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68 Polara Wagon

Discussion in 'Off Topic Hot Rods & Customs' started by guthriesmith, Jun 8, 2024.

  1. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,065

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Went to go look at an old farm house to extract some honey bees out of a wall and tripped across a pretty cool Polara wagon behind the house. Not sure I have ever seen one before. Are these desirable at all? Sounds like there may be other cars as well…more to come.

    IMG_0118.jpeg IMG_0119.jpeg IMG_0120.jpeg IMG_0121.jpeg IMG_0122.jpeg
     
  2. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,065

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    And, here are the bees in the wall I need to extract if anyone is more interested in that. :rolleyes: Sounds like they may have lived in there 30 years, so I am expecting a big hive under that siding.

    IMG_0117.jpeg
     
  3. Los_Control
    Joined: Oct 7, 2016
    Posts: 1,182

    Los_Control
    Member
    from TX

    Pretty cool cars, I never had the station wagon but I did have a 2 door hardtop.
    That was a pretty sharp car, I bought it from a co worker his parents died and he needed to liquidate estate.
    I paid $200 for the car and it did not run & no brakes. It needed a carb & master cylinder .... The car was frigging beautiful and low miles.

    It was green with white interior. Had a 318 wedge, bucket seats console floor shift automatic.
    It was a big boat but very sexy.
    I fixed it up, made it dependable then wash & wax and gave it to my mother/step father to replace the old wreck of a pinto they were driving.

    Step father hated the gas mileage on it and kept driving the pinto ....
    My mother worked in A state laundry facility, then she went blind and now she was working in the Good Will as a blind woman in the laundry washing the used clothes before being sold.
    Thats where she met her partner and they got married and he was retarded .... they made a good team with her brains and his brawn .... They eventually bought a home together.

    Just saying, last time I paid any attention to that beautiful 2 door hard top 1966 Polara 318 wedge classic car.
    It had a junk refrigerator strapped to the roof, the Mother partner was using it as a truck to haul scrap metal to the recycling center, and driving the junk pinto for a DD.

    To be fair here, I was only 18 or 19 at the time .... I did the best I could for them.
     
  4. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,065

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Pretty sure I would rather drive the Polara than a Pinto. :D
    Thanks for sharing the story. :)
     
  5. chevy57dude
    Joined: Dec 10, 2007
    Posts: 8,999

    chevy57dude
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Maryland HAMBers

    Big 'ol stately looking longroof!
    A far stretch from what Mopar was cranking out in '62!
    Cool tail lights. Hope the A/C works with all that glass area. Did you bring it home?
    [​IMG]
     
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  6. Los_Control
    Joined: Oct 7, 2016
    Posts: 1,182

    Los_Control
    Member
    from TX

    I kind of think I may have missed the mark on this one .... I did say green with white bucket seats .... I should have said green with white leather seats .... I have no idea how the trim level works on these cars .... My Polara was pretty nice and I expect a wagon would also be luxury.
     
  7. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,065

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Nah, I haven’t even asked about it yet. They asked me what I was going to charge them and I said I wasn’t unless
    there were some old cars sitting around on the property that they wanted to pay me with. Anyway, this was just one of the cars sitting around when I went back last night to show my wife what we were getting into so I took a few pics. Sounds like there are other old cars stashed somewhere. I am somewhat anxious to know what they are. :D
     
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  8. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 25,695

    Deuces

    Take Lotz of pictures.....
     
  9. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,465

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That 68 Dodge Polara Wagon has a lot of potential.
    It appears that all of the glass is there, and the body seems to be pretty straight, the hood and the grille appear to be in good shape as well.
    You had better snag that, before a tornado does some damage to it.
    Whether its painted or just primered, with some cool non billet, wheels, it can take on a
    "Darth Vader", mystery, sleeper, persona !
    Your results may vary!

    ghost of radio (2).jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2024
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  10. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 25,695

    Deuces

    Them crash'em up derby types love them there cars....:confused: Probably because of the strong frames.....:cool:
     
  11. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 2,938

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    Had a ~'68 Dodge Polara convert(v/8, green, w/blk top n interior), that I got in trade for a '51Vicky. Not sure who got hosed the worst on that deal. Drove both for awhile as dd's in Minn for a couple yrs each, had to fix odds-n-ends on both, was happy to see both go. Although they both served my needs at the time. Oddly enough, both were fairly reliable, mostly.
    Marcus...
     
  12. 30 years?
    That hive is going to be the size of the Polara.
    That is going to be a sticky mess
     
  13. 51311186275_b8372b54e0_z.jpg
    You posted an 1962 A body (AKA Plymouth valiant) photo not exactly the same size class as a bohemoth Dodge polara wagon.
    This is a 1962 dodge Dart wagon (the Dart did not become a small car until 1963, the Dodge A body which would become the Dart was originally called a Lancer.

    Being serious Did you ever read the story about Dodge messing up with the full size cars in 1963... They heard a rumor that GM was downsizing so they went ahead and hastily downsized that are full size car line if I understood the story correctly... It is part of the reason why 1963 Mopar products look so odd
     
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  14. It's unibody.
    The demo derby guys like them because when they back up the trunk area naturally rolls upward making sure that rear tires never get hung up in the crunchy body work...
    This point they are old enough I keep hoping that I will quit seeing them at demo derbies.
    Off subject a bit its Probably time for demolition derbys to start smashing full size SUVs, and pickups since they are the new full-sized ship boxes at Americans been driving them for 30ish years at this point.
     
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  15. Sharpone
    Joined: Jul 25, 2022
    Posts: 1,785

    Sharpone
    Member

    For Pete’s sake @guthriesmith don’t let the Derby clowns get their grimy paws on that car.
    Dan
     
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  16. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,465

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hey @guthriesmith
    The following is a great MOPAR Universal eye chart, that will be very handy to you, in regards to that ultra cool 68 Dodge Polara Wagon.

    D = Dynamic
    O = Old
    D = Desirable
    G = Great
    E = Engine's

    P = Protect
    O = Our
    L = Lovely
    A = Amazing
    R = Retro
    A = Automobile

    Now you know what to do!
     
  17. What else they got laying around out there?
     
  18. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,065

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Not sure yet but I hope to go get the bees Tuesday so should know soon. The way we found the wagon is that they have a “public” lake on their land that you can pay $1 and go fishing or whatever. This place is about 10 miles down dirt roads in an area not traveled much. :eek: Drove my $400 F100 to go out there since I wouldn’t take a decent vehicle.
     
  19. 327Eric
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,187

    327Eric
    Member

    C bodies have never been particularly desirable, although the way things are going that will likely Change . I like em, and if you do, get it. They are hard to sell when your done. This is my experience in Central California at least.
     
  20. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 4,846

    gene-koning
    Member

    Yep, would make a cool cruiser, but probably not going to be a great investment to make a pile of money from in the future.
    That big block Mopar is going to be lucky to pull much more then 10-12 mpg dragging that wagon around.

    I bought a beater 72 Polara 4 door sedan once, think I paid around $200 for it. The car was an old state police squad car, and was actually in pretty decent condition. I bought it because we were running a big block Mopar on our local dirt track, and the Polara was a gold mine of good used parts.
    At the time I needed a truck, so I pulled the trunk lid off the sedan and proceeded to use it as a truck. It could haul a lot of stuff, I was pretty impressed with it for the amount of junk I could put in that massive trunk. I think I used it as a truck for a couple years before I got a real truck and turned the Polara into parts.

    I had a newer early 70s Polara wagon for a while as well. That one was a work horse until we cooked the transmission.

    Both cars were actually in pretty good shape, but neither had much resale value. Kind of like now. Both were great work horses, and both probably would have been decent summer cruisers (if you could handle the gas mileage). Probably wouldn't be as valuable selling off as parts, like they were back then.
     
  21. What a cool service car for an early funny car Mopar.
     
  22. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,065

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Thanks for all the input guys. I honestly still have no idea if they would get rid of the car or not. However, after all the discussion here, seems it would have to be pretty cheap or free to come out ahead on it. It is kinda cool and I could see it as a neat family hauler. However, I already have one of those sitting in front of my shop that I need to do something with and it needs way less work. I'm not real motivated to work on it either so chances are pretty slim that this wagon will come home with me...

    Here is the other OT car that I haven't been able to mention here before this new section. This car actually has some sentimental value tied to it so that is partly why it is still around. This car was owned by one of my good friends younger brothers. That brother was hit by a train and killed in 1996 and this car has been sitting pretty much ever since. My friends sister ended up with the car when her daughter turned 16 and got it up and going again which was 8 years ago now. However, it wasn't really ever driving much and then my friends sister ended up needing money so I now have the car. Oh, and by the way, my friends sister and my wife are best friends so there is another tie there. I'm not real hip on this car either, but it is pretty nice other than the vinyl top that is falling apart. The interior is basically like new even. But, I just can't get excited about it for some reason. I just need to get it running again.

    IMG_6822.jpeg
     
  23. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,465

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hey @guthriesmith
    Exactly what is the year model and make of that 4 door road barge with the vinyl top dreadlocks?
    I assume its a FoMoCo product?
    I agree with you, its hard to get excited about that rig, but its too nice to scrap, hopefully it will find a new driver for it.

    I do hope that the 68 Dodge Polara Wagon, will at least come back to life, at some point.
    It's too nice and too mysterious, for it to just be sitting in a field, waiting for the weather to deal with it!

    Thanks from Dennis.

    "Eat your beans, there is a storm coming"
    BALLARD BEANS 001.jpg
     
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  24. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,065

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    It’s a 67 Mercury Park Lane. And, more to come on the wagon and maybe others this evening. Took the afternoon off to go get the bees.
     
  25. I don’t know if those African bees are that far north but I’d bring my running shoes just in case. Nice wagon! I would love to have it. I own this one but I’m not really a Ford guy.
    5B5703DD-68AC-422C-BE68-8EE84C1813EA.jpeg
     
  26. guthriesmith
    Joined: Aug 17, 2006
    Posts: 11,065

    guthriesmith
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Got the bees but still haven’t talked cars… I have to go back again later this evening though.

    IMG_0140.jpeg IMG_0141.jpeg
     
  27. 65pacecar
    Joined: Sep 22, 2010
    Posts: 23,749

    65pacecar
    Member
    from KY, AZ

    That wagon would be pretty cool to build. Big block with air, beautiful body style when done. Great drivers and a nice comfortable ride. Pretty rare combo, but wagons are only so desirable. I would love to have it for a driver and pull vehicle for my 65 Plymouth.
     
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  28. 65pacecar
    Joined: Sep 22, 2010
    Posts: 23,749

    65pacecar
    Member
    from KY, AZ

  29. SS327
    Joined: Sep 11, 2017
    Posts: 3,351

    SS327

    C bodies are starting to gain some traction value wise. Wagons on the other hand seem to command a premium around here. It don’t matter what flavor they are either, GM, Ford, Chrysler, AMC.
     
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  30. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,465

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If Bruce Lee, ( KATO ) of the Green Hornet, T.V. show, ever decided to drive a cool MOPAR wagon, that 68 Dodge Polara would have been his choice to customize and wheel around town in!

    Everything about that wagon, is cool and unique!

    It's face and it's ass end are a great statement in artistic automotive expression!

    @guthriesmith you know you really want to save that car, from the golf ball sized hail, and the potential that the bees, that lost their home, will set up housekeeping in that Polara Wagon!

    IMG_3380 (3).JPG
     
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