1961 Dodge Polara

Full-size performance powered by 1961 Dodge Polara engine family.

Exact-year view retained for body, trim, glass, lamps, bumpers, and wheel context; condition and restoration details remain specific to the photographed vehicle.

Bodies Two- or four-door hardtop, four-door sedan, convertible, or station wagon

Configurations sedan, hardtops, convertible, station wagon, D-500 performance equipment

Engine range 361 and 383 wedge V8 paths through ram induction

Chassis Torsion-Aire front suspension, leaf-spring rear axle, and four-wheel drums

Production Exact configuration ledger remains unresolved

Story

1961 Dodge Polara

The 1961 Polara family combined two- or four-door hardtop, four-door sedan, convertible, or station wagon with sedan, hardtops, convertible, station wagon, D-500 performance equipment configurations. This page keeps those factory choices together without treating an engine, stripe, badge, or trim package as a separate car identity.

Engines and transmissions

The Polara's wedge V8 family included regular 361 and 383 paths and rare ram-induction equipment. Engine, induction, cooling, transmission, axle, chassis, body, dates, and records define one car. Transmission, induction, cooling, exhaust, axle, emissions equipment, and dates must match the selected engine path.

Chassis and brakes

Dodge's full-size unibody retained Torsion-Aire front suspension and a leaf-sprung live axle. Engine, axle, brakes, steering, springs, wheels, tires, and cooling remained application-specific. Brake, steering, spring, damper, axle, ratio, wheel, and tire equipment varied by configuration and must be reconciled to factory and car-specific records.

Body, trim, and proof

Start with VIN or serial, body tag, title, shell, and ownership history. Then reconcile drivetrain, chassis, protected finish, cabin, trim, dates, and records. Replaceable badges, stripes, wheels, or a swapped engine cannot establish factory configuration.

**Exact-year view retained for body, trim, glass, lamps, bumpers, and wheel context; condition and restoration details remain specific to the photographed vehicle.**More Cars via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Specs

Car type: Full-size performance
Seats: 6
Body: Two- or four-door hardtop, four-door sedan, convertible, or station wagon
Engine: 1961 Dodge Polara engine family
Horsepower: Configuration-specific factory gross output through ram-induction 383 applications
Torque: Configuration-specific factory rating follows engine, induction, emissions equipment, and transmission
Carburetion: Two- or four-barrel wedge V8 induction with dual four-barrel ram induction on the top performance path

Equipment

Distinctive 1961 full-size body
Hardtop, sedan, convertible, and wagon bodies
Torsion-Aire suspension
D-500 performance choices
Available ram-induction 383

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

361 V8 361 cu in wedge-head V8 with application-specific induction · Regular Polara path · engine assembly / specification
383 four-barrel V8 383 cu in wedge-head V8 · Optional performance path · engine assembly / specification
383 Ram Induction V8 383 cu in with dual four-barrel long-ram induction · Top performance path; documentation required · carburetor / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Three-speed manual
Factory transmission PowerFlite automatic
Factory transmission TorqueFlite automatic

Options

Engines and Induction summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

D-500 D-500 performance equipment factory · performance · Engine, induction, cooling, exhaust, transmission, axle, brakes, suspension, badges, dates, and records must agree.
RAM-INDUCTION Dual-four-barrel ram-induction 383 factory · performance · Require engine, long-ram manifolds, carburetors, air system, cooling, exhaust, transmission, axle, chassis, dates, and records.
TORQUEFLITE TorqueFlite automatic factory · comfort · Transmission, pushbutton controls, cooling, axle, dates, and records must agree.
SURE-GRIP Sure-Grip differential factory · performance · Carrier, ratio, housing, dates, and records define one installation.

Paint

A Jet Black factory · solid
B Alpine White factory · solid
C Poppy Red factory · solid
D Turquoise factory · solid
E Light Blue factory · solid
F Beige factory · solid

Production

Transmissions summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1961 Dodge Polara family total · 0 · reported

Authenticity

Rear Axle and Ratios summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Model-year identity 1961 Polara VIN or serial, body tag, title, shell, drivetrain, trim, protected finish, and ownership evidence that agrees · VIN or serial plate, body or trim plate, chassis, title, build records, and ownership history · fraud detection
Engine and transmission Configuration-correct engine, induction, transmission, controls, stampings, castings, and dates · Engine, induction, gearbox, shifter, pedals, stamp pads, castings, dates, and records · numbers matching
Axle, brakes, and suspension Application-correct axle, ratio, brake system, steering, springs, links, and dampers · Axle housing and carrier, brakes, steering, suspension, dates, service records, and build evidence · date correctness
Paint, exterior trim, and cabin Plate- and record-supported finish, moldings, badges, wheels, upholstery, instruments, and controls · Body and trim plates, protected paint, upholstery, hardware, dashboard, and restoration records · trim correctness

Still Researching

production No reviewed public ledger reconciles 1961 Polara production by body, model, engine, transmission, axle, paint, trim, options, plant, date, and surviving-car status.
paint colors Reviewed references establish representative factory colors but not a complete body, trim, stripe, special-order, plant, and build-date compatibility matrix.
interior Broad cabin equipment is documented, but the complete upholstery color, material, body, option, and production-date matrix is not publicly reconciled.
authenticity markers Public model references cannot prove one survivor's born-with shell, drivetrain, chassis components, paint, trim, options, or component dates.