As prices of '60s A-, B- and E-Body Mopars continue to soar out of sight for most of us, the big C-Body attracts more attention. Though four-doors and station wagons are cool, what we really want are two-door models. Of them, convertibles occupy the most desirable spot. This cool triple-black '66 Polara ragtop has the usual body rash but is otherwise solid and ripe for salvation.As prices of '60s A-, B- and E-Body Mopars continue to soar out of sight for most of us, t Each passing year, the quantity of cool old cars available as raw material for car crafters reduces. As we move toward the close of the first decade of the 21st century, a distinct get-'em-before-they're-gone mentality prevails. Nowhere is this more true than in the salvage yard. That's where every car's days are numbered and the clock of destruction ticks in triple time. Here's an original-paint '66 Dodge Polara convertible that's hiding out at the Desert Valley Auto Parts (DVAP.com) Phoenix yard. Can you believe this thing has survived 45 years already? Go get it and ensure it lives on. Groovy Factoids •Unlike Mopar A-, B-, and E-Bodies, the fullsize C-Body has a removable front subframe that's similar in theory to those used under (gasp) later Chevy Camaros and Novas. Pull a bunch of bolts and you can strip down a C-Body to the bare firewall. •The Polara nameplate was introduced in 1959 and was applied to various Dodge platforms through the '73 model year. Not found in the dictionary, the name was likely chosen to conjure powerful images from the submarine-launched Lockheed UGM-27 Polaris ballistic missile program, which was in development during the late '50s. The first successful underwater launch of a Polaris missile came on July 20, 1960. No Polaras were harmed during the launch. The stone-stock 383 two-barrel big-block is all original, including the aluminum-body, single-point, Prestolite distributor-complete with hinge-top lubrication tea cup. Rated at 270 hp, the 383 was the step-up option over the Polara's base, 230hp, poly-head 318. Any big-block convertible is worth saving. Dig the factory-original, light-blue engine paint. They're only original once, folks!The stone-stock 383 two-barrel big-block is all original, including the aluminum-body, sin We found this Chrysler A833 four-speed gearbox only a few yards away from the big 'Lara seemingly begging to be swapped in. Though most fullsize C-Body Mopar models from the '60s were available with four on the floor, the vast majority of buyers opted for the convenience of Chrysler's 727 TorqueFlite automatic.We found this Chrysler A833 four-speed gearbox only a few yards away from the big 'Lara se The interior is a peculiar study in the survivability of modern plastics. While the vinyl front seat covers and foam backing are shredded from years of use and exposure to the sun, the molded vinyl dashpad looks nearly mint. Of course, you wouldn't want to test the theory by pinching it. The dried vinyl skin would surely crack under the pressure. Check out the power window switch and factory-original AM radio. If this were a Polara 500, we'd see bucket seats, a console, and a tachometer.The interior is a peculiar study in the survivability of modern plastics. While the vinyl By Steve Magnante Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
