1962 Dodge Polara 500

Dodge thought smaller big cars would be hot in 1962, and the 1962 Dodge Polara 500 convertible was no different. Most buyers thought otherwise, but the lighter, sportier new Darts and Polara 500s were hot on the street and unbeatable on the dragstrip. 

The 1962 Dodge Polara ruled on the dragstrip.

American car buyers were rushing to compacts by 1962, so Dodge seemed to have good reason for drastically shrinking its standard cars that year. Trouble was, size still mattered to big-car customers, so Dodge's "New Lean Breed" was a tough sell. Oddball styling didn't help. As a result, Dodge dropped 30,000 sales on top of 1961's 25-percent decline. Things would have been worse had true big Dodges not been hastily reinstated during the year.

The 1962 Dodge Polara featured standard bucket seats.

Among the downsized '62 Dodges that did sell were 12,268 top-line Polara 500s: hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, and convertible with standard bucket seats and a 305-horsepower 361 V-8. A 310-bhp version was available, along with 330- and 335-bhp 383s and -- the real excitement -- a big new 413 Ramcharger with up to 415 bhp. Though few Polaras got that thumping "wedgehead," it made the light Dart two-door a dragstrip terror, and Dodge soon ruled in quarter-mile contests. At least it was consolation for the dreary sales performance.