John Mielke added these comments in the current discussion du
jour ...
> My brother used to have a 318-powered '68 Polara back in the
> early 70's. 'Muscle Car' is not a term I'd use in describing
> it. On the other hand, my friend had a '63 Polara with a 496"
> Hemi (currently living somewhere in Arizona). That one
> definitely fits anybody's definition of a 'Muscle Car.'
> Several stout Max Wedge '64's still running around the Motor
> City still as well.
> John
I am 2nd generation Chrysler, now retired myself. I spent 33
years in a wide variety of engineering and IT positions at all
grade levels in Chrysler engineering. So, besides a large number
of cars I've either bought or leased on the company car program,
plus many cars with all sorts of engines in them while on the
job, I can categorically say - my opinion, YMMV - that a 318 in
ANY C-Body car is so anemic as to be almost dangerous, almost as
bad as the 1st 2.2L K-Cars. You're trying to push around a 4200+
pound car with only 230 bhp, which might be around 150-160 net
hp. The power-to-weight for even the bhp was only around 18:1.
I had a number of 318s in smaller vehicles, sometimes because
there was no choice, e.g. 1981 Cordoba, 1976 Volare, 1978
LeBaron, etc. I DID buy a 1975 Plymouth Gran Fury Brougham with a
360 in it, but I ordered a 3.23 axle for it. I'd driven similar
cars at work and test-drove a car at the dealer with a 2.76.
So, personally, I wouldn't much want a 318 Polara, preferring a
383 2-barrel at least. But, as I said, that's my opinion and
your's obviously does vary.
Now, I've also driven EVERY performance car Chrysler made 1969-
1970, then Army, then 1972-1975 when I switched to IT. But, by
then, the muscle car era had ended. And, living here, I did the
so-called Woodward Avenue Grand Prix loop from the Totem Pole
drive-in in Royal Oak to Ted's Drive-In at Square Lake road and
watched these cars in action against the best from GM and Ford.
My personal observations were that a 383 Magnum was flatly non-
competitive on the street, I know, I had one in my 1970
Challenger R/T. Even the 440 Magnum was barely adequate against
an SS-396 or GTO 389, and no where near an SS-454 or a 455 Goat.
Again, in my opinion, it took a 440 Six Pack to beat these guys.
And, no, the 426 Street Hemi was NOT the car to beat on the
street. Drags, yes, street, no. Several reasons: most people
bought them with 3.23 gears because they needed to drive to work,
which is not a good ratio for the torque curve of the Hemi. More
im****tant, though was that if the car had PB, it was almost a
day's work to get the booster off so you could pull the valve
covers and set the lash as well as replace the left rear plug.
Lots of guys didn't have the time or energy so they drove around
with with 4 anemic cylinders because of loose lash and one dead
cylinder with a fouled plug. But, 60-punch on I-75 with a
TorqueFlite was OWNED by the Hemi. That's not a good speed for
the 4-speed GM and Ford cars, but right at the torque peak of the
Hemi.
Unfortunately, I never drove a Max Wedge anything, was in H.S.
then. And, they didn't pass out drag race dual-quad short ram 426
Hemis for any yahoo to test spin.
>
> "rob" <me @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:46c2699a$0$18835$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> probably right. I was referring to his web site saying the
>> 68 was a classic muscle car.....
>>
>> I'd take a 64 any day. hell ya.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "John Mielke" <mielkman at excite dot com> wrote in message
>> news:h7GdnU3sboTS-1_bnZ2dnUVZ_tijnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> Rob,
>>> I think an asterisk is required here..... post-64 Polaras
>>> were cruisers. There are plenty of 63 & 64 Polaras that
>>> qualify as 'Muscle Cars.' John
>>>
>>> "rob" <me @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>>> news:46c2283a$0$16445$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>> why the funky price with 888 on it?
>>>>
>>>> and polaras were cruisers not muscle cars
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> <erikdblair@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>>>> news:1187121775.482166.268070@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>> .
>>>>> have to disagree with you. This is a cruiser, not a drag
>>>>> racer. 90 MPH on freeway uphill, no problem! The fine
>>>>> details of putting together a rare piece of machinery like
>>>>> this takes a lot of time and effort. That is worth
>>>>> something. This baby is alltogether hotrod!
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for your input however...
>>>>>
>>>>> Erik
>>>>> mydodgepolara.com
>>>>> See the video --> http://www.mydodgepolara.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 7, 7:37 am, Steve <n...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>>>>> Don't get me wrong, I LOVE late 60's Polaras.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But the day a 318-powered anything other than a 'Cuda
>>>>>> convertible or an Andy Granatelli Indy car is worth 20k
>>>>>> I'll eat my shorts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> erikdbl...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
>>>>>> > 1968 Dodge Polara, Vintage Classic, rare and unspoiled
>>>>>> > vehicle with 318 engine and two 4-barrel carbs!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > Check out dubdubdub my dodge polara dot com
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > More...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > 1968 Dodge Polara, Classic Muscle Car -- Street
>>>>>> > Modified Show Winner!
>>>>>> > You will not find a Dodge Polara in better condition!
>>>>>> > Everything has been handcrafted in fine detail. The
>>>>>> > original owner is selling because he needs room to fit
>>>>>> > new projects. In fact, he is the only one who has sat
>>>>>> > in it since the complete interior was redone!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > What is the value of this incredible machine? Who
>>>>>> > knows? But it is worth every cent! Cars like this are
>>>>>> > going for 25, 30, 40 or even $50,000 on eBay and
>>>>>> > elsewhere, but you can experience the rush and
>>>>>> > excitement of owning your own piece of history for only
>>>>>> > $19,888. The countless hours refini****ng, restoring and
>>>>>> > reconditioning alone is worth more than your price for
>>>>>> > this rare vehicle. You really need to see and hear this
>>>>>> > car!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > What's included: take a look at the engine in this
>>>>>> > baby! It is a rebuilt 318 with two four-barrel
>>>>>> > carburetors. Lots of chrome and polished aluminum! Most
>>>>>> > everything is new or rebuilt. The brake and fule lines
>>>>>> > are polished stainless steel and custom installed. It
>>>>>> > has anew steering box, shocks, ball joints, tires, rim
>>>>>> > with knockoffs, all new chrome bumpers custom designed
>>>>>> > and polished. The steering column was rebuilt and the
>>>>>> > entire dash redone--everything works! Has tach and
>>>>>> > guages under dash. Extra N.O.S. AM Radio available upon
>>>>>> > request. All new rear drum brake parts and brand new
>>>>>> > stainless steel front disc brakes. The exhaust system
>>>>>> > is new with 24 glass packs--all ceramic coated. The
>>>>>> > exhaust was installed by RPM Mufflers in Hayward,
>>>>>> > CA. The
>>>>>> > interior is completely new and custom designed for this
>>>>>> > car. You have to see it! The trunk interior matches the
>>>>>> > rest of the car!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > The dashboard was sent along with the arm rests to to
>>>>>> > "Just Dashes" in Los Angeles; all new handles inside
>>>>>> > and out of the doors; custom pinstriping throughout the
>>>>>> > inside and out of the car, even under the hood--60's
>>>>>> > style cutout!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > Here's the fine print: This car was specifically
>>>>>> > designed to show, drive and enjoy! It is not a tire
>>>>>> > burner! It is a cruiser! Serious buyers only! No
>>>>>> > low-ballers, tightwads, etc. If you have the cash
>>>>>> > and want an incredible deal on a fantastic show car,
>>>>>> > well this is it! The
>>>>>> > price has already been dropped for a fast sale; no tire
>>>>>> > kickers! The vehicle is priced right, this is a final
>>>>>> > sale, as is, out the door cash deal! No payments or
>>>>>> > special arraingements. ****pping will be up to the buyer
>>>>>> > and payment in full must happen prior to making any
>>>>>> > ****pping plans.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > Here's the way we're doing this: you send me an email
>>>>>> > stating your interest with any questions, and I contact
>>>>>> > the actual owner when you have been prequalified as a
>>>>>> > seriously interested buyer. No phone calls until after
>>>>>> > we've established your level of interest and ability to
>>>>>> > pay! Sorry for the requirements, but the internet is
>>>>>> > full of lookiloos and car-curious lurkers. Thank you
>>>>>> > for your interest!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > my dodge polara "dot" com
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > Thanks!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > Erik- Hide quoted text -
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - Show quoted text -
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
--
HP, aka Jerry
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