1970 Dodge Polara vs. Chevrolet Impala & Pontiac Catalina Mopar is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC. Master Tech series training materials are the property of Chrysler Group LLC and are used with permission. MyMopar.com
Chrysler had some nerve back then bragging about rust prevention. When you lived in a cold wet climate these cars had rust holes all over within 5 to 10 years.
Dude, Chrysler products were not the slightest bit more rust prone than GM products, and were much better in that regard than Ford products of the era.
My dad bought a 70 Catalina with the Executive option, from my great aunt. It had the 400 2 bbl. Car ran great, drove nice. Problem was the trunk leaked badly, to where my mother wouldn't use it for grocery shopping. And the water leaks, which were never pinned down, ended up where the rear fenders and trunk floor rusted out, and eventually the body to frame mounts gave way back there. Could never figure out where the water leak came from. Rear glass was resealed. Rear light lenses were resealed. Trunk seal was replaced. Even had the rear bumper taken off and all mountings were siliconed. And it still leaked. Guy bought it in 1983 for the engine and trans for $100.00
One thing they all had in common:that cheap belt molding.I hated that molding.In the northern rust belt states,most of the cars started to rust right where the clip was mounted on the car,leaving a nice little hole in the body.Any one of these classics looks much better without that molding.
The Pontiac had the best chassis with dodge at the back end. That Pontiac nose is pretty fugly though! Funny how they mention the mileage rating of the polara but not the other two that both had bigger stronger engines.
Both the Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Catalina were similar full size models built on the same General Motors B platform. They also shared the same platform along with Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile Delta 88. The platform was also modified for the longer wheelbase for the Buick Electra 225, Oldsmobile 98 Regency and Cadillac Deville/Fleetwood.
This was pretty good stuff for providing harried Dodge salesmen with enough material to sell these large-and-in-charge sedans to the Mr-and-Ms. Smiths of America. The real question lies in how well the AMC Ambassador would stack up to it. Personally, I would rather have the Kenosha Kadillac if only for the unique factor.
A true "Battle Axe" of a car, by the time I could remember these things they tended to be old and rusting out (Buffalo, N.Y.) by 1988 I found a 1971 Plymouth GTX for $300.00 dollars in near road worthy condition...
Of all the things I miss from cars of this era, sweep speedometers are definitely not one of them. I never felt they were accurate. They also took up too much dash space.
Also, gotta love how they fuss over protecting the parking lights, yet cars from that generation did a poor job of protecting occupants in a crash (see the video of the Malibu/BelAir test crash)
I've seen the video and the 59 Impala has no engine in it, also the real true way of keeping yourself save from a crash is by paying attention, keeping you're eyes on the road, don't play on you're phone, and no distractions. Plus these cars look a million times better than anything you on the road today mate.
@@AnthonyEvelyn LOL, I know what they were trying to do, it's just that Hindus aren't Muslims (thus no fez) and don't sound like Chinese waiters in a bad 1950s B movie. That said, he could have been part of the Christmas dinner scene in A Christmas Story.
These cars are from a time when trading in your car every 4, or so, years. If you planned to keep it for longer Ziebart was a necessity. Especially if you lived in areas with salted roads. Dealer "rustproofing" was a joke. Generally it did nothing for doors and quarter panels.
@@christopherconard2831- So true. Back then used cars from California and other low humidity, "no snow" regions commanded a premium because they weren't rusted out.
@@ahuehuete4703 I moved to Florida in the mid 70s. You could tell a car's history based on the rust/paint fade patterns. Even though they didn't salt the roads, driving on the beach was still normal. Sand (with salt) or sea water would be dripping from the cars as they left. After a couple of years of this, some cars looked like the entire lower third had been dipped in acid. It got worse with early Japanese imports. Apparently they didn't understand the extent of salt use in the US. So they weren't so big on rustproofing. Combined with the thinner gauge steel used, they developed a reputation for poor body work because they rusted through so quickly.
The Impala is the best looking and is still around today! Where are the Polara and Catalina today? The Impala outsold both the Catalina and Polara! The Impala RULES!
@@goodson6848 Good to hear! Most of my family bought Impalas, Bel Airs, Biscaynes, and Caprice Classics. If they still made a 2 door Impala, I would still buy one! Last year was 1981. I drive a 2015 Camaro coupe now. What model of Impala do you have? A 2 door Custom coupe, Sport coupe, or a convertible? One of my friends has a 1969 327 V8 convertible in garnet red with a black top and black all vinyl interior.
@@davevirag5423 i like that you and your family are chevy fans! Me too! Do you know something? I like to send you a email, and talk about our impalas, share photos and anecdotes. Do you like the idea? Well, if you do, my email is papeleriacasteret@gmail.com i live in Guadalajara Mex. My impala is a sport coupe, and it have the original transmission and original engine. Its a very rare impala, due to it have originally the 292cui, and it have original mist lights and peculiar emblems. Id like very much be your friend!
I watched a test drive of a 69 impala with a 396 and the reviewers weren't. I'mpressed by the Chevy's quarter mile speed of 69 MPH,he was asked if was surprised by how slow it was and he said no, and that he was surprised it would even go that fast
Automotive News printed it. Additionally what is the bespectacled guy with the funny hat and jacket, trousers which are several inches too short, and uttering strange philosophies in a foreign accent trying to prove? If I were trying to sell the car I wouldn’t want him within a hundred miles of my customer. I wouldn’t have him doing anything at my dealership. I wouldn’t even have him trying to evaluate which car is best.
Those Mopars had the worse sounding starters in them. My family drove either GM's or Fords. Every time I heard a Mopar engine start I thought something was loose under the hood.
I always liked the sound of the Mopar starters. To me, they sounded a little like the car had just sneezed. I've been told that they sounded like that because they were calibrated to put less wear on the starter motor...don't if that's true. But to me, the sound of an old Molar starter is pleasantly nostalgic.
E-rip-rip-rip... That sound was very familiar to me. It seems that everyone we knew in the early 70's had a Dodge or Plymouth with the barking starter.
A Mopar starter sound effect was used on a lot of tv shows back then regardless of the make of car. I think they were still doing it in the 80s and perhaps even beyond
Gotta love how they bragged about having leaf spring rear suspension. Those were different times. By today's standards all three of those cars were boats and had abysmal handling.
Frank K ......And in 30-40 years the junk they make now will be made fun of......So I'd rather have a car that has a real live axle leaf suspension with rear wheel drive than some front wheel drive coil spring econobox.......In 40 years we'll all be floating in our air ride equipped hover cars and look at front wheel drive as "What were they thinking?".......If hovercars ever come to fruition,you'd be able to have the biggest car possible and still get excellent fuel economy comparable to todays mini aero jelly beans that they call cars.
@@pennywise8182- I wouldn't want a FWD econobox either. But there are plenty of RWD cars with independent suspension in the rear, and they run circles around those 1960's boats. Even Jay Leno, who has a few 60's boats in his garage, admits they handle poorly. When I think of leaf spring suspensions, I think of a Conestoga wagon and not a modern automobile.
