Introduced in 1960, the Dodge Polara remained in production all the way through 1973. And even though it was around during the Detroit muscle car wars, the nameplate is rarely associated with high performance. And that's mainly because it spent most of its life in the full-size market and never got the iconic 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8.
But that's not to say that the Polara didn't have a shot at the muscle car segment. From 1962 to 1964, Dodge relegated the Polara to midsize duty. It was part of a controversial Chrysler strategy that saw nearly all senior Plymouths and Dodges relegated to the still-emerging intermediate market.
Not surprisingly, the downsized automobiles were met with skepticism, and sales slowed down. On the flip side, their smaller, lighter bodies made them popular among drag racers. To speculate on this newfound purpose, Chrysler dropped the race-bred Max Wedge V8 into these cars to create factory Super Stock models. The Polara was also included in the program, and these drag-ready 1962-1964 rigs are now rare and sought-after collectibles.
The 1964 two-door you see here is not one of those six-figure gems, but it's the next best thing if you're in the market for a beefed-up midsize Polara. Once a regular production model, this intermediate is now a gasser-style powerhouse rocking race-ready HEMI engine.
Finished in a custom color called Blazing Copper, this Polara is spotless as far as fit and finish goes. It also retains nearly all factory features on the outside, including the side chrome trim, the steel bumpers, and the correct headlamp/taillight assemblies. It's a proper nostalgia gasser rather than a perched-up restomod.
The recipe is pretty much similar inside the cabin. The seats and the door panels are as stock as they get, while the dashboard was modified to accept new gauges and switches, just like you'd see on a fully-fledged gasser. The steering wheel and shifter were also upgraded for quarter-mile duty.
But the real highlight hides under the hood. Unlike its factory siblings, this Polara packs a HEMI punch. And I'm not talking about a standard 426 Street HEMI. Nope, this Mopar got stuffed with a race-spec, hand-built unit that displaces a whopping 528 cubic inches (8.7 liters).
And the list of high-performance components is impressive and includes Indy Legend aluminum heads, an Indy intake, ceramic-coated headers, and an MSD billet distributor. Everything linked to the chassis has been rebuilt with drag racing in mind, and the drivetrain now has an electric fuel pump and a custom-built driveshaft.
The only info missing is how quick this Polara is down the quarter-mile, but the HEMI sounds fantastic. At 660 horsepower, this Mopar should cover the distance in less than 11 seconds. And it's nowhere near as expensive as a Super Stock model at $68,998. Check it out in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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