1961 Dodge Polara specs.

[robbyt48]

Could anyone tell me how many( if any) 1961 Dodge Polaras had the 361 engine with stick shift transmission? And if not, is there someplace I can go to find this out? All help will be greatly appreciated.

[ted sweet]

try asking at the message boards at www.moparts.com

[TG57Roadmaster]

Greetings,

According to Jeffrey I. Godshall, Mopar designer, historian and author, just 80 1961 Polaras came with the 3-speed manual tranny. However, in his excellent article in the December, 1999 issue of COLLECTIBLE AUTOMOBILE, he doesn't break out the number of 361's, 383's or 413's so equipped. Maybe if you got in touch with him through the magazine, he could help.

My friend Dave Bowman has a sweet '61 Polara hardtop coupe (1,862 made) that his father bought new, and was Dave's first car. It has the 361 with automatic, and after driving it all through high school & college, he bought his second car, a '70 Challenger convertible. A true collector, Dave still has both of them, among many others. Here's a shot of Dave's Polara in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Tom Gibson

Anderson, SC

[oldefar]

Hi guys.

First of all, I think the Chrysler Historical Archives (hope I spelled that right) would be the best place to search for your info robbyt48. Unfortunately I have lost the address, but I know mopar380 is checking out this place every once in a while, and he's got the address (right Ian?). Let's have the address right here, so we all can use the right reliable source for our MOPARs. I belive this post should be on the WPC Club discussion forum tho'

Second, DODGE was not offered with the 413 cid RB (Raised Block) Wedge engine in 1961 The CHRYSLER New Yorker and 300E and IMPERIAL was offered the 413 cid RB first time in 1959 as standard equipment after dropping the 392 cid HEMI from '58. DeSoto got the first WEDGE engine in 1958, but a LB (Low Block)that range 361 cid, 383 cid and then several years later (in 1972 I belive) also a 400 cid. The RB range from 413 cid, 426 cid and 440 cid. First year for 413 cid RB Wedge V8 engine in Dodge was 1962. The most powerful engine you could have in a DODGE in 1961 was the 383 cid LB optional "Ram Indution" cross ram intake manifolds(30 inch tubes) with 2X4 bbl carbs developing 330 Horse Power at 4800 RPM. Well guys, it's more info to go, but this have to be it for this time. Just ask, and I will do my best to answere on MOPAR from 1955 to 1965.

And finally trird, I couldn't find the attachment on that '61 Polara, I love to see that 2 door hard-top, since I own a '61 Polara 4 door sedan myself

All the best from Einar, always a

[TG57Roadmaster]

Hello Einar,

I'm mixing my linguistic metaphors here, but I have to say:

Au contraire, Pierre!

According to Motor Age, May 1961 Tune-up specs., the 413 engine is listed on big Dodges as an optional engine; it does not appear in the January 1961 Motor Age issue's Tune-up specs., which bears out Mr. Godshall's article in the above-mentioned issue of Collectible Automobile.

Since the '62 Dodge didn't come out till the fall of 1961, I'll side with the published data and Mr. Godshall's usual thorough research before the publication of his many works.

I've only been in the hobby for about 40 years, and I haven't owned a hundred American (or otherwise) cars, but I do possess a few cars and a huge archive of magazines, trade journals, brochures, etc; they come in very handy for settling disputes such as this. You'll have to trust me on this one though, as the file for page 68 of the May '61 Motor Age (657Kb) is too large to post here. I'll be happy to email it to anyone who wishes a copy.

By the way, the photo of the '61 Polara is now accessible from my previous posting; sorry for the inconvenience, but unlike some who profess to know everything, I'm still learning. I'm quite sure that process will continue till I draw my last breath.

Au revoir from Anderson,

Tom Gibson

[oldefar]

Hello Tom.

I have no problem beliving what you say (until otherwise proven) and I have no problem learning. As far as my opinion goes, no one get to old or to smart to learn. It is just that in all the original sales broshures I have on the '61 DODGE Polara, the original shop manual and the original parts catalogue, no 413 cid is mentioned for this car. And when I wrote the Chrysler Corp. quite a few years back, only because I wanted to know the largest engine for just this car, no 413 cid was ever mentioned in their answering letter. But all of us that stick to our brand (MOPAR) know that Chrysler Corp. had a lot of surprises that was not really talked to loud about. Like for instance a 1966 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door sedan with bench seat, slapstick and a 426 cid HEMI.

Anyway, sorry if I made the impression of being a smarta.., I am not. Actually I am very humble. And of course, coming from a litle country most Americans don't even know about, and the rest thinking it is a town in Sweden, I can't know everything So I am always willing to learn from those that know better

And I was just about to tell you that I found the attachment, and what a beautyful car. Just what I have always been looking for (and lost a couple too Sincerely Einar, always a P.S. If you have a sales broshure of the '61 Dodge (Polara or otherwise) showing the 413 cid option, I would sure love to have a copy. Of course i will pay for it too. And by the way, we don't speak French in Norway. (just like they do not in the U.S.)

[Pontiac59]

My Krause Standard Catalog of Chrysler shows the following engine options for 1961 Dodge:

170 slant six - 225 slant six - Hyper Pak 225 slant six (4bbl carb) - 318 V8 - Polara V8 (361 ci 2bbl) - Dart D-500 V8 (361 4bbl) - Polara D-500 V8 (383 4bbl) - Polara Ram Induction D-500 V8 (383 long ram 2/4bbl) - Super D-500 V8 (413 long ram 2/4bbl) - Super Ram-Tuned D-500 V8 (413 short ram 2/4bbl). It notes the latter two were added as mid-year options.

The Plymouth section notes the same with the addition that they were intended to make the cars more competitive against Chevy, Ford and Pontiac in Nascar and drag racing circles.

You can probably count the number of cars so-equipped that still exist today on your fingers and not run out of them.

[oldefar]

Hi all!

Even tho' I seem to get a bit off topics from robbyt48's question about the stick shift, I certainly think it is nice to get things cleared out.

This sure is confusing to me. First of all, sorry to say that I had overlooked the 413 in my Dodge parts catalog I did find it after checking again. This parts catalog was printed in october 1960. How could they know about the 413 then, when this engine was not offered until midyear 1961? And I have now gone through my original Chrysler Shop Manuals on DODGE from both 1960 and 1961 (all models)again, and they have absolutely no mention about a certain 413 cid engine.

There seem to be a lot of people that have something to learn here, including Mr. Thomas A. McPherson, the author of the book "The DODGE Story" (originally published by Crestline Publishing Company, 1975 Editor/Designer: George H. Dammann) based on cooperation and assistance from people like John F. Bunnell, Corporate Historian, Chrysler Corporation; H. Donald Schaerer, Archivist, Chrysler Archives; F. Donald Butler, Senior Stylist, Chrysler Corporation; James J. Bradley, Head of Automotive History Department, Detroit Public Library; Tom Jacobowski, Public Relations, Dodge Division, Chrysler Corporation. And many others, from my point of view, very reliable people but, seemingly all missing out the 413 cid engine. My fault may be I never read the Krause Standard Catalog of Chrysler, I only read Chrysler Corporation's own publications, because I always thought this would be the most reliable source. Now I have my doubts. But for me this is just fine, if I can prove the 413 in my '61 Dodge for the local DMV, it means I can do what I have always wanted, put a 413 in one of my '61 Dodges that I am going to customize/clone. Thank you all, for the onfo. Einar, always a P.S. My intension is never to be a smarta.., but to share my knowledge on MOPARs with everyone interested. And whenever I'm rong, I appreciate very much being corrected. I would never, by good will, give anybody wrong information.

[TG57Roadmaster]

Greetings Einar,

I didn't mean any ill will to you, but one thing you can never trust is original brochures for info, as they don't include running changes made during the model year. In addition to your shop manuals try to get hold of the tech. update bulletins issued during each model year; usually they're bound at the end of the year.

My personal pet peeve is incorrect reporting on 1957 Buicks; I own a '57 Roadmaster Model 73, with the twin chrome strips running over the roof and down the trunk. The Roadmaster coupes & sedans were also available from their introduction without the trim. These are always mis-identified as 3-piece baklights, while in reality the glass is one piece and interchanges with all C-body GM cars; Buick Super, Cadillac Series 62, DeVille and 60-Special. The B-body GM cars, Olds 88's, 98's, Buick Special & Century all had 3 pieces of glass separated by wide, ridged metal strips. Then, in the March 18, 1957 issue of Automotive News came the announcement of the Roadmaster 75 coupe and sedan. They possessed a near-Cadillac quality interior, and also were introduced in the Spring '57 issue of the BUICK magazine. I have yet to read an article that's correct on these issues. Guess I'll just have to write my own to clear it up.

And yes, I know they don't speak french in Norway; I also realize how huge the old car hobby is your neck of the woods. I'm sure most everyone on this side of the Atlantic appreciates our Euro neighbors' dedication to the preservation of our big highway cruisers. In 1970, on a family trip to Finland visiting relatives, one of my distant cousins had a '63 Rambler Classic sedan; black with a red interior. He was very proud (and was the envy of his neighbors) with his big American car! (They don't speak much french in Finland either, unless they're tourists).

Thanks for your compliments on Dave's '61 Polara; I've included another shot taken in Ohio near the shore of Lake Erie. It's probably my favorite, because of the background; so much in keeping with the era in which it was created.

Regards,

Tom Gibson

[oldefar]

Greetings back to you Tom.

Thank you very much for another nice picture of a beutyful car. I could just sit there and forever loking at that car. No wonder I choose Chrysler Corporation cars, and no wonder I don't know what model, car or year, to choose as my favorite. Especially from 1957 to 1961. There is a few other models too of course, before and after. Like the 1942 DeSoto with consealed headlighs. And of course the '56 DeSoto Adventurer. The '69 to 71 model yaers, especially the Chargers. And the '80 to '83 Dodge Mirada. I just can't choose and I guess that's one of the reasons why I have more cars than I can keep. And especially restore, at my age. If I'm not living until I'm 200, that is.(or winning the big lotto price )

Buick? Yes I had one back in 1966-67. A 1938 4 door sedan and straight 8 syl. engine. A very confortable car where you didnt have to sit with your knees in your face like you do in modern cars today. What I remember as special about this car was that huge original RADIO that killed the 6 volt battery after half an hour if the engine was not running. And the HEATER that burnt your shoe soles off if you kept it full speed to long. Seats was just like your livingroom sofa when it came to confort. But I guess most full size cars from the 30s were like that. To bad my (then being) father in law didn't like I married his 17 year ols daughter, so one day I came home from work, he had flattened the car with a digging machine and used it to fill up the harbour.

Sad to learn the original corp.litrature is not reliable tho' But as I know things changes all the time, I should keep up with newbulletins. It,s just that stuff like that isn't very easy to get here in Norway. Not to talk about parts. Lots of stuff that I have tryed to get for more than 10 years, and even 20. Nice and rare cars with actually very litle work to be done, not getting back on the street because of lack of parts.

One more, last thing, I never learned English at school. What i can, including gramatics is what i have picked up by talking and corresponding with others. A language "barriere" can often cause missunderstandings (both ways). I hope you as well as anybody else take that into consideration when foreigners join this site with their posts and opinions.

Best Regards to all with our common interest, the car hobby. Einar in Norway

P.S. I have a friend making a car magazine ("Right On")here in Norway. He had a good saying about Chrysler Corp cars, quote:"You don't have to customize a Chrysler Product, they come customized from the factory." I think he's right.