How much did a 1964 Dodge Polara convertible with a 436 and a manual transmission weigh
Executive summary
Contemporary sources do not list a factory 436‑cubic‑inch engine for the 1964 Dodge Polara, and none of the provided reporting gives a direct curb‑weight figure for a 1964 Polara convertible equipped specifically with a "436" engine and a manual transmission; testing and catalog reporting that do exist show Polara 500 convertibles in the mid‑4,000 pound range, which provides the only sourced anchor for an estimate [1] [2]. The clearest factual claim supportable from the available reporting is that a 1964 Polara convertible is commonly reported around 4,400 lb curb weight in road tests, and therefore a Polara wearing a large aftermarket/rare big‑block like a 436 and fitted with a 4‑speed manual would most likely fall in the roughly 4,200–4,600 lb band, but that range is an informed estimate rather than a documented factory spec [1] [3].
1. What the question actually asks and why the sources leave a gap
The user seeks a precise curb weight for a 1964 Dodge Polara convertible fitted with a 436 engine and a manual transmission, a highly specific combination that requires either factory literature listing a 436 option for 1964 or measurements of a particular car; none of the supplied reporting documents a factory 436 for the 1964 Polara or lists a certified curb weight for that exact configuration, so any exact figure cannot be sourced from the provided material [4] [2] [5].
2. What the reporting actually says about Polara engines and factory weights
Available technical summaries and catalog entries enumerate Dodge’s 1964 engine lineup (including 318, 361, 383, 413 Max Wedge, and 426 variants) and note high‑performance Ramcharger 426 and Hemi options, but they do not mention a factory 436 in the 1964 Polara options presented in the supplied snippets [4] [6] [7] [5]. Likewise, valuation and model overviews remark that curb weight for the 1964 downsized Polara dropped by "more than 300 pounds" relative to earlier models, indicating overall lighter curb figures for the range but not giving a per‑engine convertible curb weight [3] [8].
3. The clearest weight datapoint in the sources and how to use it
The single explicit test figure in the supplied material describes Motor Trend/Riverside testing that got a Polara 500 convertible up to speeds on track and references a 4,400‑pound Polara 500 convertible in road/test reporting, providing a concrete, sourced curb‑weight benchmark for the convertible body and performance package of the era [1]. That 4,400 lb datapoint is the best direct, cited anchor available from the provided reporting for estimating where a heavy‑engine convertible would land.
4. Translating that benchmark into an estimate for “436 + manual”
Because the supplied sources do not document a 436 option or a factory curb weight for that engine, the only defensible approach is to use the 4,400 lb convertible benchmark and acknowledge reasonable variation: a larger aftermarket or swapped 436 big‑block would likely increase weight over stock small‑block installations, while a manual transmission typically weighs slightly less than heavy automatic units; therefore a credible, sourced estimate range for a 1964 Polara convertible with a large non‑documented big‑block and a manual is roughly 4,200–4,600 lb, but that range is an inference anchored by the cited 4,400 lb test car rather than a factory specification [1] [3].
5. Alternative viewpoints, disclaimers and what would settle the question
Collector listings, restoration shops and auction descriptions often quote curb weight for specific, modified cars, but those are not part of the supplied reporting and can vary dramatically if custom mounts, accessories or aftermarket components are present; the reporting here explicitly lacks a factory 436 entry and a dedicated curb‑weight table for a 436/manual Polara, so the only definitive way to settle the question would be a documented factory option sheet or a measured scale weight of a verified 1964 Polara convertible with that exact 436 engine and manual gearbox—documents not provided in the available sources [4] [2] [5].