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1961 Dodge Polara Jump to page : 1 2 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | A newbie here, and happy I finally signed up. I live the F/L Life vicariously thru my buddy Dave's '61 Polara, which his parents bought new that year. It's shown below in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on a trip we took quire a few years ago, taking many two-lane US highways from the Carolinas north. It was his first car in high school (no dealer would take it for trade in '66),so he kept it, and still has car # 2, a '70 Challenger convertible he bought in '71. Glad to be here, TG Edited by Highball57 2010-06-23 10:31 PM (61 Polara U PXs.jpg) (61 Polara U P2s.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 61 Polara U PXs.jpg (86KB - 1155 downloads) 61 Polara U P2s.jpg (83KB - 744 downloads) | ||
B/G 61 |
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Expert Posts: 2612 Location: Parts Unknown | Welcome ! Great pics Feel free to post as many of that car as you want | ||
oldwood |
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Expert Posts: 2905 Location: little rock, AR | I'm glad to see another '61 even if it isn't a wagon. Great looking car. | ||
imopar380 |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7205 Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Good looking car ! | ||
keither32 |
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Member Posts: 46 Location: Minneapolis, MN | That's hard to believe only 5 years old and no dealer wanted it. Well, your gain. How many miles on that great looking car? Welcome from a newbie too, Keith | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | What do you mean it is hard to believe ? Just look at that thing ! Where were you in 1966 ? NOBODY wanted to be seen in a finned car, especially a weird one like a Dodge or DeSoto. It is a wonder any survived at all. My brother has a twin to this car in his garage. | ||
Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | Wow Doc, Another '61 Polara 2drht, need to see some pics of that one! TG | ||
wizard |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 13042 Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Welcome Tom, thats a nice car you've got. | ||
polara61 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 417 Location: Bräcke,Sweden | What a great looking car,we don´t see many pics of these Dodges. Doc haven´t posted any pics of his brothers car yet,but maybe soon? | ||
oldefar |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 708 Location: Fredrikstad, Norway. (Europe) | Loosing my breath and LOVE IT!!! I wasn't supposed to log on tonight after a couple of nights out to the islands with my boat celebriting midsummer eves, but when seeing this beautyful '61 Polara 2 door hard-top, I just had to sweep by and give some comments. NICE!!! Allways wanted the 2 door even tho' my 4 door sedan imported from Florida is pretty nice too. And Hey Brent, if your brother dislikes the '61 Dodges as much as you (lol), perhaps it would be for sale for a fair price? I*m ready for one anytime. Even tho' there still is a chance of getting that '63 Chrysler 300 Pacesetter convertible if the owner could just get the title for it. Meanwhile.......................... old fart Edited by oldefar 2010-06-24 7:34 PM | ||
d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | They do look good, in person! I'll never forget my own breathless-moment, in 10/60, walking home for lunch, in grade school, when the neighbor's brand new 61 Phoenix glided by, like a freshly landed UFO. Suddenly...the preceding Forwardlookers were obsoleted. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I never said I dislike 61 Dodges ! I may have said they are "bizarre" and "ugly", but I like them ! So much so, that if I stumbled on to a decent Seneca stripper sedan in a really bad color like beige, I might be forced to buy it ! Look, ... to the average American living between 1962 and 1982, being seen in a finned car was worse than being hosed down with urine. Some more than others really make people roll their eyes and crinkle up their nose, even today. To most people, they are all bizarre and ugly. If a guy wanted to have the ultimate bizarre and ugly FL car, could he do any better than a 61 Dodge ? I think not ! And as a confident FL fan from way back, I would wear it as a badge of honor !!! I'll try to have a camera with me some time when I am out with the Polara. It doesn't come out of the garage much to get a decent picture though. | ||
Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | Doctor D, Agree completely about the love/hate yin-yang of the '61 Dodges, but hey, at least it ain't red! TG (57 Make Mine RedXs.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 57 Make Mine RedXs.jpg (80KB - 398 downloads) | ||
oldwood |
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Expert Posts: 2905 Location: little rock, AR | I guess I need to pull out my '61 S.W. and get to work on it. The least I could do is get it road worthy and drive it. There seems to be very few '61 Dodges running the streets compared to other FL cars. | ||
Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | Better get on it; the best thing is that all the wagons have the rocket tube taillights... TG Edited by Highball57 2010-06-24 10:46 PM | ||
FinFan |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 709 Location: Poznan, Poland, Europe | what a charming car, love the shade on it. What was it called ? | ||
Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | Thanks FinFan, Charming color names, too... Glacier Blue and Snow. TG | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | polara61 - 2010-06-25 2:50 AM What a great looking car,we don´t see many pics of these Dodges. Doc haven´t posted any pics of his brothers car yet,but maybe soon? ******************************************* Ask, and ye shall receive ! (well, kinda.... !) My brother is a little reluctant to show his cars and I had to ask permission to take and post pix. But, here it is, as it sits in his garage. This is an honest-to-God one-owner (little old lady school teacher from Nebraska) low mileage Polara coupe. Car was originally a lighter blue and got a repaint at some point. Overall, it is a pretty much an unmolested original. (61 polara 2ht.JPG) Attachments ---------------- 61 polara 2ht.JPG (123KB - 459 downloads) | ||
B/G 61 |
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Expert Posts: 2612 Location: Parts Unknown | Couldn't push the four-wheeler outa the way first ??? Cool lookin car (the half of the half I can see ) I guess we know who the "cool" brother is now | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | This car *should* look like the one pictured at the top of this thread. If I happen to see the car out of the garage (which doesn't happen very often), I'll try to be there with my camera ! As it is, I just wanted to get off a quick shot to answer the call for a pic. Yes, it DOES exist. No, I am not pulling everyone's leg .... ! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Bleeve it or not, this car was picked up as a parts for a convertible I had found and turned him on to. That car had been stripped down to the bodyshell and needed EVERYTHING. It was a white car with blue interior and had the outline of the "star" on the rear left quarter. Widdo Bwudder decided he preferred the coupe and sold the ragtop. Like me, he angles for the rarely seen amongst rarely seen. Of all the FL cars he has owned, this is the one he kept. | ||
d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | Doc, if you can count to "2", this would be :" ...an honest-to-Exner TWO-owner" car... EVERY car is a one-owner car, sometime during its 'life'. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Neil, .... we all know the routine. However, finding a car that is still in the original owner's possession like he did with this car is pretty darned rare. Most people could not wait to dump these ugly tubs by 1964 and by 1980 when most of us were beginning to notice them as being something worth saving, they had been through 37 owners and left for dead in a field ! Therefore, I refer not to the present ownership status (which would OBVIOUSLY make him the 2nd owner), but to the uniqueness of finding it still parked in the original owner's garage. | ||
horace |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 471 Location: MN | Things were different here in rural MN finned sold well new & used even to the point when they were just aged transportation. It probably was because we had a strong Dodge dealer & some surrounding Mopar dealers were aggressive as well. No urine just dependability after 57 bugs were worked out, 55 & 56 always sold here as well until there demise. | ||
sidesho_bob1961 |
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Expert Posts: 1728 Location: Fleetwood, Pa | I really enjoyed this thread until I saw all those "warmed over" 55 Chevys in red............they should have come in last in the sales race for 1957!!!! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | sidesho_bob1961 - 2010-07-31 5:23 AM I really enjoyed this thread until I saw all those "warmed over" 55 Chevys in red............they should have come in last in the sales race for 1957!!!! **************************************** Quite telling as to how good taste has always been out of step with the masses. | ||
sidesho_bob1961 |
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Expert Posts: 1728 Location: Fleetwood, Pa | If I never see another one of those it would be too soon........Put a bowtie on a 57 Plymouth and a Mayflower on a 57 Chevy and they'd still be poking fun at it's "ho-hum "humpty dumpty" styling!!!! But, because it has a "Bowtie" on it well, now it's great!!! Give me a break!!! | ||
sidesho_bob1961 |
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Expert Posts: 1728 Location: Fleetwood, Pa | Back to this threads initial purpose.......I never really thought too much of these 61 Dodges before, but I must admit, they're really growing on me lately, especially in Polara form.......very nice car!!! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Try standing next to one. Pictures do not do them justice ! | ||
Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | And "Baby," (the wagon) makes three; sure hope we can drag some Polaras out of the woodworks, or at least out of Dr. DeSoto's Bro's garage. Glacier Blue must have been the rage for '61 Polaras, if these three are any indication. Keep your eyes peeled for Bob Hope & Lana Turner in 1961's "Bachelor in Paradise," discussed separately here. TG Edited by Highball57 2010-09-17 12:40 PM (61 Polara WagonA.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 61 Polara WagonA.jpg (235KB - 525 downloads) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | My Bro's car takes a backburner to the 53 Commander coupe he is restoring. Maybe when I get back from Afghanistan there will be time and space in my shop to polish that car up. It really is a nice, low miles original car. | ||
polara61 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 417 Location: Bräcke,Sweden | Pics of yet another 61 Polara, there must be atleast 20 of them out there.LOL. | ||
55poly |
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FwdLk56's Third Account Posts: 738 Location: Midwest USA | Doctor DeSoto - 2010-09-17 6:54 PM My Bro's car takes a backburner to the 53 Commander coupe he is restoring. Maybe when I get back from Afghanistan there will be time and space in my shop to polish that car up. It really is a nice, low miles original car. holy crap! somebody with a '53 LOEWY COUPE !!! that's what my dad's currently restoring! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | And not just any 53 Commander coupe. This one of the custom bodied cars with the extended quarters and the continental kit that toured the show car circuit. | ||
Mr. Polara |
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Member Posts: 15 Location: Germany | Two 1961 Dodge Polara from Germany: The black one is mine, since 10 years. Very original. And wins this year best original 60s at a lokal meeting in my hometown. Look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk1QKlLpoic Edited by Mr. Polara 2010-09-28 1:49 PM (1961 Dodge Polara 1991er Wheels Magazin Auto (6).jpg) (1961 Dodge Polara 1991er Wheels Magazin Auto.jpg) (Diana fffhrt nach Kaunitz 2009.1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 1961 Dodge Polara 1991er Wheels Magazin Auto (6).jpg (40KB - 12087 downloads) 1961 Dodge Polara 1991er Wheels Magazin Auto.jpg (41KB - 3488 downloads) Diana fffhrt nach Kaunitz 2009.1.jpg (70KB - 365 downloads) | ||
cbrayinga |
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Veteran Posts: 295 Location: Tallapoosa, GA | Welcome TG! GORGEOUS car!! Gotta love those 'kept-in-the-family' cars. | ||
wizard |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 13042 Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | Mertern, welcome to the gang - I hope that you enjoy it here! That's a cool ride you've got! | ||
Mr. Polara |
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Member Posts: 15 Location: Germany | ???? More pics ??? The blue Coupe needs new original door trim. And the seat cover are not original. But looks good. The black one is not perfekt but its very original and show its age. But real cool. We are in Sveden with the black one. And visits the Wheels and Wings Meeting in Varberg in 2008 and 2009. Edited by Mr. Polara 2010-09-28 9:01 PM (Coupe.JPG) (Coupe3.JPG) (Coupe (1).JPG) (Coupe Interior.JPG) (Diana in Schweden 2008 Wheels and Wings.JPG) (Diana interior.JPG) (Diana und ihre Schwester.JPG) (Diana und Schwester.JPG) Attachments ---------------- Coupe.JPG (106KB - 1294 downloads) Coupe3.JPG (107KB - 390 downloads) Coupe (1).JPG (94KB - 383 downloads) Coupe Interior.JPG (88KB - 1029 downloads) Diana in Schweden 2008 Wheels and Wings.JPG (84KB - 378 downloads) Diana interior.JPG (79KB - 389 downloads) Diana und ihre Schwester.JPG (73KB - 356 downloads) Diana und Schwester.JPG (66KB - 362 downloads) | ||
polara61 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 417 Location: Bräcke,Sweden | Hello and welcome Merten.I remember seeing pics of your car on another website some years ago. Glad too see that you´ve found this terrific site. Love the pics of your Diana and the coupe. | ||
Mr. Polara |
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Member Posts: 15 Location: Germany | Hello Nils-Erik, I read here a long time. But now I register because I want to present this pictures of this two Polara. I was in the last years sometimes in Sveden. In 2002 I was at the Big Meet. And 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 at the Wheels and Wings and I never saw another 1961 Polara. I wish someday I saw your car in natura. Sveden Car Meetings are the best. Super cars and cool Party, too. Hope to see you at the next Wheels and Wings??? | ||
Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | Any background on this '61 Dart Phoenix convertible? A show car? The photo looks period; I found it at Carlisle last year. Thanks, TG (Edited after Ian's eagle-eye correction). Edited by Highball57 2011-01-18 7:40 PM (61 Polara Show CarX.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 61 Polara Show CarX.jpg (91KB - 383 downloads) | ||
imopar380 |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7205 Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Highball57 - 2011-01-18 3:37 PM Any background on this '61 Polara convertible? A show car? The photo looks period; I found it at Carlisle last year. Thanks, TG Take a closer look at the side trim on this car, it's up high on the body, which means this is a Dart, not Polara. I have a color photo of this show car somewhere. | ||
Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | Thanks Ian, for correcting my error. On closer inspection, another clue is the spear's location further back on the rear quarter, both details I should've noticed. It still doesn't answer the car's what, where, when. Anybody know? TG Edited by Highball57 2011-01-19 7:59 AM | ||
gtx67 |
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Regular Posts: 66 Location: IL | Man those 61's ROCK. I have a factory pink 60 Phoenix convertible and can't wait to see it done! I LOVE both years and that wagon is awesome! Keep it up, post more 61's if you get em' | ||
polara61 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 417 Location: Bräcke,Sweden | Well Scooter here is a pic of mine. (oct5.jpg) Attachments ---------------- oct5.jpg (218KB - 397 downloads) | ||
d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | And, for all-you '61 big-Dodge boys, Emblemagic company makes perfect cloisonne-plastic emblems, like the ones that go onto your grilles.... | ||
polara61 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 417 Location: Bräcke,Sweden | I´ve been thinking about restoring the spare I have. Will have too check Emblemagic out. Thanks Neil | ||
Highball57 |
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Veteran Posts: 119 | Feeling it was better to give than to receive, I bought this NOS emblem for my buddy's '61 Polara for Christmas. If anyone wants higher-res pics of it to replicate/restore their emblem, send me a PM. Given its cost, it'll be interesting to see what Emblemagic can do; they do superb work. TG (61 Polara Emblem2Xxx.jpg) (61 Polara Emblem3Xx.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 61 Polara Emblem2Xxx.jpg (94KB - 348 downloads) 61 Polara Emblem3Xx.jpg (73KB - 433 downloads) | ||
polara61 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 417 Location: Bräcke,Sweden | PM sent Tom, requesting high res pics. //Nils-Erik | ||
Mr. Polara |
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Member Posts: 15 Location: Germany | A very interesting thing for the Coupe. What is the price for one? Or for the restauration of one? On Ebay.com is sometimes a NOS embleme in very perfect condition. But price of 700$ or 800$ is to much !!! | ||
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