61 Polaras, 62 Chryslers and 62-64 880's. Same but different

Speaking of Canadian cars, it is very rare to see 60-64 122" wheelbase Dodges in Canada. Chrysler Canada had a very different product line in Canada in that era, and many US models were not marketed here, and we had some Canadian only models, such as the Valiant based on US Darts.
This topic of Dodges that are Plymouths, and Chryslers that are Dodges etc could be greatly expanded on.
A few examples:
55-59 Dodge Regents, Mayfairs, that are Plymouth bodies with Dodge front ends.
62 Plymouths with Dodge dashes and exterior trim.
The 62 Sport Fury was not available in Canada.
63-64 Valiants that are Darts with Valiant front ends.
65-66 Valiants that are Darts with Valiant badges.
Much like what Chrysler did to make the Demon in 1971, was happening for many years in Canada.
 
Can anybody here tell me if 122 WB 63 300 2dr floor and trunk pans interchange with 118 WB 61 fury floor and trunk pans. I know about the difference in the transmission hump on 61s. Other than that is there any difference in lengh or design
 
Can anybody here tell me if 122 WB 63 300 2dr floor and trunk pans interchange with 118 WB 61 fury floor and trunk pans. I know about the difference in the transmission hump on 61s. Other than that is there any difference in lengh or design
Yes, they will fit. All 60-61 Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouths use the same interior floor pan. there are 2 different rear footwell pans depending on wheelbase. 118" use short footwell pans, 122" and 126" use a longer rear footwell pans. The 62-64 Chryslers and full size Dodges use the same interior floor pan, with a smaller transmission hump due to the new smaller aluminum transmissions introduced for 62.
All 60-64 full size Chryslers and Dodges and 60-61 Plymouths use the same trunk floor.
 
The 60 Chrysler quarter panel evolved into the 61 Chrysler quarter panel, also used on DeSotos, and then it ceased.

The 62 Chrysler uses the lower 1/3 of the Dodge rear quarter panel shape. Not the 61 Chrysler lower quarter shape.

The 61 Polara quarters were restyled for the 62 Chrysler, not the 61 Chrysler quarter panels.
The 60 Polara quarters, evolved into the 61 Polara quarters, then evolved into the 62 Chrysler quarter panels, which were used on the 62,63 Dodge 880, and finally evolved into the 64 Dodge 880 quarter panels.
Notice the on the 60, 61 Dodge, the lower body line that comes from the rear, and fades out before the door. The 62 Chrysler, 62,63 880, and 64 880 all use this lower body line.

All are Dodge based panels.

No matter how it's divided down into details, the 62 Chrysler uses:
61 Dodge doors
61 Dodge door latch pillars
61 Dodge trunk lid
61 Dodge trunk gutters
61 Dodge rear tail panel
61 Dodge inner tail panel supports
61 Dodge rear bumper
61 Dodge rear bumper brackets
61 Dodge trunk floor extensions
61 Dodge quarter panels with revised upper styling

The point is, 62 Chryslers used 61 Dodge body panels.
More 61 Dodge body panels than 61 Chrysler panels.

Bolt 61 Dodge fenders etc onto a 62 Chrysler and what do you have?

A Dodge with a Chrysler roof, and partially restyled Dodge quarters.

Dead horse thoroughly beaten.
 
The 60 Chrysler quarter panel evolved into the 61 Chrysler quarter panel, also used on DeSotos, and then it ceased.

The 62 Chrysler uses the lower 1/3 of the Dodge rear quarter panel shape. Not the 61 Chrysler lower quarter shape.

The 61 Polara quarters were restyled for the 62 Chrysler, not the 61 Chrysler quarter panels.
The 60 Polara quarters, evolved into the 61 Polara quarters, then evolved into the 62 Chrysler quarter panels, which were used on the 62,63 Dodge 880, and finally evolved into the 64 Dodge 880 quarter panels.
Notice the on the 60, 61 Dodge, the lower body line that comes from the rear, and fades out before the door. The 62 Chrysler, 62,63 880, and 64 880 all use this lower body line.

All are Dodge based panels.

No matter how it's divided down into details, the 62 Chrysler uses:
61 Dodge doors
61 Dodge door latch pillars
61 Dodge trunk lid
61 Dodge trunk gutters
61 Dodge rear tail panel
61 Dodge inner tail panel supports
61 Dodge rear bumper
61 Dodge rear bumper brackets
61 Dodge trunk floor extensions
61 Dodge quarter panels with revised upper styling

The point is, 62 Chryslers used 61 Dodge body panels.
More 61 Dodge body panels than 61 Chrysler panels.

Bolt 61 Dodge fenders etc onto a 62 Chrysler and what do you have?

A Dodge with a Chrysler roof, and partially restyled Dodge quarters.

Dead horse thoroughly beaten.

And thoroughly meaningless.
 
Very good post. So, I have 1964 Dodge Custom 880 Convertible. I really want to find car seat covers that spend a ton of money on custom upholstery. Since my "64 880 was derived from other models. What other model car seat covers could i use instead? I have a split bench seat in front, 40/60 split.

car interior 1.jpg


car interior.jpg
 
Very good post. So, I have 1964 Dodge Custom 880 Convertible. I really want to find car seat covers that spend a ton of money on custom upholstery. Since my "64 880 was derived from other models. What other model car seat covers could i use instead? I have a split bench seat in front, 40/60 split.

View attachment 455021

View attachment 455022
That's a beautiful 880!
 
Thanks! I would prefer to repair the upholstery then replaced the seat covers...i want to retain as much originality as possible.

I had the seats redone in the wagon , by a local shop . Pattern and material is pretty basic he duplicated the pattern and used material that was a 99 % match to the original.

20180323_181621.jpg
DSC01051 (1).jpg
 
IMG_6727.PNG

La Dauphine: my Dear Old Dad's Term of Endearment for our '63 880 Wagon . . . we'd roll all 4 windows down and ride like 'SPORTS' on the 49 Mile Scenic Route of San Francisco . . . those were the days my CBODY friends!
 
I have a headache....:p

Thanks for the detailed explanation. It really does clear up any confusion!! Great research too.
Most people think the 62 Chrysler was a 61 Chrysler with the finned shaved off.
But, the 62 Chrysler is actually a Dodge.

OK, let me explain...

When the 62 full size Dodges were dropped, being replaced with the new for 62 B bodies, Chrysler Corp decided to use up some Dodge parts to create the 62 Chrysler. So, they took the 61 Polara body shell, designed some new quarter panels, bolted on the 61 Chrysler front fenders, hood and grille etc, and voila! Instant 62 Chrysler.

The 62 Chrysler didn't use any 61 Chrysler body panels from the windshield back, other than the Chrysler roof. Instead it used existing 61 Polara panels, but with restyled quarters. It used the 61 Dodge doors, trunk lid, tail panel, rear bumper and related bits. Only the quarter panels and taillights were new for the 62 Chrysler. All other body panels were recycled from 61.

Then.... in a weird twist of events, the 61 Dodge "reappeared" mid year 62 as the Dodge 880. This was done because the dealers were having a hard time selling the new smaller 62 B body Dodges, and they begged for a full size car. So Chrysler "created" the 880, which was essentially the 62 Chrysler with the 61 Polara fenders, hood, grille and bumper. It looked just like a 62 Chrysler from the rear and a 61 Dodge from the front. But, as I mentioned, the 62 Chrysler was really a 61 Polara with new quarter panels. So the 62 880 used the same trunk lid, tail panel, rear bumper as the 62 Chrysler too, which really were 61 Dodge parts anyway.

So in a nut shell:

the 62 Chrysler was a 61 Polara with new quarters, a Chrysler roof, and a Chrysler face.

the 62 Dodge 880 was a 61 Polara with the Chrysler roof, and the same new quarters.

The 63 Dodge 880 also used the 62 Chrysler body from the windshield back, but now had its own front fenders, hood and grille. There were some restyled taillights to freshen up the rear. It still used the 61 Dodge / 62 Chrysler / 62 880 rear bumper, but now used the 63 Chrysler front bumper. The doors were still the 60-61 Dodge / Plymouth smooth doors.

Then the 64 880 comes along. It uses a restyled grille, and the 63 880 fenders, hood and 63 Chrysler front bumper, still uses the 60-61 Dodge / Plymouth doors, but has brand new rear quarters, trunk lid, tail panel, but also uses the 63 Chrysler rear bumper.

So one could argue that the Polara never really did go away, other than for a brief period in the first half of the 62 model year. The 60 Polara became the 61 Polara, which became the 62 Chrysler and 62 Dodge 880, 63 Dodge 880 and then the 64 Dodge 880. The same car kept evolving, with some name and identity changes along the way.

The 60,61 Plymouths, 60,61 Dodges, 61,62 Chrysler, 61 DeSoto, 62,63,64 Dodge 880's all used the same doors [or door front shape on the Chrysler and DeSoto], and the fenders etc will swap between all these cars. Imagine the combinations!

Many have seen the teal colored "Plodge", a 61 Plymouth front end on a 61 Dodge, how about a 61 Plymouth front end on a 62 Chrysler?

or a 61 Chrysler front end on a 64 880?

or a 60 Polara front end on a 61 Polara?

or a 63 880 front end on a 61 Plymouth?

or a 62 Chrysler front end on a 61 Plymouth?

or a 61 Plymouth front end on a 61 DeSoto?

or a 61 DeSoto front end on a 60 Plymouth?

I like the 61 Polaras, but some people aren't crazy about the front end appearance. I think the 61 Polara quarters and taillights are sleek and great looking. So, you could take the front end you do like, and bolt it on the Polara to get the look you do like. I'd like to see a 62 Chrysler 300 front end on 61 Polara.

There are many possibilities to create a weird one off combo. Which is just what Chrysler did to create the 62 Chrysler and 62 880
Last edited by demon; 06/15/20 02:13 PM.
Chrysler Corporation cars were designed with so much interchangeability, that depending on the market, they could mix and match parts and come up with unique cars for unique markets.

I thought that I was the only guy who knew this stuff. I actually wrote an article on this a while back about the 62 Chrysler actually being a re-worked 1961 Polara. Glad to find someone else who knows it as well!!
 
I have a question about front stub frames and floorpans. The 1962 Chryslers and 63 & 64 Chryslers had the same wheelbases.
Are they the same floorpans and front frame assemblies the same as Dodge 880s?
 
I have a question about front stub frames and floorpans. The 1962 Chryslers and 63 & 64 Chryslers had the same wheelbases.
Are they the same floorpans and front frame assemblies the same as Dodge 880s?
Yes, under the skin, they are virtually identical.
All 60-64 full size cars use the same trunk floor. 118", 122" and 126" wheelbases.
All 60-61 interior floors are the same. Large hump
All 62-64 interior floors are the same. Small hump
The rear footwells are different lengths between 118" and 122" cars.
You can convert a 1960-62 Chrysler 122" car to 126" or vice versa, by swapping the stub frame and related parts like fenders, inner fenders, hood and related parts.
You could create a long nose one of none Frankenstein by swapping a 126" wheelbase front end to a 60-61 118" car too.
 
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New Yorkers in '62 were still 126, not 123 like the Newports and the 3 and 4s.
Yes, 62 NY was 126", and the rest were 122". The 60-62 126" cars use longer fenders, hoods, and stub frame and related bits
 
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