Dodge Polara: Pre-Muscle Car Era Machine Hits the Auction Block
Dodge Polara Convertible packs a fresh 383-cubic inch big block V8 and it is available for sale.
The folks at ClassicCars.com recently featured a 1966 Dodge Polara Convertible that is listed for sale on their website, reminding us all that before the Challenger and Charger were top names in the performance world, this was one of the key models for buyers looking to go fast. Due to the introduction of the muscle cars, pony cars and other smaller American performance cars of the later 1960s and 1970s, the Polara is often forgotten, but back in the early 1960s, this sprawling drop-top was likely the first choice of many Mopar lovers who were looking to tear up the street.
Big American Performance
We all know that in the late 1960s, the American performance car scene was dominated by the likes of the Dodge Challenger, the Dodge Charger, the Plymouth Barracuda, the Plymouth Roadrunner, the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro and many other cars that fit into the muscle car or pony car groups. Unfortunately, many people forget that before those smaller American performance cars raced onto the scene, many gearheads around the United States dreamed of a car like the Dodge Polara, the Ford Galaxie or the Chevy Impala.
In 1960, the Polara was introduced to compete with the Galaxie and the Impala, offering gobs of interior space and V8 power in what is, by today’s standards, a large car. As the Polara grew more popular, Dodge added some performance-minded upgrades in the mid-1960s, as well as the sporty 500 model.
The Polara 500 was available as a hard top or a convertible, with a variety of V8 engine options, front bucket seats and a floor shifter that added to the go-fast feel. These cars have become relatively rare, even in the car show scene, but there is one for sale right now on classiccars.com that is as nice as it was on the day that it rolled off of the assembly line.
1966 Polara 500 Convertible
The 1966 Dodge Polara 500 Convertible shown here is the car listed for sale, featuring a black soft-top, black leather interior and a fresh coat of the factory Sea Foam Green exterior paint. Under the hood is the 383-cubic inch V8 mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission and a 3.55 rear gear, all of which are freshly rebuilt.
Premium amenities include power steering, power brakes with discs up front, a modern sound system, a modern alarm system and custom-welded subframe connectors that increase chassis rigidity for a better ride.
This gorgeous 1966 Dodge Polara 500 Convertible is currently listed for sale with a price of $22,543 and it is located in Sodus, New York, so if you have been dreaming of owning one of the great pre-muscle car era Mopar performance cars, here is your chance.
Photos: Classic Cars
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