrade the brakes to at least a 2 pot master cyl.
its a 318 wide block poly. i have owned 2 of them. slugs
This car changed everything for Mopar at the dragstrip. These were some of the very 1st altered wheelbase cars, that became the modern funny car of today. Ramchargers was probably the biggest, but everybody jumped on the Dodge bandwagon, and vintage drag racing footage,, shows many of these side by side, with those half painted wheels I don’t care for. Spelled doom for the trusty 409. In fact, while Don Garlits is known for his dragster exploits, in 1963, Chrysler offered a ’63 Dodge like this with an aluminum front end and a 426 wedge, one of Garlits few door slammers. Yet another Garlits story,,,apparently, in 1962, his wife Pat had a Dodge Dart with a 413, as the family sedan. She was well known for her heavy foot on Florida highways, and usually won on grudge matches. She said it was a fast car and Don wouldn’t have it any other way.
Norm and Len on grand ave in Chicago sold allot of these Dodges!
My old dad had a 63 Dodge 330 that was NOT badged Polara. It was a four door and had a 318, same push button transmission. He bought it used when we returned from overseas and drove it from central Illinois north and then west to Dad’s next duty station in northeast Montana, where it withstood some of the harshest winter conditions outside the poles. We then drove it west to Seattle and down to a base just north of San Francisco. It wasn’t particularly attractive, but it never missed a beat while we had it.
I have always really liked the ’64 440 body style. My big sister had a boyfriend that owned one that he swore was an original Ramcharger super stocker. Even at the tender age of 14, I questioned the validity of that claim, but who knows. It had the correct paint job (including the “candy matic” graphic on the front fender) and it was a screamer.
Ay any rate, this body style has always screamed “super stock” for me.
I’ve always really liked these, but this one is 2/3 of a continent away.
Yes the push button shifter went away in 1965. BUT, it was still shifted by cables to the back of the transmission. It didn’t change to a “side shifted mechanical linkage ” until 1966. All the Mopars are that way that I have seen. I did hear that some very late production ’65s had the ’66 shifter change, but I never saw one. I heard that some of the drag races lamented losing the push buttons stating faster more exacting shifts.(obviously before B&M shifters!) One of my teachers in high-school had a ’55 Chevy with a 383 Mopar with a “Clutchflite” and push button shift. A very different and kind of cool bracket racer.
I have a ’69 440 that would fit very nicely in this ride. Add a dual-quad cross-ram intake manifold and a couple of Carter AFBs and, Voilà, a go fast Max Wedge “tribute” that would lay rubber till the cows come home. ; >)
As others have noted, too bad it’s on the other side of the world from me or I would definitely be all over this… a lot of potential there.
I left my email on the bottom I like to get in touch with you about this vehicle I would like to maybe purchase it so please get in touch with me if you still have it thanks much take care.