The classic American convertible may not be the top collectible in our continent, but it should be. Big American barges eat up highways while carrying the whole tribe with aplomb. However, most of them featured run-of-the-mill engines lacking the horsepower to run hard, but not our Pick of the Day, a 1968 Dodge Polara convertible. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in New Braunfels, Texas. (Click the link to view the listing)
The Polara name was first introduced in 1960, becoming the top-of-the-line Dodge. In 1962, the Polara 500, a buckets-and-console model available as a hardtop and convertible, was introduced, pushing the Polara down a notch but nevertheless serving the same role as a top trim level with multiple body styles available. But this was the “downsized” Dodge, and the Custom 880 was created midyear as a senior Dodge to placate the dealer network and the car-buying public.
In 1965, the all-new full-size C-body was introduced. At the top was a new coupe called the Monaco, created to compete with the Pontiac Grand Prix. The Custom 880 then became the top mainstream full-size Dodge, leaving the Polara at the bottom. But, remember, this was Dodge and not Plymouth, so standard V8s were part of the equation, in this case the 383 two-barrel V8.
For 1967, Dodge C-bodies were restyled in time for the Dodge Rebellion. By then, Monaco had replaced the Custom 880 as the most luxurious of the mainstream big Dodges, with the Monaco 500 playing the role of the sporty personal-luxury coupe. The Polara continued to play the bread-and-butter role, with the Polara 500 still featuring bucket seats and the no-cost option of a console. There also was a new, cheaper Polara 318 that would eventually become the standard Polara for 1968, though the engine was redesigned.
Though it may be easy to think that big cars often had powerful engines, that’s simply not the case. The most powerful engine commonly found in Polaras seems to be the 383 four-barrel, with most being the 318 and 383 two-barrel. Finding a 440 Magnum — the same engine found in the Coronet R/T and Charger R/T, is quite rare, especially in a convertible. That’s what makes this 1968 Polara convertible stand out, and it’s 100% legit per the VIN and fender tag. Complementing the white hue are Magnum 500 wheels, which were a legitimate option for this car. Take a peek inside and you’re greeted by “a luxurious interior via deep black vinyl bench seats in the front and back that sit nicely with matching door panels, carpet and dash,” per the seller. That’s certainly no lie as the convertible’s interior was more upscale than other Polaras. “A two-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a 120-mph speedometer and factory auxiliary gauges that include a fuel gauge, water temperature, battery charge and oil pressure.”
With the odometer showing 75,000 miles on the clock, this big American cruiser still has enough life in it to take on every highway you throw at it. Thumbs up come up as often as a Hemi-something, so why mortgage your house for that elephant when you can have a whale for $29,000?
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
