<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1650562615266325&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

Kimberly V. Althage & Connor Canavan – March 31, 2021

Here we introduce the 1963 Dodge Polara 500. It was top of the line for Dodge back in the early 60’s. This owner’s updates bring it to the top of the line in the here and now. The color is called Carbon Metallic with a red accent and perfect for those who like the fresh stealth look. We will examine some of the custom modifications that have been done to this Polara 500, for each body panel has been reworked. In 2010 at the Mopar Nationals, this WON best of show.

This second-generation Polara is a car with a face. The first generation lasted just two years, 1960 & 61. The Second Generation is 62-64. The best way to tell this is a 63 is from the front head lamps, and more specifically the inboard lamps. The inboard lamps are higher than the outboards lamps on the 62, and the 64 has all the lamps the same height with a thinner grill. This 63 has the inboard lamps lower than the outboard lamps. In summation, 62 was higher, 63 was lower, and 64 was the same.

It has a super slender body style and a timeless look to it. And here too we can illustrate the differences between the generations. A 62 has two separate accent lights moving across the side to the back, like what you see here but then stops in the middle of the door, only to pick up again at the front of the back wheel well. Moving over the wheel and stretched back into what was the inner brake light. The outer brake light was connected to some gills just under its accent. This 63 has a simple sleek line and the 64 was very similar to this design except having more accents. Instead of just the one accent line, there were 3 accent lines. The bottom line gets cut off by the front wheel and then the top two lines continue across the entire vehicle.

To recap some of the cosmetic differences the second-generation Polara has, the 62 has two separate accent lines, the first breaks off at the door and then continues off the base of the vehicle right in front of the wheel well. The 63 has one simple accent across. And the 64 has multiple lines moving across in one sweeping motion.

As we look at the backend of this vehicle, you can see the brake lights. All the second-generation Polara’s have different brake lights. The 62 has the most unique design with four circle brake lights, two on each side. To add to its design the brake lights are not level with inner brake lights being higher, as with the headlamps.

Looking at this 1963 vehicle, you can see Dodge redesigned the taillights entirely from the previous year. They changed the circle design into two rectangular brake lamps. Another redesign for the 64 where another tail light was added, making it three square lights of red, white, red. In summary, the 62 has four circle taillights, the 63 has this, and the 64 has three squares on both sides.

As you can see the customization didn’t stop with the paint and bodywork. Look at the doors and seats with all the black and beautiful red accents everywhere. The dash and dials look amazing. Some of the features that come with this Polara 500 is air conditioning, power brakes, power steering, power locks, power seats, AM & FM radio.

Now, the engine. Originally when the Polara came off the line in 1963, it had a 318 with a 3-speed manual transmission. Today, this thing is powered by a custom built 451Stroker. Mated to a custom built Tremec 5 speed transmission. That produces 673 Horsepower, and 527 lbs-ft of torque. With just under 1,400 miles on the vehicle since the restoration, this is basically a brand new mopar.

Comments