How much did a 1964 Dodge Polara convertible weigh
Executive summary
The available reporting does not offer a single authoritative curb-weight figure for a 1964 Dodge Polara convertible, but contemporary spec compilations and historical analysis allow a well‑supported estimate: roughly in the low‑to‑mid 3,000‑pound range, with about 3,100–3,400 lb as the most plausible band. Sources note that Dodge’s early‑1960s downsizing trimmed weight substantially and that full‑equipment convertibles of the era were commonly around 3,400 lb, which together constrain the likely weight of the 1964 Polara convertible [1] [2].
1. What the sources actually say about Polara weights
Hagerty’s valuation and model notes emphasize that Dodge reduced curb weight by “more than 300 pounds” for the early‑1960s Polara run, a structural change that applies to the 1964 models and therefore implies lighter curb weights compared with prior years [1] [3]. Independent archival specifications sites list the 1964 Polara’s dimensions and technical data — wheelbase, length and general mechanical layout — but their accessible snippets do not quote a single definitive curb‑weight number for the convertible in the provided excerpts [4] [5] [6].
2. Historical context that frames an estimate
A historical account of Chrysler’s early‑1960s downsizing reports that even “a well‑equipped convertible weighed only 3,400 pounds” after the weight reductions implemented in 1962–1964, a figure used to highlight the benefits in economy and performance from the reduced curb weight [2]. That 3,400‑lb reference is presented in a broader historical narrative about Chrysler’s trimming of roughly 350 lb from earlier models and thus serves as a credible anchor point for convertibles in this family of Dodges [2].
3. Reconciling the anchor point with documented reductions
If the Polara family shed “more than 300 pounds” by 1964 compared with earlier full‑size architectures, and the historical narrative places well‑equipped convertibles at about 3,400 lb after downsizing, the arithmetic and context point toward a 1964 Polara convertible that plausibly falls squarely in the low‑to‑mid 3,000‑pound range — roughly 3,100–3,400 lb — rather than at the 4,000‑plus numbers typical of pre‑downsizing full‑size cars [1] [2].
4. Limits of the publicly available reporting and dissenting signals
The automobile‑catalog and Carfolio technical pages included in the search are useful spec repositories for the 1964 Polara line but the provided snippets do not display a convertible curb weight in the material shown, and forum discussion on moparts.org explicitly flags that posted weights “seem a bit off,” underscoring variability and uncertainty in crowd‑sourced or piecemeal figures [5] [7] [8]. That caveat means the 3,100–3,400 lb band should be treated as a reasoned estimate grounded in contemporaneous reporting rather than an absolute, single‑source specification.
5. Practical takeaway and recommendation for a definitive number
For practical purposes — restoration planning, towing and trailer calculations, or historical comparison — the best supported working figure for a 1964 Dodge Polara convertible is in the low‑to‑mid 3,000‑pound range (approximately 3,100–3,400 lb), based on Hagerty’s note about a >300‑lb curb‑weight reduction and historical reporting that convertibles after Chrysler’s early‑’60s downsizing weighed about 3,400 lb [1] [3] [2]. To obtain a single definitive curb‑weight number, consulting an original factory specification sheet or a verified build plate for a specific 1964 Polara convertible is recommended; those primary documents are not available in the provided excerpts [5] [4].