My '72 Dodge Polara project

[Polara-Star]

Finally, i'll start my thread for the '72 Polara. So damn busy, no time to work on the car, but i've been doing my homework. Thanks to MyMopar.com, i think i've got the fender tag mostly decoded, but there are still questions. i can't get a decent pic to come out (black fender tag on black background) but here's how it appears:

END
M26 N88 R21 V5X Y14 Y26
V1X U H51 L31 L35 M25
EA9 M4X9 TX9 411 176586
E57 D34 DM41 K2F 234534

And here's what most of it is supposed to mean, according to MyMopar.com's 1969-1974 fender tag decoder:

DM41:
Dodge Polara,Monaco
Medium
4 Door Sedan

K2F: Unknown
1972
Newark, DE, USA

234534: Sequence number

E57: 360 cid 2 barrel V8 255hp
D34: Light Duty Automatic Transmission
EA9: Charcoal Poly Exterior Color
M4X9: Trim - Opt. Decor Group, Vinyl Split Bench Seat, Black
TX9: Black Diamond Int. Door Frames
411: Build Date: April 11
176586: Order number

V1X: Full Vinyl Top, Black
U: USA Specifications
H51: Air Conditioning with Heater
L31: Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
L35: Cornering Lamps
M25: Wide sill moldings

M26: Wheel Lip Moldings
N88: Auto Speed Control
R21: AM/FM Radio (5 1/2 Watts)
V5X: Body Side Stripes, Black
Y14: Sold Car
Y26: Unknown


So, the questions i'm left with include resources to find out how ridiculously expensive it would be to replace a missing vinyl top, what wheelcovers it's supposed to have, where to find most of the moldings (and what they're even supposed to look like), among other things. Next step is to get photos of the car put up here, and finding another Chrysler Bible (my 1975 FSM is gone, i need a new one). Also, if anyone recognizes that Y26 code, that would be cool...

After that, my hands start getting dirty again!

 

[69monaco]

Y26 Mesh Sunvisor Australia ..??

 

[Polara-Star]

LOL that'd be a neat trick, car was apparently built in Newark, Delaware... but you have to know i'm going to go look at the sunvisors tomorrow morning.

 

[polara71]

K2F...

K 360
2 1972
F Newark Delaware

That is not Y26 .....just 26. Your car has air so it has a 26 inch radiator

 

[polarus]

Any photo's?

 

[Polara-Star]

K2F...

K 360
2 1972
F Newark Delaware

That is not Y26 .....just 26. Your car has air so it has a 26 inch radiator

USED to have air. Photos to follow...

 

[Polara-Star]

Any photo's?

Coming up...

 

[Polara-Star]

Here's what i'm working from. Car is pretty solid, interior is good, no rips in the seats and dash is OK. Can't get into the trunk yet (who takes the lock out of the deck-lid, then closes the trunk? i wanna slap the happy out of somebody). Something i want to see is what the original paint scheme looks like. i can't picture where the Body Stripe is supposed to be, does it follow the contour of the fender/sill moulding, or what? At any rate, the car is decent, and for a first attempt at resroration, i hope i don't frig this up too badly...

 

[Polara-Star]

More pics. Including the cutouts for the cornering lamps

 

[Polara-Star]

One thing is clear. The A/C is clearly MIA, and the connections on the firewall have been sheared off clean. Note pic 0933. (Sorry, i thought i had the focus more clean)

 

[Polara-Star]

Pic 922 shows the clean roofline, and the pins that secure the vinyl top

 

[Polara-Star]

Pic 925... not easy to see, but the clock reads 01825. Obviously turned over, but i'm pretty sure only once. Sticker on the radiator core support lists a Florida service center. Most likely the car follows a familiar story... Dad buys a car. Works, retires, moves to Florida. Estate gives car to offspring, car goes back home, offspring don't want it, goes to General Public.

 

[Polara-Star]

Pic 927, it's not clear but the dash has an emblem attached, 'Custom'. 'Polara' is embossed on the door panels

 

[Polara-Star]

K2F...

K 360
2 1972
F Newark Delaware

That is not Y26 .....just 26. Your car has air so it has a 26 inch radiator

Thanks. The fender tag is a bit vague, not easy to read, this makes sense... might not be a letter in front of the code.

 

[Polara-Star]

i've been searching and searching, but i haven't found what the paint scheme is supposed to look like. If anyone has a link that shows what the paint schemes from 1972 look like, i'd really appreciate it...

 

[Polara-Star]

Update: the 'black side stripes' indicate the inserts that slide into the molding that holds the inserts matching the paint scheme. Several colours of side molding were available, depending on body colour... This info comes from Scott Dodge, owner of Fair Haven Dodge in Fair Haven, VT (Yes- he's one of THOSE Dodges)

 

[Polara-Star]

Update 2: OK, the Polara project is on hold for awhile. i have found an Instant Driver... a friend of mine found a cream puff, 42,000 mile 1976 Cordoba. i will be taking possesion early next week.

 

[polara71]

That's how it happens. Projects get left unfinished because of another car

 

[Polara-Star]

i WILL continue this project, i promise. But considering where i live, there are people who would pay stupid money to aquire a car they intend to put in a Derby. i will NOT let that happen. Not with a Survivor car. The Polara is safe, it's not going anywhere. The 'Doba is vulnerable, and i intend to give it a home...

 

[ayilar]

Finally, i'll start my thread for the '72 Polara. So damn busy, no time to work on the car, but i've been doing my homework. Thanks to MyMopar.com, i think i've got the fender tag mostly decoded, but there are still questions. i can't get a decent pic to come out (black fender tag on black background) but here's how it appears:

END
M26 N88 R21 V5X Y14 Y26
V1X U H51 L31 L35 M25
EA9 M4X9 TX9 411 176586
E57 D34 DM41 K2F 234534

And here's what most of it is supposed to mean, according to MyMopar.com's 1969-1974 fender tag decoder:

DM41:
Dodge Polara,Monaco
Medium
4 Door Sedan

K2F: Unknown
1972
Newark, DE, USA

234534: Sequence number

E57: 360 cid 2 barrel V8 255hp
D34: Light Duty Automatic Transmission
EA9: Charcoal Poly Exterior Color
M4X9: Trim - Opt. Decor Group, Vinyl Split Bench Seat, Black
TX9: Black Diamond Int. Door Frames
411: Build Date: April 11
176586: Order number

V1X: Full Vinyl Top, Black
U: USA Specifications
H51: Air Conditioning with Heater
L31: Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
L35: Cornering Lamps
M25: Wide sill moldings

M26: Wheel Lip Moldings
N88: Auto Speed Control
R21: AM/FM Radio (5 1/2 Watts)
V5X: Body Side Stripes, Black
Y14: Sold Car
Y26: Unknown


So, the questions i'm left with include resources to find out how ridiculously expensive it would be to replace a missing vinyl top, what wheelcovers it's supposed to have, where to find most of the moldings (and what they're even supposed to look like), among other things. Next step is to get photos of the car put up here, and finding another Chrysler Bible (my 1975 FSM is gone, i need a new one). Also, if anyone recognizes that Y26 code, that would be cool...

After that, my hands start getting dirty again!

Just a few edits on the decoding of DM41K2F234534 :

DM: Dodge Polara Custom
41: 4 Door Sedan

K: 360 cid 2-bbl V8
2: 1972 Model Year
F: Newark, DE, USA Plant

234534: Sequence number

E57: 360 cid 2-barrel V8 255hp
D34: Automatic Transmission (AFAIK, all autos were coded D34 in 1972, unlike the D32/D34 dichotomy in previous years)
EA9: Charcoal Poly Exterior Color
M4X9: Trim - Opt. Decor Group, Vinyl Split Bench Seat, Black
TX9: Black Diamond Int. Door Frames
411: Scheduled Build Date: April 11
176586: Order number

V1X: Full Vinyl Top, Black
U: USA Specifications
H51: Manual Air Conditioning with Heater
L31: Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
L35: Cornering Lamps
M25: Wide sill moldings

M26: Wheel Lip Moldings
N88: Auto Speed Control (Cruise)
R21: AM/FM Radio (5 1/2 Watts)
V5X: Body Side Stripes, Black
Y14: Sold Car
26: 26-inch radiator (standard with A/C)