Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptionally straight
1963 Dodge Polara 2 Door Hardtop with a 426 Max Wedge engine and
which is a recently comprehensively unibody up restored tribute to
a very rare and original Mopar - with a date correct 426 Max Wedge
V8 engine matched to it's original 'Torqueflite' push button
automatic transmission! For 1961, Dodge dropped the Matador,
leaving the Polara as the sole 'senior' Dodge model. Darts on the
shorter wheelbase continued. Up front, the massive bumper
treatments that had been a Dodge hallmark since 1957 were replaced
with a simple bar design, above which was a massive concave grille
shared with the Dodge Dart. This was the first Chrysler B-Body.The
new Dodge models were sized closer to Ford's new intermediate
Fairlane than to Ford's or GM's full-size models and the Polara 500
boasted Bucket Seats and only V8 engines. Among the B-Bodied 1962
Dodges was this bucket-seated sporty model called the Polara 500.
It was available as a two-door hardtop and a convertible, and a
4-door hardtop was added in December. Standard equipment included a
305-horsepower 361 cubic inch V8 with four-barrel carburetion and
dual exhaust. Positioned beneath the Polara 500 in descending order
were the Dart 440 and the Dart 330. For 1962 there was no model
named simply 'Polara.' In 1962, Chrysler introduced its new
high-performance version of the 413 RB Block motor: the Maximum
Performance Wedge. This engine had been in development since 1959
and employed "short ram" induction, wherein the carburetors were
fitted diagonally on the intake manifold. The "Max Wedge" option
was available exclusively in Chrysler's new-for-1962 intermediate B
Platform in Dodges and Plymouths only. Chrysler had developed the
option in part to capitalize on the rising popularity in NHRA super
stock racing. Although Max Wedge cars were street legal, they were
intended for racing purposes. These early Dodges were available
only with optional V8 engines of up to 413 cu in (6.8 L). These
mid-sized Dodges (and similar models from Plymouth) competed
successfully as stock cars in NASCAR races, and in stock-automatic
classes in drag racing, where their smaller size and lighter weight
gave them an advantage over the larger cars from Ford and General
Motors. In fact the instant success of the NASCAR single 4 barrel
carbureted version of the Hemi was overshadowed by the fact that in
testing, the dual quad drag racing version was not any quicker than
the 426 Max Wedge engine! The release of the Hemi drag race cars
was actually then delayed until the engineers worked on the problem
which was that a new camshaft was needed. First-year Max Wedge
engines were 413 cubic inches and came in 410 and 420 horsepower
versions. Dodge called its engine the "Ramcharger 413" while
Plymouth called it the "Super Stock 413." In 1963, the engine's
displacement increased to 426 cubic inches as the bore was
increased from 4.19 to 4.25 inches. In May of that year, an
improved version of the 426 was released, named the "Stage II." No
motors were ever named "Stage 1." 1963-engines were available in
415 and 425 horsepower versions. 1964 was the final year of the Max
Wedge option. The engine for the third year was named the "Stage
III." Max Wedge cars equipped with four-speed transmissions were
only produced in the final year, as prior to that point Chrysler
did not have a manual transmission that could handle the power of
the engine. In 1964, only 61 Dodges and 65 Plymouths were equipped
with Chrysler's A-833 manual transmission.Max Wedge cars are an
essential part of automotive history as they are the first vehicles
that can be classified as "muscle cars" by the strict definition as
an intermediate-bodied car with a big-block motor. While both
General Motors and Ford introduced intermediate platforms the same
year, it was not until later that they outfitted their newly sized
cars with big blocks. The 1962 413 Max Wedge Dodges and Plymouths
preceded the 427 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt (1964) and 390/427 Ford
Fairlane (1966), 389 Pontiac GTO (1964), 396 Chevrolet Chevelle
(1965), 400 Buick Gran Sport (1965), 400 Oldsmobile 442 (1965), and
427 Mercury Comet Cyclone (1964) and 390 Mercury Cyclone (1966).
Despite their historical significance and low production numbers,
Max Wedge cars had not until recent years reached the same level of
collectible desirability as other comparable muscle cars. This is,
in part, was most likely due to their race specificity. The basic
body of the 1962 model continued until 1964, revised and lengthened
by the new Chrysler Vice President of styling Elwood Engel. The
Polara range eventually grew to include a 4-door sedan. For 1963
and 1964, the Polara 500 was available only as a convertible or
hardtop coup. For the 1963 model year, the wheelbase was increased
to 119 inches (3,023 mm) and the car received new sheet metal. The
Dart name was reassigned to Dodge's line of compact cars that had
previously been known as the Dodge Lancer. Positioned below the
Polara were the plain 440 and 330. This particular example has been
meticulously restored with no expense spared and with great
attention to detail and now boasts the legendary and date correct
casting # 24067301 (1963-65) 426 'MAX WEDGE' V8 engine (with a date
of 11-9-62) and its original and legendary Heavy Duty (A727-B)
'Torqueflite' push button transmission and a correct MOPAR 8 3/4
rear end. The car also boasts its original AM Music Master radio
and heater and defroster.This beautifully restored and great
driving 1963 Dodge Polara 2 Door Hardtop with the legendary 426
'Max Wedge' engine is a rare stock looking example from this era
and a wonderful tribute which would make a wonderful addition for
any Dodge or MOPAR collector or enthusiast. The 426 'Max Wedge' V8
engine runs strong and sounds absolutely magnificent and this
particular car drives as it must have when new - must be driven to
be appreciated - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - a
truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day sports
car a run for it's money!With very few remaining '63 Dodge Polara
'Max Wedge' stock looking cars available in any form, and even
fewer having been restored to this level, this is an extremely
unusual opportunity to own a great daily driving example of this
rare and very desirable MOPAR; a 1963 Dodge Polara 2 Door hardtop
with the legendary 'Max Wedge' engine in turn key daily driving
condition ready and for any classic American car or Mopar
enthusiast to enjoy or collect today!