71 Dodge Polara Brougham coupe

71Polara383

Kid with ballcap
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Rockford,IL
Went to pick up my 1971 Polara Brougham coupe last week. First time driving across this beautiful country. It was literally a breath-taking experience and I'm glad I spent the extra money to get the car myself with an enterprise rental truck. Which was a brand new Hemi 2500 HD. Pulled the Polara home through the mountains like nobodys business. Scored a nice door for the passenger side and got to look around a little bit at the yard. Was more focused on getting loaded up and home safely with the car. There will definitely be another trip to Wildcat in the near future. The car itself is very solid. Needs a trunk pan and a little work around the windows. I saved it from certain death. Most people would have parted her but, that would be silly to do. The body is very solid and the floors and frame are excellent.

Already picked up most of a black interior from a 70 this afternoon. She should be on the road soon! More to come!

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I will be pulling the engine. It is stuck from sitting. Has been parked since 1999. I believe it was owned by an indian and maybe came off a nearby reservation...check out the bumper stickers. The trunk floor is the worst rot and its from water sitting under the trunk mat. Rails are 100% solid. Floors and sub frame are solid as well. Its definitely a project but i have already sourced everything I need. Just a matter of time and money now.

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That Polara looks so small behind the Cummins. Pickups have gotten huge.
 
Thats not even a Cummins...Was that the 5.7 or the 6.4? But you are correct, they are much bigger than they used to be.

Happy to see you save the car. Were those photos in Idaho or Wyoming? I was just out there over the summer as noted in your other thread. If Wildcat had gotten back to me that would have been me towing the car. Good luck...:thumbsup:
 
Thats not even a Cummins...Was that the 5.7 or the 6.4? But you are correct, they are much bigger than they used to be.

Happy to see you save the car. Were those photos in Idaho or Wyoming? I was just out there over the summer as noted in your other thread. If Wildcat had gotten back to me that would have been me towing the car. Good luck...:thumbsup:
Yes it was at 8500 ft above sea level. Continental divide in Wyoming. It was a 5.7 hemi and it was a bad mother! I think this car was meant for me. My first C body had a Grateful Dead sticker on it, and this one has one too. I read it and started to cry. This is my dream car guys.

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Meant for you? Probably was! Its funny how things work out one way or the other. This way is better for you and the car.

I went through there on the way out and on the way back went through the Tetons which was about 1000 ft higher.

I took this in Yellowstone

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This was in my 13' with the 5.7 Not bad but a far cry from a beast . It handled well but had no giddy up while pulling this one back from Missouri
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The 15 with the 6.4 had noticeably more pulling power. While in Idaho I drug this trailer around the hills and the truck pulled hard up the grades. I was glad I no longer had the 5.7
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On the way home from Carlisle I rented the U haul as an insurance policy. Again, the 6.4 was a huge difference over the 5.7.
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You have no idea how happy I am you bought this car and it will be resurrected. Please..... keep us posted on all her progress :thumbsup:
 
At first I thought your Polara Brougham was green, but I guess it was the lighting where you took some of the first photos that threw me off. I sold a Polara Brougham much like yours to Finland, and it really was that very bright green color they had in 1971 with a black vinyl top and interior. But I also like very much the gold paint yours came with originally and with a black roof and looking fresh, it too would be outstanding. The 71 Dodges are one of my favorite cars, although I tend to slightly prefer the Monacos.

Will yours have a bucket seat interior or a bench seat style like the one below?

I am super glad you got that car and saved it from oblivion.

Keep us posted. I will be starting my 71 Monaco in the not too distant future now myself.

Here are a couple photos of the one that went to Finland - and it took me a really long time to finally make that decision, but I knew the guy that was getting it was first rate, and that helped:

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Happy for you to have found the one and thanks for sharing the great pics.:thumbsup:
 
That Polara looks so small behind the Cummins. Pickups have gotten huge.

Part of that is forced perspective because the car is well behind the truck...

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...but yes, trucks have gotten huge.
 
Couple ideas my buddy whipped up for me. Trying to blend all of my fathers fusies into one. A Plum Crazy 71 Fury, 70/71 Polara. Was going to switch to a 70 rear bumper. Going to see how involved it will be to do the swap otherwise monaco tail lights would be pretty tough too.

I would stick with the original gold if it didnt need so much body work on the passenger side, and considering it will no longer be original paint it doesnt have to stay the original color in my opinion.

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It has been done before, the whole polara R/T plum paint with and without stripe thing. It never seems to be pulled off quite right
 
Wasnt below 0 outside today so I managed to get the door swapped with the good one I got from Wildcat. Also took the trim off from under the back window and on the a pillars as well. Not as bad as I thought. Should be able to fab up the pieces it needs rather easily front the old mangled door.
As far as the color goes. If it doesnt come out right, I'll have to redo it eventually. But thats my plan and I dont know if there will be any RT badging...funny thing is. My fathers Polara that influenced this whole mess had a hockey stick stripe exactly like that and it looked great against the light green. I did not tell my buddy about the stripe and then he sent me those renderings...crazy.
Also hooked up a battery and popped some new fuses in and I only have wipers, power seat and the starter clicks. I know it wont crank seeing as its stuck from sitting. But thats the only signs of life at this time...
Plan on pulling the 383 tomorrow and getting it apart to see if it even stands a chance at life without a rebuild. Not holding my breath...

Thanks for following!

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