Mystery Machine: 1964 Dodge Polara
Where I grew up in Southern Virginia, most houses that were built in the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s had a carport. Carports are cool because people can’t hide their car in the garage, they are visible for the world to see. Occasionally I saw a car that never seemed to move and eventually it became part of the real estate, leaving you to wonder what the story was. That is the case with this 1964 Dodge Polara in Atlanta, GA. Find it here on Craigslist with an asking price of $7,000.
The seller only adds to the mystery, the entire ad reads “Come buy and restore this 1964 Dodge Polara.” Thats it, no story, engine or interior pictures; even the license plate number is a mystery. From what I can see this Polara is a base model, I believe the lower trim level cars had 4 taillights like this car while upper trim levels got 6 taillights with a trim panel on the back. A custom touch is the Ford Fairmont wheel cover on the left front. The paint is faded and worn but it may be original, according to the dealer emblem the car was purchased at Downtown Dodge in Atlanta. Since it looks like a base model sedan the engine is probably a Slant Six; but Dodge did have a 426 in ’64. We can dream can’t we?
This car has clearly been parked for a long time. I wonder what the story is, possibly an elderly person that could not drive anymore or maybe it was parked due to a mechanical problem. The overall condition is not bad, if there is no major mechanical problem and the interior is decent this would make a fun project, although the price may be a little high. 
I wish there was an interior picture but these are all we get, the dash and interior on these cars are very basic and no frills. I like this car, the 2 tone paint is cool and this generation Polara has a nice understated look. Hopefully someone will see the potential here and return this classic Mopar to the streets.
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Comments
I have little Mopar knowledge, but I would be surprised if an immaculate, restored, 4-door Polara is worth much more than $7k?
not even that… restored it’s worth maybe 6, more likely 4500. They aren’t rare. You can find one any day of the week for around $1500 with automatic, power steering, and 318 polysphere. They are great looking cars but there isn’t too much special about them.
Exactly, Andre….this is a $1,500.00 beater at best…the ad does say it’s a V-8, for what’s it worth…
Polara? The Polara was the top of the line model with 6 lights in back.
This is a baser model, although I am not sure which one from the pictures. I am more of a Plymouth guy. Maybe a Dodge 330?
This is exactly the way I bought my first car back in 1982. She was sitting like this in front of an old lady’s house.
I expect this car is worth about as much as the one I bought back then which was $50.00.
How can a person ask $7000.00 for a car with no information and very few pictures?
Like this
Agreed. In the 70’s and 80’s you couldn’t give away a 60’s 4 door sedan. They were $75 t0 $150 all day long. Which is why I ended up with several- just as much fun to play with, but no respect in the high school parking lot.
I didn’t care about respect when I drove my 4 door 1963 Fury to school.
I was proud that she was running from my hand.
I parked her next to brand new Porsches and VW Rabbit Convertibles. One kid even had a Ferrari.
Those kids cared nothing for the cars they drove.
Base .models of Polar sedans and with but two tailights. The top line Polara 500 and Polara with Sal Ted tops usually total of six rear lights.
There was another model, 880 that had more of mini Chrysler look.
Miguel, looks like a middle trim model. I had a 330 and the side trim was different. 440 model?
The asking price is $2500 now. Listed as a Dodge 440.
The side trim does look like a 440.
The two extra bars on the front fender give it away.
This is definitely a 1964 Dodge 440, 440 is for the trim and some details. Cousin models are the 330 , Polara and Polara 500. These are very rare cars today because there are just a few in restorable conditions. I think this car must have a 318 poly engine. If it has an automatic original pushbutton transmission then it is more expensive car. PRICE? for me the seller can ask for $4,000 us. dlls if title is ok and is a numbers matching car. Most collectors and restorers could even pay 5,000. That´s my opinion. I will also say that this particular car has a lot of potential….Wanna make it a 2 door sedan 330, that´s easily done, you can make a clone car, even a Max Wedge clone , just check those prices in the internet, ebay etc… $30,000 to $90,000, dont believe ??? make your own search and discover this extraordinary cars.
The Fairmont hubcap must increase the value by a factor of 11.
I lived in a snowbird community in central Florida. Every time I go back to visit I drive around town just to look at cars. I can usually spot at least a dozen within a matter of 30 minutes of driving up and down streets. There’s quite a few houses with closed garages. I’d love to know what’s in them.
The owner needs to quit drinking the cheap stuff. This car is no more a $7K buy than an `89 Yugo! He’s dreaming. At best, I see $900. TOPS. It’s a sedan, not a 4dr. hardtop, so interest in at the bottom, second, it’s a base-model Polara, and probably a slant six, or at best, a 318 2bbl. Nothing ultra-rare about this sled, and it’s sat longer than my mom’s copy of “War and Peace” on the shelf.
A car like this can be restored if you can do a lot of the work yourself, and it’s what you want, like granddad had one or something. Can’t be done with an eye towards a Barrett-Jackson payday.
My Dad went to the local Chrysler dealer on Staten Island where he lived intending to buy his first brand new car when he was 40 in 1964. Made sense after all because he had been married for just two years and had finally finished off the house it took him five to seven years to renovate, plus he had been at his job with IBM in midtown Manhattan for 12 years at that point. His intent was to purchase a Dodge Dart, but as luck would have it there were none available and since the dealer gave him such a great deal on the White 2 Door 440 they did have with a slant 6 and a three speed on the column, he wond up buying that instead. However, for whater reason, he decided to cut a couple of holes in the back and add an additional set of taillamps so people would think he had a Polara instead. Not sure why he did this, but it made it easy for him to spot the car or something. He moved up to where were are now near Poughkeepsie so it could have been he wanted to spot his car easily in the large plant parking lots they had here.
…
Looks like the 440 to me. http://oldcarbrochures.org/index.php/NA/Dodge/1964_Dodge/1964-Dodge-Polara/1964-Dodge-Polara-08-09
Why in heck does it seem that because an auto is over 25 years of age it is a worthy candidate for restoration?
Some cheaply built autos were junk the day they rolled out factory door, utility vehicles of cheap transport you traded in your old cheaply built rigs for.
As a parts auto 750-1000$max if trim , fenders and, not 4 door are salvageable.
The price, IMO, way out of line, and especially if slant 6, or old style 318, with small auto tranny.
Can it be redone, of course it can, but why?
Then again, if I had found it first I would try and sucker out as high a buck as I could, and then give a deal at lower price.
The Polara 500, had an anniversary model.
As George stated above, the price is $2500 and it’s a 400 now. Maybe still a tad high but not outrageous as the poster’s obvious typo @ $7000 was. Perhaps they took the ‘you can always go down but usually not up’ theory a bit too seriously. Or someone just has an awesome sense of humor.
Classic?
Where is the class in this auto?
Not an auto snob, well maybe a little, but damn, trash is trash no matter the bling they try and hide behind,
Pun intended?
Scott,
I live in SW Virginia,& ,while looking for a house last year,
noticed that many of them don’t have a garage.
I told my Wife that the only requirement was that we get one
with at least a two car garage.We bought one with a 20′ X 20′ garage,
plus small workshop.
These 1964 Dodges and their cousins the 1964 Plymouth Furys and Belvederes were some of the best cars Chrysler Corporation ever made. I have owned a few, and had one as a daily driver in the 1990s. Well built, very smooth and comfortable ride, and the 318 2-barrel was the perfect combination of power and economy for me. These cars will last longer and cost less in maintenance than any Ford or Chevrolet from the same time period. Yes, I know that will get some folks’ dander up, but that’s been my experience. Also, the 318 has more power and gets better fuel mileage than a 1964 Chevrolet 283 or 1964 Ford 289, all other things being equal. These are wonderful cars.
No, this 440 4-dr. sedan is not worth $7,000 and not even $2500 in its current condition, and no, it is not a Polara! It is a 440. Is a Chevy Bel Air an Impala? No. Is a Custom 500 Ford a Galaxie? No. Same difference. Stop calling it a Polara. The pecking order was 330 at the bottom; 440 in the middle, Polara at the top; and then the super deluxe sport model was the Polara 500.
Case closed. Thanks for listening.
I have to agree with everyone else what they are asking is way too much!
Ok, can’t go wrong at $2500 ( they’ll probably take $2) Like Pete says above, these were the best Chrysler products, but, no one saved them. They served their purpose well, but after 10 years, they were just back lot rusty beaters, and the last owner junked them. THAT’S what makes this car so rare. And don’t be so hard on the CL posters. They probably bought this house with that “old junker” under the carport, and have no idea what it is or it’s value. Get used to it, we’ll see more and more of that.