Dodge Polara

Dodge Polara
1972 Dodge Polara 4-Door Sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	Dodge (Chrysler)
Production	1959–73
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Layout	FR layout

First generation
1960 Dodge Polara 4-Door Hardtop
Overview
Production	1959–1961
Assembly	Dodge Main Factory, Hamtramck, MI, United States
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door wagon 2-door convertible 2-door hardtop 4-door hardtop 4-door hardtop wagon
Related	Dodge Dart Dodge Matador Plymouth Belvedere
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,099 mm (122.0 in)
Length	217.0 in (5,512 mm)

Second generation
1964 Dodge Polara 500 Convertible
Overview
Production	1961–1964
Assembly	Dodge Main Factory, Hamtramck, MI, United States
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan (1963–64) 4-door sedan (1963–64) 4-door wagon (1963–64) 2-door convertible (1962–64) 2-door hardtop (1962–64) 4-door hardtop (1962–64)
Platform	B-body
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1962: 2,946 mm (116.0 in) 1963–64: 3,023 mm (119.0 in)

Third generation
1966 Dodge Polara 2-door hardtop
Overview
Production	1965–1968
Assembly	Dodge Main Factory, Hamtramck, MI United States
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door coupe 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Platform	C-body
Powertrain
Engine	440 cu in (7.2 L) V8 (1966–68) 426 cu in (7.0 L) V8 (1965) 413 cu in (6.8 L) V8 (1965) 383 cu in (6.3 L) V8 (1965–1968) 318 cu in (5.2 L) V8 (1965–1968)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	121.0 in (3,073 mm) 1965–66; 122.0 in (3,099 mm) 1967-on
Width	80.0 in (2,032 mm)
Height	62.0 in (1,575 mm)

Fourth generation
1973 Dodge Polara 2-door Hardtop
Overview
Production	1969–1973
Assembly	Dodge Main, Belvedere, Illinois Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door coupe 2-door convertible 4-door station wagon
Platform	C-body
Powertrain
Engine	318 cu in (5.2 L) V8 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 383 cu in (6.3 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 440 cu in (7.2 L) V8 225 cu in (3.7 L) I6
Transmission	3-speed automatic 3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122.0 in (3,099 mm)
Length	1969–1970: 220.8 in (5,608 mm) 1971–73: 220.0 in (5,588 mm)
Width	1969–1970: 79.3 in (2,014 mm) 1971–73: 79.0 in (2,007 mm)
Height	1969–1970: 56.8 in (1,443 mm) 1971–73: 63.4 in (1,610 mm)

The Dodge Polara was an automobile introduced in the United States for the 1960 model year as Dodge's top-of-the-line full-size car; after the introduction of the Dodge Custom 880 in 1962, the Polara nameplate designated a step below the full sized best trimmed Dodge model; the Polara that year had been downsized to what was in effect intermediate, or mid-size status. In its various forms, the Polara name was used by Dodge until 1973, when its position in Dodge's line-up was replaced by the Dodge Monaco. The name Polara is a reference to the Polaris star, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race during the early 1960s. The Polara was a competitor to the Ford Galaxie 500 and the Chevrolet Impala.

1960 marked the first year that all Chrysler models, save the Imperial, used unibody construction.

The 1960 Polara and other full-sized Dodges featured styling cues carried over from 1959 models, itself an evolution of Virgil Exner's "Forward Look" cars introduced in 1957. The top-of-the line Polara and Dodge Matador continued to ride on the 122-inch (3,099 mm) wheelbase of their predecessors, while a new line-up of still full-sized Dodge Darts rode on a shorter 118-inch (2,997 mm) wheelbase. The Polara was available as a 2-door convertible, 2-door hardtop coupe, 4-door hardtop sedan, 4-door hardtop station wagon, and conventional (pillared) 4-door sedan.