Here are a couple of
pictures of our 1964 Dodge Polara 500 convertible. We have had the car
since 1976. When we purchased the car it had been sitting in the elements
for several years with the top down. The car was destined for the salvage
yard. The original 426 Wedge had been shelled out and replaced with a 383
from a 69 Roadrunner long before we acquired the car. We drove the car
for many years as a daily driver, let it sit for several more and then
began a complete restoration around 1991.
Although we lost our
garage to a fire in 1995, the DeWitt Volunteer Fire Department was able to
push the car off the safety jacks and out of the garage. But, only after
they chopped out the side of the garage first to remove their number one
concern, the oxygen & acetylene tanks. Hats off to the DeWitt fire
department!! The only damage the car sustained was some blistering to the
primer, the convertible top was melted in a few places and some smoke
damage to the interior. Luckily, we had the new top stored
safely in the house, was able to clean the interior and since Steve was
still working on the body, he hadn't painted it yet. In 1996 the
restoration was complete. Well, so we thought . . . In 2001 our son found
a 1964, 426 Wedge block, on Ebay. Of course we bought it. We had to
drive to Kansas City to pick it up, but it was worth it.
The car now has a 426
Wedge, that's been bored .030 over and a 4.15 Eagle forged steel crank,
giving it a total displacement of 477 ci. It has Edelbrock RPM performer
heads on it, a Racer Brown .514 lift - 292 duration cam, two Edelbrock 600
cfm carbs, a Mallory unilite distributor, Mallory high fire ignition and
Hooker Super Comp tuned headers. This has an 833 four speed and 355 sure
grip rearend.
We've enjoyed driving the
car for the last 27 yeas. We currently enjoy showing it. When we're no
longer able to drive it, we'll pass it on to our son. Hopefully, the car
will be around for many years to come!
Paula & Steve Schwerdtfeger
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