Unassuming Sleeper: 1963 Dodge Polara 500 Rocks Max Wedge Surprise

However, a certain iteration of the Polara was offered with the Max Wedge engine that preceded the Hemi.

The early Polara spent only two years on the full-size market. In 1962, it was downsized to intermediate duty. The redesign was more of a corporate error. Chrysler's president reportedly heard about Chevrolet's plans to offer a smaller vehicle. He mistakenly believed the company would downsize its full-size offerings, whereas Chevrolet was actually referring to the upcoming Chevelle.

The move left both Dodge and Plymouth without a proper full-size car in early 1962. The Dart, 330, and Polara employed Chrysler's then-new B-body underpinnings through 1964. The following year, the Polara was returned to the full-size market.

During its three-year stint in the intermediate segment, the Polara was offered with the Max Wedge V8, a high-performance engine conceived specifically for drag racing. Based on the RB-block architecture, the Max Wedge debuted in 1962 with a 413-cubic-inch (6.8-liter) displacement. It was rated at 410 or 420 horsepower based on the compression ratio.

In 1963, Chrysler introduced a 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) variant, often referred to as Stage II. The slightly larger mill was also a tad more potent, rated at 415 or 425 horsepower (again, depending on the compression ratio). The Max Wedge was discontinued after the 1964 model year.

The engine was offered in all B-body automobiles. It was available in the Dodge Dart, 330, and Polara, as well as the Plymouth Savoy, Belvedere, and Fury. The unit is significantly rarer than the Hemi. Chrysler produced only a few hundred examples per year, spread between all Dodge and Plymouth nameplates.

The 1963 Polara 500 you see here may not be a factory-original Max Wedge rarity, but it's one of the coolest tributes out there.

The vehicle popped up on the Interwebz via NextGen Classic Cars, a dealership in Illinois. The car appears to be in excellent condition, most likely due to a recent restoration. There's no info as to when it got the refresh, but it comes with "receipts for recent work in the last six years."

The Polara is said to have "all original metal," but it also includes "quality upgrades." Some of these happened under the hood, as the ad lists an Edelbrock aluminum intake and an Edelbrock carburetor. The hardtop packs the 413-cubic-inch version and a push-button, three-speed automatic transmission.

The car was refinished in the original ivory paint, which makes it a bit of a sleeper. The interior, which appears to be in mint condition aside from the saggy headliners, sports a lovely two-tone combo of ivory and brown.

The odometer indicates 78,595 miles (126,486 km), with the dealership confirming that the figure is accurate. The vehicle has two broadcast sheets, the owner's manual, and the original warranty plan. The vehicle spent most of its life in Missouri, so it's rust-free.

The dealership is asking $31,900, which isn't bad for a Max Wedge tribute car, but they are open to entertaining offers.