1970 Dodge Polara

In late 1970 my father purchased his first Mopar from M&W Chrysler Plymouth in Emporia Virginia. It was the dealership’s last 1970 car and was a 1970 Dodge Polara Special, no A/C, no power steering, no power brakes, white with gold interior and only equipped with a 318. One of my first new car memories was this shiny white Dodge sitting in our backyard and it’s distinctive buzzer going off when Dad would leave the keys in it and open the door. My Grandfather (HIS FATHER-IN LAW) was driving a worn out 1960 Plymouth Fury and wanted the Polara. So my Dad sold it for what he had paid for it (even though he had traded in an old station wagon). My grandfather bought the car and it went to Roanoke Virginia where my Grandmother threatened to “put her head in the oven” over the purchase. When I asked her why years later she said that he bought it without asking, she didn’t want a white car and had only said she “might as well stick her head in the oven.” Grandma was a very good cook but she also liked to make the decisions. Grandfather passed away in 1981. He had stored it in an old garage and had creased each fender backing it in. My brother drove and started the car occasionally for the next 24 years and when the garage had to be torn down the car came to me where I had planned to use it to go with my General Lee because it was the same model as the first police car used on the Dukes of Hazzard and wrecked by Cooter. I picked up the parts and friends helped complete the replica. The paint and mechanical are all original on this car.