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The Dodge Polara was an automobile introduced in the United States for the 1960 model year as Dodge's top-of-the-line fullsize car; after the introduction of the Dodge Custom 880 in 1962, the Polara nameplate designated a step below the best trimmed Dodge model. In its various forms, the Polara name was used by Dodge until 1973, when its position in Dodge's line-up was replaced by the Dodge Monaco.

1960 marked the first year that all Chrysler models, save the Imperial, used unibody construction. Contents



* 1 1960?62 * 2 1962?64 * 3 1965?68 * 4 1969?73 * 5 South America * 6 External links - 6.1 South American versions

1960?62

The 1960 Polara and other full-sized Dodges featured styling cues carried over from 1959 models, itself an evolution of Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" cars introduced in 1957. The top-of-the line Polara and Dodge Matador continued t- ride on the 122 inch wheelbase of their predecessors, while a new line-up of still full-sized Dodge Darts rode on a shorter 118 inch wheelbase. The Polara was available as a convertible, hardtop coupe, 4-door hardtop sedan, 4-door hardtop station wagon, and conventional (pillared) 4-door sedan.

Like these cars, both 1960 full-sized Dodges continued with the make's styling hallmarks of stacked "jet pod" tail lights, however, the size of the lights was greatly exaggerated, with the lower light set int- the rear bumper. The design als- incorporated Dodge¡¯s trademark shortened tail fins, which included small vertical tail light lenses placed on the vertical surface at the back of the fin; again, the purpose of the shortened fin was meant t- exaggerate the length of the "jet pods" holding the tail lights (The fins on Darts appeared t- be longer.) Up front, the car featured a small grille comprised of eight stacks of chromed rectangles nested in a massive (and complex) front bumper assembly. As the top model in the line-up, the Polara featured better interior fabrics and trim treatments. Polaras als- received more trim on the outside of the car, most notably a chrome stone guard aft of the rear wheel housings, a full-length chrome spear, and a wide chrome base t- the chrome spear atop the headlight housings.

For 1961, Dodge dropped the Matador, leaving the Polara as the sole "senior" Dodge model. Darts on the shorter wheelbase continued. For 1961, Exner¡¯s styling department reversed the car¡¯s fins, making them taller as they flowed toward the rear window. As the fins sloped towards the rear of the car, they cut slightly towards the center (t- allow the single tail light housing on each side) of the rear of the vehicle, wrapping downward and then back along the side fender t- form a C-shaped line accentuated in chrome. The overall effect made the rear of the car seem t- "pucker" from the angles the design created. Up front, the massive bumper treatments that had been a Dodge hallmark since 1957 were replaced with a simple bar design, above which was a massive concave grille shared with the Dodge Dart.

The 1961 styling overhaul of the Dodge line-up was different from anything else on the US market at that time (save the 1961 Plymouth, which was equally unique in its styling) and consumers voted on the 1961 restyle with their car-shopping dollars. Sales of fullsize Dodges plunged t- their lowest levels since the firms founding in 1914, with only 14,032 units produced in the United States. For the second straight year, the make was carried by the Dart which saw sales of 142,000 units for the year. Total Dodge sales for 1961 where down 53% compared t- 1960, dropping the make from sixth in the American market t- ninth place.

1962?64

All Dodge models were moved ont- a much smaller, highly-sculptured body with a 116 in wheelbase for 1962. This ill-advised move came after the president of the Chrysler Corporation "overheard" Chevrolet's boss, Ed Cole, say that his largest cars would be downsized for 1962. Chrysler designers were forced t- take the planned 1962 Dodge fullsize line and shorten the design t- fit a more compact wheelbase in a last minute effort t- compete with the "smaller" Chevrolet. However, when Chevrolet rolled out the compact Chevy II that year and a fullsize Impala, Bel Air and Biscayne, both Dodge and Plymouth were stuck with smaller cars that the motoring press and public alike found stylistically awkward. The new Dodge models had more in common with Ford's new intermediate Fairlane than it had with fullsize models from General Motors or Ford.

Quickly realizing the critical mistake they had made, Dodge hurriedly put together a new full-sized car using the front-end clip from the 1961 Dodge Polara and the body from the larger full-sized Chrysler. This new full-sized model was known as the Dodge Custom 880. Introduced on January 21, 1962, the Custom 880 became Dodge's new top-of-the-line model. In 1963 a lower specification version was offered, known simply the Dodge 880.

Among the "sized in the middle of the big and little" 1962 Dodges was a bucket-seated sporty hardtop coupe called the Polara 500. It was als- available as a convertible, and a 4-door hardtop was added in December. Positioned beneath the Polara 500 in descending order were the Dodge Dart 440,Dodge Dart 330, and Dodge Dart.

This model proved somewhat popular, but Dodge failed t- capitalize on its success and never developed it t- its full potential. Often compared t- the new-for-1962 Ford Fairlane, which was actually quite a bit smaller than the mid-sized Dodge, the Dodges were available with optional V-8 engines of up t- 413 cubic inches of displacement. (In 1962 the Ford Fairlane's largest engine option was a 260 cubic inch V-8.) These mid-sized Dodges (and similar models from Plymouth) competed successfully as stock cars in NASCAR races, their smaller size and lighter weight giving them an advantage over the full-sized cars from Ford and General Motors that they competed against. 1965 Dodge Polara Model line 1965 Dodge Polara Model line

The basic body of the 1962 model, revised and lengthened by the new Chrysler Vice President of styling Elwood Engel continued until 1964, with the Polara available as hardtop coupe, convertible, 4-door hardtop sedan and conventional 4-door sedan. The Polara 500 was available only as a sporty convertible or a hardtop coupe.

For the 1963 model year, the wheelbase was increased t- 119 inches and the car received new sheet metal. The Dart name was reassigned t- Dodge's line of compact cars that had previously been known as the Dodge Lancer. Positioned below the Polara were the plain 440 and 330. The 1964 models received a revised front end that gave them an appearance that was new and distinct from that of the 1963 models.

1965?68

For 1965, Chrysler moved the Polara back t- a Chrysler "C" fullsize platform that was shared with Chrysler and Plymouth models. Once again offered in a full range of bodies (sedans, hardtops, station wagons, etc.), the Polara, in effect, replaced the plain 880 and remained a step below the Custom 880 and both turned over their top-of-the-line status t- the new Dodge Monac- hardtop coupe, which would become a full line on its own the next year. From 1965 t- 1970, the Polara would be the only full-sized Dodge t- offer a convertible body.

The previous mid-sized Dodges that were sold under the names Polara 500, Polara, 440, and 330 continued in production under the name Dodge Coronet, their wheelbase shrinking t- 117 inches.

In the 1966 model year, the Monac- would replace the Custom 880 as the mid-level model while a new Monac- 500 would replace the previous 1965 Monaco. 1967 models received a facelift and the hardtop coupe adopted a semi-fastback roof style with a reverse-slant rear quarter window.

One constant of the 1965 t- 1968 models was taut, square-edged styling, which changed from year t- year t- keep the cars fresh. By 1968, however, it was obvious that Dodge's mainstream big cars would need a new look, and that would usher in a whole new philosophy.

1969?73 The 1970 Dodge Polara convertible (shown with rare "Super-Lite" headlight option) was the last full-sized convertible offered by Dodge. Only 842 were produced, with under 100 remaining today. The 1970 Dodge Polara convertible (shown with rare "Super-Lite" headlight option) was the last full-sized convertible offered by Dodge. Only 842 were produced, with under 100 remaining today.

Where the previous four years' Dodges had been very straight-lined and lean, the new 1969 Polara wore a chunky, broad-shouldered look. Called the "Fuselage Look", this style would persist through five model years, with subtle variations.

For 1969 the Polara 500 was reintroduced as a mid-level series between the standard Polara and top-of-the-line Monaco. The Polara 500 was available as either a convertible or hardtop coupe. Available powerplants included 318, 383, and 440 cubic-inch V-8 engines, along with a 225 cubic-inch "Slant Six" I-6 engine. The 1969 Dodge Polara models offered the "Super-Lite" option, which placed a quartz road lamp on the driver side grille for better visibility. Despite the fanfare, Dodge dropped the light option at the end of the year because of lack of consumer interest and various challenges t- its legality in certain states. In 1970 the Polara would receive new front and rear styling that included a bumper that wrapped around the grill and headlights (not unlike that of the 1969 Buick). The Polara 500 was replaced by the Polara Custom in either hardtop coupe, 4-door hardtop sedan, or conventional 4-door sedan body styles. There was als- a stripped-down Polara Special available as either a 4-door sedan or station wagon. 1970 was the last year that the Polara would be available in a convertible body style (with a scant 842 produced, making it extremely rare today), and Dodge would never again offer a full-sized convertible for sale.

The Polara Special disappeared for 1971, but a new sub-series was the Polara Brougham positioned above the Polara Custom, but still a step below the Monaco, the Polara Brougham was available only as a hardtop coupe or 4-door hardtop sedan.

The 1972 model year would see a fairly significant facelift with new sheet metal and the disappearance of the Polara Brougham model. 1973 models received new front-end styling in which they lost the previous wrap-around front bumper.

Sales of the Polara were falling by this time, however. Having been eclipsed by the Monaco, Dodge decided t- drop the Polara after 1973. The redesigned 1974 Monac- would only serve for four model years before being replaced by the unsuccessful Dodge St. Regis.

South America

Variants of the North American Dodge Dart (using the same wheelbase but different sheet metal) were produced in Argentina during the 1970s, as the Dodge Polara / Coronad- sedans, R/T, and GTX coupe. Brazilian Dodge Polara GLS Brazilian Dodge Polara GLS

The Dodge Polara was revived ? in name only ? in 1977 in Brazil, on a version of the British Chrysler Avenger (which in the early 1970s had been sold in North America as the Plymouth Cricket). This was sold until 1981.

In Argentina the same car was known as the Dodge 1500 until Volkswagen took over Chrysler Ferve Argentina SAIC, and the tooling for the car, in 1980. From then until 1988 the car was sold in Argentina as the Volkswagen 1500 (not t- be confused with the Volkswagen Type 3, als- sold as the Volkswagen 1500 in most markets including Brazil.)