1963 Dodge Polara Max Wedge

Full-size performance powered by Ramcharger 426 Max Wedge V8.

Documented Polar White 1963 Dodge Polara Max Wedge at RM Sotheby's, shown in restored stock presentation.

Factory name Dodge called it Ramcharger 426; Max Wedge is the familiar enthusiast name.

Engines 11.0:1 and 13.5:1 versions were rated at 415 and 425 gross horsepower.

Transmissions Heavy-duty three-speed manual or A727 TorqueFlite; no 1963 four-speed path.

Identity Body and drivetrain records matter more than a 426, scoop, badges, or race appearance.

Story

The 1963 Dodge Polara Max Wedge was part of Dodge's Ramcharger 426 program, not one standalone Polara trim. The package could be ordered across the 330, 440, Polara, and Polara 500 lines. This page keeps those factory body and trim choices together, including the documented one-off 330 station wagon, instead of presenting each as a different performance model.

Two compression choices

The 426 used a 4.25-inch bore and 3.75-inch stroke. The 11.0:1 version was rated at 415 gross horsepower and 470 lb-ft, while the 13.5:1 version was rated at 425 horsepower and 480 lb-ft. Both were Ramcharger 426 configurations, not separate models.

On May 31, Dodge introduced a substantial revision identified by 426-A valve-cover decals and a -2 engine-number suffix. It brought a revised intake, Carter AFB-3705S carburetors, cylinder-head and camshaft changes, stronger clutch and converter hardware, and a seven-blade fan. Later enthusiasts often call the two periods Stage I and Stage II, but Dodge's bulletin does not use Stage I, and Stage III belongs to 1964.

Built for the strip

Dodge paired the package with a heavy-duty three-speed manual or A727 TorqueFlite and 3.91 Sure-Grip gearing. A four-speed was not a 1963 Ramcharger 426 path. Torsion-bar front suspension, rear leaf springs, lightweight 10-inch manual drum brakes, and competition exhaust completed the working package.

The separate Aluminum Package was a limited 330 lightweight configuration, not equipment on every Max Wedge. It replaced front pieces with aluminum, reduced trim and sound deadening, and moved the battery to the trunk.

Documentation settles identity

A 426, cross-ram intake, hood scoop, badges, or restored race appearance can all be added to another Dodge. The VIN alone does not encode the engine. Authenticate a car by reconciling its body tag, IBM card or broadcast sheet, engine and transmission evidence, axle, paint and trim, dealer record, and ownership history.

A distinct front three-quarter view of a stock-presenting 1963 Dodge Polara with Max Wedge-style hood scoop, hood pins, 426 fender identification, steel wheels, body trim, grille, and lamps visible; restoration and paperwork remain car-specific.Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Specs

Car type: Full-size performance
Body: Ramcharger 426 package across eligible 330, 440, Polara, and Polara 500 bodies
Engine: 426 cu in Chrysler RB Ramcharger V8
Horsepower: 415 hp at 11.0:1 or 425 hp at 13.5:1, gross ratings
Torque: 470 lb-ft at 11.0:1 or 480 lb-ft at 13.5:1, gross ratings
Carburetion: Two Carter four-barrel carburetors on short-ram induction; revised AFB-3705S units after May 31

Equipment

3.91 Sure-Grip rear axle
Torsion-bar and leaf-spring suspension
10-inch manual drum brakes
Competition exhaust

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

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

Original Price

Base MSRP $2,408

Dodge 330 V8 four-door sedan (1963)

1963 Dodge 330
Base MSRP $2,352

Dodge 330 V8 two-door sedan (1963)

1963 Dodge 330
Base MSRP $3,196

Dodge Polara 500 convertible (1963)

1963 Dodge Polara
Base MSRP $2,965

Dodge Polara 500 two-door hardtop (1963)

1963 Dodge Polara
Base MSRP $2,963

Dodge Polara convertible (1963)

1963 Dodge Polara
Base MSRP $2,781

Dodge Polara four-door hardtop (1963)

1963 Dodge Polara
Base MSRP $2,709

Dodge Polara four-door sedan (1963)

1963 Dodge Polara
Base MSRP $2,732

Dodge Polara two-door hardtop (1963)

1963 Dodge Polara
Option price $445

Ramcharger 426 option (1963)

1963 Dodge mid-size cars fact sheet
Option price $50

Sure-Grip differential (1963)

1963 Dodge mid-size cars fact sheet
Option price $211

TorqueFlite with V8 (1963)

1963 Dodge mid-size cars fact sheet

Market Observations

Auction sale $90,200

May 16, 2026 · Mecum, Indianapolis
Factory 426/425-hp automatic Dodge 330 Aluminum Package car, chassis 6132170287, supported by a Chrysler Registry Report and car record card. · restored · unknown Venue-published completed result for the third of nine reported factory lightweight cars. It was restored to like-original presentation; displayed mileage, condition, component originality, restoration quality, and fee basis are not independently established. The Aluminum Package result is segmented from steel-body cars.
1963 Dodge 330 Max Wedge Lightweight chassis 6132170287
Auction sale $43,000

Sep 20, 2023 · Bring a Trailer
Factory Max Wedge Dodge 330 two-door sedan, chassis 6132145853, supported by its broadcast sheet and long-term family history. · restored · unknown Venue-published completed result. The 2022 refurbishment included a replacement 426 and an A833 four-speed in place of the earlier TorqueFlite; mileage, condition, restoration quality, broader originality, and buyer-fee basis are not independently established.
1963 Dodge 330 Max Wedge four-speed chassis 6132145853
Auction sale $45,000

May 13, 2017 · RM Sotheby's, Auburn Spring
Authenticated 425-hp TorqueFlite Polara with original broadcast sheet. · restored · excellent Historical completed sale.
1963 Dodge Polara Max Wedge
High bid $60,000

May 20, 2016 · Mecum, Indianapolis
Mostly unrestored low-compression automatic Polara 500, VIN 6432162710. · survivor · good No-sale high bid, not a completed transaction.
1963 Dodge Polara 500 Max Wedge

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

Exact-year Polara Max Wedge engine-bay view retained for the cross-ram dual-quad induction, opposed air cleaners, big-block layout, ignition, cooling, firewall, inner fenders, and hood structure; finishes, service parts, and restoration details remain car-specific.Brian Snelson via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Standard-compression 426 11.0:1, 415 gross hp, 470 lb-ft · 1963 Dodge Ramcharger 426 · engine assembly / specification
High-compression 426 13.5:1, 425 gross hp, 480 lb-ft · Optional 1963 Dodge Ramcharger 426 configuration · engine assembly / specification
426-A revision Effective May 31, 1963 · Revised Ramcharger 426 production · intake manifold / date code

Transmission

Factory transmission Heavy-duty three-speed manual
Factory transmission Heavy-duty A727 pushbutton TorqueFlite

Options

One Ramcharger Package reference for the 1963 Dodge Polara Max WedgeClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

Ramcharger 426 Maximum-performance 426 package required · performance · Available across eligible 330, 440, Polara, and Polara 500 B-body configurations; body style alone does not establish the package, which requires the engine option code and car-specific production evidence.
11.0:1 415-hp standard-compression engine standard · performance · One of two package engine configurations.
13.5:1 425-hp high-compression engine optional · performance · One of two package engine configurations.
426-A Revised Ramcharger 426 configuration optional · performance · Production revision effective May 31, not a separate model.
HD manual Heavy-duty three-speed manual optional · performance · The four-speed was not a 1963 Ramcharger 426 path.
A727 Heavy-duty TorqueFlite optional · performance · Pushbutton automatic path; the reviewed fender-tag investigation identifies 2 under column A as the TorqueFlite option code.
Aluminum Package 330 Lightweight competition package optional · appearance · Limited to selected 330s; it was not standard Max Wedge equipment.
R9 Ramcharger 426 fender-tag engine option required · performance · The reviewed investigation reports 9 under fender-tag column R on genuine 1963 Polara 500 convertible Max Wedge comparison cars; a blank R position indicated the standard engine on the rejected feature car.
BDY 645 + R9 Polara 500 convertible Max Wedge application special_order · performance · BDY 645 identifies the Polara 500 convertible body. Genuine comparison cars establish that this body could receive the package, but R9 and Chrysler serial/production evidence are still required; the body code alone is insufficient.
Power steering delete Manual steering restriction required · chassis · The reviewed Chrysler-record investigation states that power steering was not available with the Max Wedge package; power steering was one of the facts disproving the feature car's claimed factory configuration.

Production

Two Compression Choices reference for the 1963 Dodge Polara Max WedgeClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

Polara convertibles by body · 11 · reported
330 station wagons by body · 1 · reported
low-compression Polara 500 by engine · 5 · reported
330 Aluminum Package Lightweights by option · 9 · reported

Authenticity

The 426-A Revision reference for the 1963 Dodge Polara Max WedgeClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

Package identity Factory Ramcharger 426 installation on an eligible 1963 Dodge B-body · Body tag, IBM card or broadcast sheet, dealer record, and ownership history · fraud detection
Engine configuration 11.0:1 415-hp or 13.5:1 425-hp Ramcharger 426 · Engine number, castings, dates, compression and valvetrain inspection, and records · numbers matching
426-A revision 426-A decals and -2 engine-number suffix for post-May-31 revised production · Valve-cover decals, engine number, induction, heads, cam specifications, and schedule date · numbers matching
Transmission Heavy-duty three-speed manual or A727 TorqueFlite · Transmission case, stamp, linkage or pushbutton controls, dates, and records · numbers matching
Body, paint, and trim Series, body style, paint, and interior consistent with the individual factory record · Body tag, IBM card or broadcast sheet, protected finishes, upholstery, and paperwork · trim correctness

Still Researching

production Reviewed sources provide scoped body and option counts but not a reconciled total Ramcharger 426 ledger.
interior The reviewed factory dealer-book scans now establish all 33 listed upholstery codes and exterior-paint groups across the 330, 440, Polara, and Polara 500 body groupings. The scans do not name every textile or vinyl construction, publish dated trim prices or revisions, or prove which permitted combinations were actually built with the Ramcharger 426.
brakes The manual 10 x 2.5-inch configuration, lining dimensions, cylinder bores, service parts, and plant-specific drum assemblies are documented, but the revised service catalog does not establish original supplier, production-date transition, or individual-car date-code applicability.
suspension Factory records now establish the ordinary TD2 V8 suspension dimensions and rates, one 426-applicable heavy-duty rear-spring service number, and broad heavy-duty torsion-bar and shock service numbers. They do not establish a complete Ramcharger 426 assembly-line spring, torsion-bar, shock, and bushing schedule or prove that every broad heavy-duty service application was package-standard.
option packages Core package and Aluminum Package boundaries are documented, and reviewed evidence now adds the R9 engine code, A2 TorqueFlite code, power-steering exclusion, and a verified Polara 500 convertible application. A complete factory series/body restriction matrix and all option incompatibilities are still unavailable.
authenticity markers The page defines evidence requirements but cannot authenticate an individual car or certify numbers matching.