Boyd Coddington Built Polara "Max Hemi" 472 Dual Quad HEMI V8 525 HP Automatic

At RK Motors Charlotte, some of our favorite cars are those that might be considered a bit shocking. Wolves in sheep's clothing that wrap big motors and big performance in interesting or unassuming aesthetics. I mean, honestly, nothing is overwhelmingly shocking given the immense talent in the classic car hobby. But it's always cool to see killer classics made from metal that, in its day, was already outrageous, expensive or largely ignored. This 1963 Dodge Polara is a perfect example of that phenomenon. Wrapping Exner's love it or hate it styling around a custom interior, a custom suspension and a 472/3-speed Hemi drivetrain, the idea behind this fully restored MoPar is as fun as it is collectible! And, as a car that's much more exclusive than its common Detroit contemporaries, this sinister coupe is 100% cool!

HISTORY/BUILD

The product of a dream, celebrity and intense focus, this incredible Dodge is known to the hot rod world as Max Hemi. You might recall seeing the car constructed about 10 years ago on the show "American":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbMZCkv-VYY "Hot":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JLDgFZcBqc "Rod":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Xf3vG0lKk If you don't, well, here's a small summary of its big significance. Max Cohen, a teenager battling acute lymphocytic leukemia, had always dreamed of designing hot rods. So, Make-A-Wish contacted the newly established Boyd Coddington Foundation to see if they could make that happen. It wasn't long until Max and his family were on their way to meet Boyd and the team of TLC's American Hot Rod. And Max, wanting to build something unique, chose this 1963 Polara as the foundation for his project. Despite the commotion involved in coordinating and televising an entire restoration, Max was also invited to turn a few wrenches. And, after the car debuted to much fanfare, this aptly named coupe crossed the Barrett-Jackson block on its way to raising $550K for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Naturally, since Max wanted to dress this California Dodge in basic black, its body had to be virtually perfect. And when you create a profile that nice, there's really no point in cluttering it up with flimsy stainless trim. At the front of the car, an aggressive, blacked-out grille hangs halogen driving lamps between prominent headlights, a mirrored bumper and clean parking lamps. Above that grille, a low-slung hood props a custom, “MAXHEMI” branded scoop in front of a filled cowl. Behind that cowl, like-new glass centers a stylish Boyd Coddington decal inside polished frames that melt in to a fully shaved fuselage. And at the back of the car, a second mirrored bumper frames simple, chrome-trimmed taillights.

ENGINE

The key to creating a sweet MoPar resto-mod is having LOTS of sweet MoPar power. Toss this Polara's long hood and you'll find 472 cubic inches of Hemi big block that, according to Coddington's hot rod shop, moves to the tune of 525 horsepower and 540 lb./ft. of tire-melting torque! At the top of the block, small air cleaners force wind in to big Holley carburetors, which are cinched to a coated regulator and polished stainless fuel lines. At the base of those carbs, a MoPar cross-ram intake feeds air and fuel to color-keyed Hemi heads, which perch polished breathers on mirrored valve covers. At the front of those heads, an aftermarket distributor sequences fire through MSD-loomed Taylor plug wires. At the base of those wires, snazzy March pulleys spin a polished alternator beside a coated water pump. At the front of the engine bay, a beefy aluminum radiator makes good use of a polished cap, a billet expansion tank and a big SPAL puller fan. At the sides of the block, coated Sanderson headers usher spent gases in to rowdy exhaust pipes. And aesthetically, the body-matched mill looks right at home inside a custom engine bay.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Like its slick exterior and clean engine bay, the bottom of this coupe is a great combination of past and present. The powerful engine sends thrust to a proven A727 TorqueFlite 3-speed, which spins a tough Currie axle. That awesome drivetrain pushes a ladder bar rear-clip, supplied by MagnumForce Race Car Fabrication. Speaking of MagnumForce, they also supplied this Dodge's tubular front-clip. That clip is guided by manual rack-and-pinion steering. Big Baer calipers squeeze a quartet of drilled and slotted rotors. Stainless, Mandrel-bent exhaust wraps 3-inch pipes around an X-shaped crossover and polished Magnaflow mufflers. Torque meets the pavement through staggered Boyd blades, which spin 225/45R17 Goodyear Eagle GS-Ds in front of 295/40R20 Goodyear Eagle GS-Ds. Naturally, the car's undercoated floors are solid and display no signs of major rust or serious weathering. And yes, in typical resto-mod fashion, there's a roster of great finishing components, including stainless fluid lines, a small transmission cooler and a polished transmission pan.

INTERIOR

Pop the solid-closing doors and you'll find a custom cockpit that was installed by Gabe's Street Rod Custom Interiors of San Bernardino, California. An attractive bucket and bench combo has been decked in bright red leather. In front of those mitts, a custom dash hangs UFC-themed telemetry above billet foot pedals. At the base of that dash, plush carpet centers a color-keyed B&M shifter between piped and color-keyed floor mats. At the edges of that rug, custom door panels frame billet handles. In front of the driver, a simplistic steering wheel laps a tilting column. And behind the passengers, a custom upholstered trunk features plenty of room for car show supplies.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

* Component literature
* A book that features the car
* A custom MAX HEMI tag

Whether you're a Dodge fan, a MoPar fan or just a fan of stealth classics that carry a big stick, you simply can't ignore this sinister Polara. The car is super cool, it has excellent investment potential and, since its lineage wasn't exactly popular with '60s buyers, you probably won't be seeing another one anywhere, anytime soon!

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SUMMARY

* Built by Boyd Coddington / Build featured on TLC's American Hot Rod
* 472 cubic inch Hemi V8 / 525 horsepower
* TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission
* Lightly modified body / Custom leather interior
* Full MagnumForce Race Car Fabrication suspension
* 17 and 20-inch Boyd Coddington wheels
* Currie 9-inch rear axle
* Rack-and-pinion steering / Baer 4-wheel disc brakes
* 3-inch exhaust / Magnaflow mufflers
* Sale includes a book that features the car