Rottycar series #1-1972 dodge polara
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:25 pmI don't often post in the "Autos" forum, or even visit there much: I am filled with envy at the nice cars displayed here, and know squat about racing, except that I like to drive fast.
But I was looking at my collection of personal-auto photos, and though they might have some quirky appeal.
It's a small series, so I'm putting them here.
The only car I have no pictures of is my awesome 1989(?) Suzuki GL wagon... had to give it up after a brief period (between the AMC Eagle and the Fiat Spider), and sadly never took a picture of it.
However: behold the first car I ever owned: a 1972 Dodge Polara, all 16 foot and two tons of her. I bought it around 1990, I guess; needed a car for my job suddenly and it was mine for about $200. Don't recall the mileage,but partly due to my neglect (not yet an educated enthusiast) the mighty 460 V8 seized up on me after a year or something like that. I never did much work on it; prolly for the best, 'cuz it was a thirsty beast. I swear I could watch the gas needle go down as I revved it...
Note the "drive by" windows: the trim was attached to the rear window, so when both were rolled down it was wide open. rollover support? I've seen lots of these rolled in movies (hapless police cars, etc.) but they had ramps...
These pics look 70s-ish because they are old Polaroids, BTW...
The car was sort of a sickly mustard color; had a black vinyl top long ago but it was in tatters so I tore it off. Took off the glue later and painted the whole roof high-gloss white.
As the previous owner said during his sales pitch: "This is not a car. This is a battle wagon". Note the missing "O". It says "Ddge". Appropriate, somehow...
The driver sits in godlike repose on a massive cushy bench seat, surrounded by chrome,vinyl, beige plastic, and good American steel. I used to love putting on the cruise control on a straight empty stretch of highway and putting my feet up on the dash. I could also just barely stretch out completely in the back seat (I'm 5'9")- it was vast. I later found a tattered, discarded cloth US flag: traditionally, one burns such a thing, but I honored it by making into a new headliner. Wish I had a picture of that; looked fantastic.
Yes, it says "Cruiser" on the right rear; the "Helmet Laws Suck" sticker was also there when I bought it. The trunk could easily hold half a dozen adult bodies if packed well...I was a home-improvement carpenter at the time; this leviathan served well in that capacity (hauling tools and materials, that is).
And with a set of fresh Wranglers and a full tank of gas, it was unstoppable in snow. Excellent touring car.
Next: the 1971 Volvo 164!
But I was looking at my collection of personal-auto photos, and though they might have some quirky appeal.
It's a small series, so I'm putting them here.
The only car I have no pictures of is my awesome 1989(?) Suzuki GL wagon... had to give it up after a brief period (between the AMC Eagle and the Fiat Spider), and sadly never took a picture of it.
However: behold the first car I ever owned: a 1972 Dodge Polara, all 16 foot and two tons of her. I bought it around 1990, I guess; needed a car for my job suddenly and it was mine for about $200. Don't recall the mileage,but partly due to my neglect (not yet an educated enthusiast) the mighty 460 V8 seized up on me after a year or something like that. I never did much work on it; prolly for the best, 'cuz it was a thirsty beast. I swear I could watch the gas needle go down as I revved it...
Note the "drive by" windows: the trim was attached to the rear window, so when both were rolled down it was wide open. rollover support? I've seen lots of these rolled in movies (hapless police cars, etc.) but they had ramps...
These pics look 70s-ish because they are old Polaroids, BTW...
The car was sort of a sickly mustard color; had a black vinyl top long ago but it was in tatters so I tore it off. Took off the glue later and painted the whole roof high-gloss white.
As the previous owner said during his sales pitch: "This is not a car. This is a battle wagon". Note the missing "O". It says "Ddge". Appropriate, somehow...
The driver sits in godlike repose on a massive cushy bench seat, surrounded by chrome,vinyl, beige plastic, and good American steel. I used to love putting on the cruise control on a straight empty stretch of highway and putting my feet up on the dash. I could also just barely stretch out completely in the back seat (I'm 5'9")- it was vast. I later found a tattered, discarded cloth US flag: traditionally, one burns such a thing, but I honored it by making into a new headliner. Wish I had a picture of that; looked fantastic.
Yes, it says "Cruiser" on the right rear; the "Helmet Laws Suck" sticker was also there when I bought it. The trunk could easily hold half a dozen adult bodies if packed well...I was a home-improvement carpenter at the time; this leviathan served well in that capacity (hauling tools and materials, that is).
And with a set of fresh Wranglers and a full tank of gas, it was unstoppable in snow. Excellent touring car.
Next: the 1971 Volvo 164!
