HELP! 1967 POLARA 500 440hp & 4speed PRODUCTION INFO (GALEN)

[RemCharger]

No, its not.

I guess we interpret the site mission statement differently. ANYWAY back to the unique Polara at hand.....

 

[HWYCRZR]

I did my ‘68 Polara 2 dr ht that had been in my family since 1970. It sat in Colorado for 26 years baking in the sun. My goal was to make it new again so likely spent 3 times the value to restore.

The sun baked interior likely includes a cracked dash pad and highly faded dash panels. So depending on how handy you are with upholstery, head liners and such. You could easily put $6K into the interior. Then there is paint and body. At today’s paint prices you could easily have another $5-10k in paint materials. This doesn’t include body work or patch repair. Then it’s been sitting for over 40 years so mechanicals, rubber bushings and seals likely need replacing.
I don’t know the last time I saw a 67 or 68 4 speed Polara for sale, but I can’t imagine that a correctly restored one would bring over the $30k mark unless you got lucky and found the right buyer. That being said if it’s for an investment, walk away. If it’s for the sake of a challenge and a hobby, you could spend your money on worse things. My pleasure is fixing things, so is right up my alley.
Good luck. I said I would never go into another restoration as deep as mine, but this could be unique enough to intrigue me.
Here’s mine. If you want to see what I consider a full restore, check out the link below my profile. (On a smartphone turn it landscape and you will see the link)

 

[GOLDMYN]

shoot the guy that said: for an investment, buy corvette instead of 67 Polara, ok I'll change it, buy the Polara and I'll watch with excitement the restoration

 

[CBODY67]

example:
1967 Plymouth sport fury 440hp 4 speed · Fast top

This car looks dang good. It also has the benefit of less than 100K miles, too!

Nobody has mentioned the issues of getting the C-body Budd disc brakes and rotors refurbished. More time and money. AND the OP has not indicated the possibility of him doing any of the needed body work or mechanical work to the car, to decrease $$$ expended in order to get it so it is drivable OR having a place to work on it, for several years. Getting the cars bought and moved is just the easy part of the total equation!

I used to want a Corvette for daily use, but could never really afford OR insure one, back then. Yet the last year of the L82 had some interesting features. Like a 3.07 rear axle ratio for one. Still the same guts as the '79 L82, but with "highway gears" and lock-up V-6 torque converter. NOT to forget the "laid back angle" of the core support, which reflected police radar beams into the atmosphere (as documented by C&D magazine!) with a 500' radar range. If I had one, it would NOT be red or black. Those days PASSED over 40 years ago, though. That generation of Corvette was a "rear steer" car, just like Chryslers!

To me, Corvettes are for somebody else to own and me ride in. Too many negative issues, back then.

Enjoy!
CBODY67

 

[RemCharger]

I'm just getting mine mechanically nice so I can try it out. By that I mean a 500hp 440.
Maybe a cheap body job down the road..

 

[DAGGUM MOPARS]

Some new pictures I took earlier today...

 

[DAGGUM MOPARS]

 

[sixpkrt]

Is the interior any nicer in the 2nd car? Having the 2nd car as a donor should reduce some of your restoration costs.
Does the engine rotate?
I see a five year resto on this one all day long. But on the other hand, with it taking that long, you won't break the bank.
Buy the car. A 4-speed HP C body is highly desirable, and quite rare as already mentioned.

 

[Fury Pursuit]

The first thing you should do is simple. Buy the car.

The second thing you should do is retrieve the Broadcast Sheet and confirm its to this car.

The third thing you should do is "The Happy Dance"......or someone else will. (soon I might add)

 

[Dick Landy]

Take this raaarre Polara !! It looks like a solid car...

 

[DAGGUM MOPARS]

As requested, here is the back story on the car. Joe (the current owner, and second owner) bought the car from a local dealership, early 70's. The original owner was a rancher in the area, ordered the car and used it to pull a horse trailer. He traded it after several years. Joe used it as a family car and said that he did quite a bit of towing with the car as well. It was a well-loved part of the family.

I first saw this thing twenty or so years ago. An old friend and hotrod mentor took me to Joe's house to look at cars (there are probably 40 cars or more still currently on the property). Not many Mopars, mostly old Hudsons. Anyway, the car absolutely was not for sale; the owner's sons had planned on restoring it. I asked my friend of the car a few times over the years, and he always said to forget it, they will never sell.

A few weeks ago, another friend mentioned this old timer that was selling a bunch of old cars. He took me along, and it ended up being Joe's place. The Polara was still absolutely NOT for sale. I took a picture or two and we moved on. I had mentioned to my friend how long I had known about and been interested in the car. A few days later my friend called saying that Joe and his son had decided to sell the car and I should come back around if I was interested.

There have certainly been plenty of guys trying to buy this car over the years. I just kind of lucked out, getting the opportunity to buy it before they did any advertising or let anyone else know that it was for sale. You can definitely tell from the pictures that it hasn't moved in ages. Vandals broke out the windshield (and a few other windshields) years ago. The Colorado sun is brutal, and the interior is pretty unsalvageable. The car is pretty high mileage; 109,000. Joe has said that the engine has been overhauled, but he did not know to what extent; if it had been bored or anything. He thinks it has 10,000 miles on the rebuild. Still not quite sure why they parked it. He mentioned the ball joints werent available, that does not seem accurate. I have not turned the engine. It has been sitting so long, thought it best not to rush it and get some oil down the bores. You can see in one photo that the pedal assembly is loose. Bandits stealing parts, the shift rods are missing, surprised the pedals are still present. The car is missing several pieces of trim from the passenger side, and several pieces are not useable, but otherwise the car is pretty complete. The passenger fender bondo work and a repaint were done by Joe's son in the high school auto body class, mid 1970's. There is also one patch panel in the passenger side rocker in front of the wheel opening. I did a very thorough inspection of the floor pans yesterday and I couldn't find anything to deter me from purchasing. I was really surprised that the floors weren't ruined from the lack of front glass. There is some rust in the passenger side trunk extension that does not seem to affect the quarter panel.

I'm 46 years old. Bought my first 70 Dodge Coronet 29 years ago, and I still have it. I tore it down to paint a few years ago, other projects have interrupted. I had another 70 ratty super bee clone, that I thrashed and treasured for years, still regretting selling it. I picked up a really nice driver 1972 Dart Swinger early this year and I'm right on the verge of getting it on the road. This little A body is probably the best money I have ever spent on a Mopar. Never had a C body, never thought I would. I certainly don't need the project; I'm honestly trying to move a few right now (1966 Karman Ghia if anyone is interested). Yes, I own a detached garage, wood heated. I have a pretty okay knowledge and ability to mess with this stuff. Tooled up and have fair fabrication and welding skills. I have access to my friends shop a few doors down, with 2 post and 4 post and a paint booth. I'm just not certain yet, what the future will bring with this Polara and I. Move forward with my Coronet build? This car is kinda just too cool to pass up, and I at least wanted to get my hands on it for a while. I might sell it, or I might end up falling in love!

And yes, I am purchasing the cars. And yes, the story has gotten a little more interesting. Joe and I have hashed out a price, and we have a handshake agreement. He is pulling out the titles; I have a guy lined up to haul the cars, and it should be a done deal on Saturday morning. I know what you're thinking, and hopefully I am not jinxing the deal or counting my chickens or whatever. I don't believe Joe (just turned 85) to be the type to crawfish on the deal. He expressed that he was very pleased that I was buying it, and the deal is now for THREE cars! The Polara 500, parts Polara, and a 1966 Chrysler 300, 4 door hard top. 383 auto, 80,000 mile pretty nice survivor. Shouldn't take much to make a cheap cruiser, I'll include a few pictures of the Chrysler as well. Anyway, there ya go for those interested, I'll let you know how it all shakes down!

 

[DAGGUM MOPARS]

 

[DAGGUM MOPARS]

Is the interior any nicer in the 2nd car? Having the 2nd car as a donor should reduce some of your restoration costs.
Does the engine rotate?
I see a five year resto on this one all day long. But on the other hand, with it taking that long, you won't break the bank.
Buy the car. A 4-speed HP C body is highly desirable, and quite rare as already mentioned.

The interior on the parts car isn't great. The dash is disassembled but a lot is there. Not sure if it has the correct bucket seats. The back seat is okay. Probably quite a few useable pieces though.

 

[GOLDMYN]

thanks for the story, pretty neat!

 

[polara71]

The interior on the parts car isn't great. The dash is disassembled but a lot is there. Not sure if it has the correct bucket seats. The back seat is okay. Probably quite a few useable pieces though.

Good luck. I hope it all comes together for you.

 

[RemCharger]

As requested, here is the back story on the car. Joe (the current owner, and second owner) bought the car from a local dealership, early 70's. The original owner was a rancher in the area, ordered the car and used it to pull a horse trailer. He traded it after several years. Joe used it as a family car and said that he did quite a bit of towing with the car as well. It was a well-loved part of the family.

I first saw this thing twenty or so years ago. An old friend and hotrod mentor took me to Joe's house to look at cars (there are probably 40 cars or more still currently on the property). Not many Mopars, mostly old Hudsons. Anyway, the car absolutely was not for sale; the owner's sons had planned on restoring it. I asked my friend of the car a few times over the years, and he always said to forget it, they will never sell.

A few weeks ago, another friend mentioned this old timer that was selling a bunch of old cars. He took me along, and it ended up being Joe's place. The Polara was still absolutely NOT for sale. I took a picture or two and we moved on. I had mentioned to my friend how long I had known about and been interested in the car. A few days later my friend called saying that Joe and his son had decided to sell the car and I should come back around if I was interested.

There have certainly been plenty of guys trying to buy this car over the years. I just kind of lucked out, getting the opportunity to buy it before they did any advertising or let anyone else know that it was for sale. You can definitely tell from the pictures that it hasn't moved in ages. Vandals broke out the windshield (and a few other windshields) years ago. The Colorado sun is brutal, and the interior is pretty unsalvageable. The car is pretty high mileage; 109,000. Joe has said that the engine has been overhauled, but he did not know to what extent; if it had been bored or anything. He thinks it has 10,000 miles on the rebuild. Still not quite sure why they parked it. He mentioned the ball joints werent available, that does not seem accurate. I have not turned the engine. It has been sitting so long, thought it best not to rush it and get some oil down the bores. You can see in one photo that the pedal assembly is loose. Bandits stealing parts, the shift rods are missing, surprised the pedals are still present. The car is missing several pieces of trim from the passenger side, and several pieces are not useable, but otherwise the car is pretty complete. The passenger fender bondo work and a repaint were done by Joe's son in the high school auto body class, mid 1970's. There is also one patch panel in the passenger side rocker in front of the wheel opening. I did a very thorough inspection of the floor pans yesterday and I couldn't find anything to deter me from purchasing. I was really surprised that the floors weren't ruined from the lack of front glass. There is some rust in the passenger side trunk extension that does not seem to affect the quarter panel.

I'm 46 years old. Bought my first 70 Dodge Coronet 29 years ago, and I still have it. I tore it down to paint a few years ago, other projects have interrupted. I had another 70 ratty super bee clone, that I thrashed and treasured for years, still regretting selling it. I picked up a really nice driver 1972 Dart Swinger early this year and I'm right on the verge of getting it on the road. This little A body is probably the best money I have ever spent on a Mopar. Never had a C body, never thought I would. I certainly don't need the project; I'm honestly trying to move a few right now (1966 Karman Ghia if anyone is interested). Yes, I own a detached garage, wood heated. I have a pretty okay knowledge and ability to mess with this stuff. Tooled up and have fair fabrication and welding skills. I have access to my friends shop a few doors down, with 2 post and 4 post and a paint booth. I'm just not certain yet, what the future will bring with this Polara and I. Move forward with my Coronet build? This car is kinda just too cool to pass up, and I at least wanted to get my hands on it for a while. I might sell it, or I might end up falling in love!

And yes, I am purchasing the cars. And yes, the story has gotten a little more interesting. Joe and I have hashed out a price, and we have a handshake agreement. He is pulling out the titles; I have a guy lined up to haul the cars, and it should be a done deal on Saturday morning. I know what you're thinking, and hopefully I am not jinxing the deal or counting my chickens or whatever. I don't believe Joe (just turned 85) to be the type to crawfish on the deal. He expressed that he was very pleased that I was buying it, and the deal is now for THREE cars! The Polara 500, parts Polara, and a 1966 Chrysler 300, 4 door hard top. 383 auto, 80,000 mile pretty nice survivor. Shouldn't take much to make a cheap cruiser, I'll include a few pictures of the Chrysler as well. Anyway, there ya go for those interested, I'll let you know how it all shakes down!

Thanks for the background! Your story somewhat parallels my own.. I'm 50, have many cars( a few nice ones, lots of projects, all b bodies) and one morning I saw this monaco on kijiji.. turns out a 2 hr drive later it's mine. Seems no one could figure out it was a 440... upon discussion with oldtimers, the drivetrain all went into an old ford pickup! So I've been slowly piecing all the parts together, and at somepoint she'll smoke the tires again. I have 4 of these buggers now .

 

[Fratzog]

Thanks for sharing. Look forward to your updates as you bring this one back.

 

[MoPar~Man]

Joe doesn't deserve more than $1k for the car and the parts car if you ask me - letting it go to hell all those years deserves some kind of penalty.

The only other people that would want it would just want to tear the engine + trans out of it and junk the rest.

 

[RemCharger]

Joe doesn't deserve more than $1k for the car and the parts car if you ask me - letting it go to hell all those years deserves some kind of penalty.

The only other people that would want it would just want to tear the engine + trans out of it and junk the rest.

And theyd pay alot more than that

 

[MoPar~Man]

And theyd pay alot more than that

Why, when they can get a new block from 440 source?