Coming or Going? 1974 Dodge Polara
In the 1970s, Chrysler products would be popular with police organizations across the country. It seemed like everywhere you looked, you saw a full-size Dodge or Plymouth set up as a “bubble gum machine” with its flashing lights and two-tone paint. This 1974 Dodge Polara (or it is a Coronet?) is likely a former cop car – or two. For reasons unknown, from the mid-section of the car, the front ends of two Polara’s have been grafted together. It’s in running condition, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s drivable. Located in Eugene, Oregon, this oddball Mopar is available here on craigslist for $4,500 (firm). Hats off to Rocco B. for one of the strangest tips we’ve seen in a while.
Chrysler sold a boatload of Dodge Polara’s and Plymouth Fury’s to police departments, highway patrols, and the like in the seventh decade of the 20th Century. Even though these cars were large and heavy, they were powerful with their 440 cubic inch V8 engines and heavy-duty TorqueFlite automatic transmissions. We assume that it took two full retired “black & whites” to create this one-of-a-kind “Bobbymobile”.
The history of this unusual criminal chaser isn’t known. But rumors do persist. For example, the machine may have been built by Graveyard Carz, s well-known customizer of muscle cars with their own TV show. Also, we’re told it may have also turned up in a James Garner film, but the specific movie isn’t mentioned. The car belonged to the seller’s father, but we don’t know how or when he come about owning it and he’s since passed on.
Instead of a 440 V8, this Dodge has a 318 under the hood (which one?). Though the machine has been sitting for a few years, the seller was able to get it running by hooking up an external fuel source. The brakes have pressure, but we don’t know how well the car will stop once you get rolling. The ignition “sticks” so that will have to be attended to. All in all, it might not take too much to get this baby back on the road, but what would you do with it if you got it running? Would it be street legal in all 50 states as you don’t know if it’s coming or going? And the elephant in the room is a one-word question: why?
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Comments
seems unique enough that someone to be able to shed some background on this, uh car.
Previous, non-proofread comment should have said:
Seems unique enough that someone should be able to shed some light on the background of this, uh car.
Here’s some speculative history;
“This rare, special-one off Police Cruiser was ordered by the major in the small town of Squaw Nipple, Iowa, under the assumption the Police would bring in more revenue. “They’ll be able to write twice as many tickets now!”
Two weeks, later, the mayor was defeated in a special election – by a dog.
“I lived in a town so small that one officer & one cop could cover it”
Our town is so small we don’t have a town drunk. We all take turns
Here’s an informational back ground:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-for-sale/cc-for-sale-1974-dodge-coronet-double-ended-cop-car-the-legendary-cornoroc-is-for-sale/
CURBSIDE CLASSIC says theirs had dual 440 motors and this one says it has dual 318 motors. So it this a copycat ? I cant see somebody giving up 440 motors for 318 motors
I really hope there aren’t more of these.
It’s simple. Andy in one seat, Barney in the other, and when Otis came driving drunk through Mayberry, they could catch him no matter which direction he was going.
C’mon, seriously? This is a Coronet…well, two Coronets. A Coronet looks nothing like a Polara. A little research is all it takes.
I’m told it handles Great even with skinny tires like a Saab Sonnet!! 😄
PLEASE, PLEASE, put that uhh whatever it is back in the barn and burn the barn down! It’s got the uglies. Not what I would expect from barn finds.
🎶 Too much time on my hands!,🎶
Nice, for someone with a split personality , or that might be Schizophrenia !
Love the comments. All I could think of was, I have no idea what I would do with this car?
This car suffers from bi-polara.
Bi’coronetta as its not a polara
True… but the joke fails as a Coronet. Ya work with what ya got. :)
A ’72, no less.
This is a BARN FAIL these are coronets last year for polara was 73′
Not to brag, but my friends and I did a lot of experimenting with drugs when we were in college…
Many of us did that John, and I am glad I never came across this thing when I was.
Even comes with a cherry on top.
You’d think that when the seller got it going with the gas can? He could have at least changed the dirty air filter on this pig.
They must have borrowed that air filter off a VW Beetle. Definitely does not belong on a V-8.
Id like to see under the hood in the rear of this thing.
Officers Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon must have had a hard time deciding which donut shop to stop at.
Door pillar area looks awfully nice, at least from a distance, to have been cobbled together. Maybe the Graveyard rumor is true? (Although I can’t imagine why)
i would love to be able to find a 1972 montecarlo ss 454 im hoping to own one very soon good day all
They gotcha coming and going!
Taillights/brake lights I presume.
Good cop/bad cop
Years ago I saw a write up about a 1959 or 1960 Chevy that someone had lifted the body off and turned it 180 degrees so the driver was looking out the rear windshield while going down the road. Why? Why not?
I think it’s really neat. It seems like I’ve seen it before, but a long time ago, like a small mention in a Hot Rod article or something.
I know what I would do if I had it. I would drive it back-and-forth to work. 😉
I think Road & Track featured that car in an April Fool’s section of the magazine.
Buzzard man, your memory is probably better than mine. My early-onset dementia just hasn’t been officially diagnosed but I’m seeing signs most every day.
The stuff that happened a long time ago I have no problem with. Dinner last night? Can’t tell you.
I think something like that was featured on CHiPS with Emileo Estrada as California highway patrol. Anybody remember??
I remember his name was Eric Estrada.
Thank you for the correction! It was Eric.
Why? I think it’s a reasonable question
The best thing to do would pull the 318 out to put in a decent car or truck,, and park this in a junkyard that specializes in old cars. Its never going to be on the road , and I doubt anyone would want to do the work it needs just to drive it a few days a year .I’m sure the DMV would be all over this safety wise, as cutting up a unibody would really warrant a thorough inspection . The 70s 4 door Coronets are not very popular either , so even in the junkyard I’d imagine it would be sitting untouched for years
The DMV likely doesn’t have any rules for slicing and dicing a car like this, just whether it has working headlights and taillights.
If it has to be inspected before registering , there could be problems
Never thought I’d see a vehicle uglier than a French Citreon! 😄
Today, you see specially modified pickup trucks riding the rails or on the street. They have railroad-type wheels that can be lowered or raised as needed so that the trucks can drive both on the rails and on the street. I’d bet that this Polara was used by a railroad, right on the track just as a trolley car was used [see, e.g., “Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou”], and that its railroad wheels have been removed.
To me, the more important question is: How are the engines connected to the wheels?
Rex, i am pretty sure this only has one 318 engine.
I see one problem with this so called police car it has no drive axle.
That’s what I saw, too [at least if there are two engines].