FORGOTTEN 20+ YEARS! Will This 1971 Dodge Polara RUN and DRIVE 250 Miles Home?

"You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."
-James 5:8-9
What is it with big floaty four doors that just make a sweet rig? This 1971 Dodge Polara has been sitting for a VERY long time, and unfortunately a tree crushed part of the roof and fender. But with a lot of ingenuity and a little bit of hackery, we can make something out of nothing! Think we can make this rig run and drive home? Stick around to the end of the video to find out!
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Dylan McCool
PO Box 398
Hazel Green, AL 35750
#mccoolauto #abandoned #restoration

[@collinchampagne2047]

Dylan, it was a pleasure to meet you and thank you so much for saving the Polara. It was wonderful to see it running and driving again. Backstory on the car - It was purchased brand new at Chuck Hutton Dodge, 1170 Union Ave. in Memphis. The owner was an electrician and the car spent it's entire ownership with the Bartons at their home in Memphis. It was regularly used to tow a bass boat on the weekends and even went as far as South Carolina a few times. On a whim, I bought the car from Mr. Barton's widow in 2019, with the intent to get it running again. By that time, it had been sitting for over a decade. I always found myself too busy to get to the car and when a windstorm on 6/25/23 toppled a good sized hickory tree onto the car, I took it as a sign that it was time to let it go.

[@lustfulvengance]

Thank you for saving that car, Not only did Dylan got a cool car out of the deal but we all got an hour and a half worth of awesome entertainment out of it! 👍

[@thomasmadden2258]

My grandparents owned years ago !! Excellent family car

[@davidh6818]

I'm sure Mr.Barton is looking down with a big grin,seeing his old girl back on the road again !

[@daviddixon286]

Do you have a roadworthy test in the US similar to our MOT in the UK ?

[@collinchampagne2047]

@@daviddixon286 Some areas require a vehicle inspection to be performed prior to issuance of registration, but it isn't very common in the American South. Memphis closed their inspection stations years ago.

[@JeffKopis]

At one time, it seemed like we'd never run out of CHEAP C bodies, and reasonably priced A, B, & E bodies....How wrong I was!

[@GreatLakesStateProductions6708]

What’s there not to love about a 20ft long Dodge from the 70s, great video. It’s great to see channels like your’s save these cars from the dead!

[@gerry-p9x]

Better is a Chrysler. Towne country 1977 wagon about20ft. Long. A. Beast

[@britannic27]

72 Plymouth Fury the one I'll take lol

[@Chicago_Cars]

Man this thing is awesome! I’d love to see it get a new fuel system, carb, some wiring fixes, maybe some more cleanup… basically I’m just begging for more videos on this gem!

[@brockryan3405]

I immediately wondered how you dent the top of a fender like that. Even a tree fall was barely able to damage that much MOPAR steel!

[@cliffordkinnear9705]

Ricardo Montalbán held up the tree as long as he could. But then his concentration was interrupted by rich Corinthian leather and he let go of the tree,......................

[@loualiberti4781]

Cool Ol’ Will She Start - Great !!

[@lvsqcsl]

@@cliffordkinnear9705 Not to mention the COR-DOBA!

[@dubgaragenorth8143]

30 seconds in and I'm already in love.

[@BoomBustProfits]

These long rehab vids are fantastic - So important to bring back these wonderful old cars (and improve them in the process) - that are far superior to anything being produced today-you literally can not buy a new car that doesn't spy, track, & record your every action these days...and forget working on these horribly over engineered piles of overpriced junk! Dylan is doing God's work here - keep it up!

[@UZForLife]

I know! Mr. McCool is quite dreamy!

[@789costela]

2 weaks later....

[@UZForLife]

@@789costela I see what you did there, "weaks". Clever, very clever.

[@TJtoho]

Hi rooster 🐓👋😎

[@lucasstiles8012]

There's lots of reasons to enjoy your channel, one of my favorite is because Dylan says "Thank You Lord"

[@kelvinboyd7459]

As a 25 year truck driver always carried a spray bottle of simple green it'll take anything off the windshield

[@jamesscimone1447]

OMG !?!? - Why is the kid rubbing and grinding the dirt and sand into the window ???? He’s scratching the shit out of the glass. SOAP, WATER AND A SOFT BRISTLE BRUSH !!!!

[@Uzidoesitson]

You know Dylan, I believe this is the most wholesome content in the automotive KZbin world. And in the current state of our society, it’s incredibly refreshing! Thank you for that, thank you for the content, and I continue to look forward to supporting, watching, and enjoying your channel

[@ericnixon4225]

Those Dodge Polaras were used as State Law Enforcement Vehicles in quite a few states,and they were pretty fast and reliable vehicles.really takes me back on some the movies that had those vehicles and being a youngster growing up seeing them in traffic now and again when I was a youngster. Awesome video Dylan,thumbs up always and Peace and Forever Blessings 🙏✝️💯👍❤🇺🇲

[@craigpennington1251]

Polaras. Very cool and dependable rides. Where did they all go? I've been searching for over 30 years to find a nice one but haven't yet. Looking for 2 doors & big blocks/68 to 73 models. 4 speeds are preferred. (manual). It's not injected, pump that throttle. Young guys forget what they're driving. Hope you put some lead additive in. They will suck oil from the crank case if they don't have leaded fuel for the valves. Been there. Not fun when it blows the crank.

[@olsfield]

Dylan, this is such a good episode. This bring back so many memories for me. a good friend of mind. his grandparents had a 71 Polara back in 77. it was gold and i always thought it was a cool car. Thanks for the mind rush of memory's . Love your content. Keep up the good work

[@АлександрГусев-е3у]

Безумно красивая машина,что же её так забросили то🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️😭😭😭💔💔💔Молодцы ребята что оживили такую классную тачку🙏🙏🙏🤝🤝🤝👍👍👍

[@Carljr409]

Dang how much of a coincidence is it that my cousin and I dug out a two door dodge polara this week that was buried in bushes for the past decade or better. But it is sadly stripped of the engine front clip and rear end. The only thing worth saving was the center rear view mirror in witch I took out and put in my s10 truck lol. Big boat of a car and love how the dashboards look.

[@pdrphil8159]

I thought they were ugly when I was a kid , but my uncle was a mopar guy & he had one... Not sure what motor it had , but it would shred the tires & it rode like a caddy ...

[@waynewatts-ellson61]

I personally think that this has got to be one of your best videos so far. That was a fantastic save and it's brilliant to see you bringing the young ones in to saving the old iron hats off to you. Dylan, keep up the great work

[@marktimmons6149]

Dylan it shock to see this car start with that be a 71 , with electronic ignition wow but know you could get it started. Hey Dylan McCool if would know that you was in Bowling green KY with Sleeper dude I would came up seen y'all, I like meet y'all.

[@Brock_Landers]

Wow D, once that 318 built oil pressure and pumped up the lifters that engine sounds great. I have never been a big fan of the little 318 (mainly because I'm a horsepower and cubic inch guy, the most powerful NA 318 I've ever heard of was built by Steve Dulcich and it was low to mid 400s which is impressive), but I am really surprised by how good it sounds.

[@jobu9224]

Av yew ceen de pwice of gaws?

[@alwynemcintyre2184]

​@@jobu9224you should try buying gas in Australia 🤬

[@ogcowboy5743]

While the 318 was not a powerhouse, it was reliable, sturdy and durable. You could get a little more power from a 4 barrel carb and dual exhaust.

[@kickit59]

@@ogcowboy5743 I had a 68 Dodge pickup with the 318 back when I was 17 and to be honest I tortured that poor truck in so many ways and it just kept on running. Despite my best efforts to kill it it was still running when I bought another car. I even crashed it once and did some redneck body work and it kept on going!

[@docsmallblock6584]

Yup I noticed how it cleared myself, but they were a good engine all n all. Not a sbc, but they were pretty reliable, even take a hell of a beating too!

[@VL1975]

Better take care of those wasps nests..lol @6:17 Should've hosed it down with water before washing it. And vacuum out that engine! lol Cool car though! Love this video!

[@michaelpendarvis7814]

The red light made the car!! Lol! I love those old Dodge. Plymouth and Chrysler boats!!

[@Mrmartins345]

Another beautiful land yacht back on the road with the chaos of the world today this was a kick back and relaxing video thankyou dylan and briar (hope that's how it's spelt)

[@michaels.niquette3879]

I had a Dodge polara just like this one. Brings back a lot of memories. I would love to see more on this car. That was awesome

[@jamesburchell6947]

I love the C-bodies!!! I rescued a '73 New Yorker Brougham years ago. What a car!

[@DelvonCharles-f8f]

Glad to see you again Dylan McCool

[@jrussellcase]

You could store a week's worth of travel luggage behind that radiator. 😂

[@cclapew]

When I was growing up my best friend's mother had a Monaco of the same vintage as this Polara, great car,.... I still remember riding in it and those backup lights mounted high up like they are real helped light up what was behind you when you backed up at night!

[@rogercamp6071]

I had one of those too and I agree about the backup lights and their location.

[@Barcheta603]

It is not only the wonderful work you do with these beautiful vehicles, but what is even more beautiful and commendable is that you add quotes from the holy Word of the Lord in this video. I once heard it said that if you put the Lord in everything, you will also see the hand of the Lord working in everything! It is my real wish that the Sovereign God blesses you and always fills you with his abundant blessings, many greetings from Buenos Aires Argentina!

[@1blindmarc]

Mine was a 70’ ex-California state vehicle. 2:86 rear gear, 440 ci. The little sticker on the speedo stated “certified 150mph. Bought it in 84’ in perfect shape for $750. I tore the ring gear off the carrier doing burn outs, and put a junkyard 3:73 gear in it. It would burn the tires for a block. I was 22.

[@LongIslandMopars]

318s are unsung heroes. Build them like a 340 and they'll surprise many a non-believer. Buddy of mine had a built 318 in a 76 Volare and kept it stock-appearing. People had no idea what blew their doors off back in the day.

[@Brock_Landers]

Man, I can't tell you how much I would've loved to have had a cool old car back in my high school days. When I was 16 my grandmother bought me a 1990 Ford Festiva...yeah. At least it had cold AC, it was an auto, and I put a Sony Xplod tape deck in it, a Sony 10 disc CD changer, Sony mids and highs, a Blaupunkt 12" subwoofer, and a small Sony amp. It didn't sound bad, and while it was really clean for a 1990 in 1998, it was a Festiva. I have owned 73 other vehicles since then and I am 40 now. My oldest car was a 1976 Buick Skylark that I was given from three little old ladies who were sisters and it had an Olds 260 (110 HP), a TH200, and not only would it not do a burnout unless I put tire shine on the driver side tire, but it could only manage about 10 MPG. I did get it up to a claimed 80 MPH on I-80, but I doubt it...lmao I would've LOVED to have had my 1983 Dodge Ramcharger with a 360 LA, a 727 trans, NP203 transfer case, and a Carter Thermoquad back then. I bought that thing for $1000 and it would go ANYWHERE, and it was fairly powerful for such a heavy truck. I yanked the LA 360 because it kept vapor locking, and I swapped in a 360 Magnum and even with the same 727 that thing was fun, sounded great with long tube headers, full dual 3" exhaust back to Flowmaster Super 60s and dual tips. Most importantly, it started every single time no matter what. If I drove it with the LA it would run great for the first 20 minutes of the drive, then it would stall in traffic due to vaporlock. I didn't know anything about carbureted vehicles, but once it would stall all I had to do was put a little gas in the carb and it would fire right up and keep running.

[@Brock_Landers]

Also, I was one year old in 1984.

[@williamhelms9942]

I've dreamed of having one since forever; thanks to endless watches of The Blues Brothers and anything having Los Angeles police cars!

[@mikewerner3797]

“Back in my day” a car wash cycle cost 50 cents.😁

[@classicrestostv1fletch764]

Everything these days now is big business Mike. Things have gone from "hey, we wanna help you" to "come here, we are greedy, we need your money" - sad world...

[@taurusthad]

I had a 78 dodge monaco similar to this, how I miss that car

[@Brock_Landers]

Thanks for sharing such an awesome episode with us Dylan! I can't tell you how happy I am that you pulled one of these videos off. It was really entertaining.

[@billyduffany3387]

Had the same car back in the early 80s, same color except mine had grey primer spots. Them cars really ride good.

[@АндрейИванов-р1д7е]

I really enjoyed watching this video! Cool car! you are a great mechanic! and you have a great assistant! I'm looking forward to the next video!

[@RandomGuyDan]

I'm surprised it's only a 318 and not a 360.

[@mitch4527]

Great video, Dylan. I love your work because you take us step by step, start to finish, and you explain to us non-mechanics why things work together. You take us on your journey with you. Just terrific work, thank you!

[@ericlapointe838]

My parents owned the exact car as that when I was a kid it was a beast

[@FrethKindheart]

What a neat old car. Classic police car, in movies, etc.

[@stacysanders-w3e]

That wire that melted under the dash is the same wire that melted on my mothers 69 Plymouth fury. It melted where it was joined at the plug. I bypassed the plug and soldered the wires together. The start or crank wire on her car was melted right in the plug.

[@hondaccool]

Thanks a lot for all this work you have done for us ❤ Awesome rescue 🤩

[@gerry-p9x]

Yeah needs led bulbs good pressure wash light sockets bezels painted. Silver. All dash lights replaced. LED's. A white super sponge and comet cleanser. Wash ......a you tube gold mine for. Content

[@theironlegionp5786]

dang, a dodge polara is on my list! hope i get me one eventually.

[@WisdomVendor1]

If dropping a small block into a car that size didn't make the Mopar gods weep, I can't imagine what would.

[@deadon4847]

My mother had a 72 Plymouth Fury II with a 225 slant 6. Wasn't fast nor furious.

[@classicrestostv1fletch764]

Nothing wrong with a little 318. Not everything is about neck snapping acceleration. Tough as nails. Smooth...

[@Oyvind88]

Awsome car, love a boat, hi rooster and damn lot off nasty stuff on it, looks mutch better🔥😍 I own a Chevy Caprice Classic 1976, 4 doors boat with a Chevy 400, rare here i live😎🇧🇻

[@alynwilson5694]

Great video! Use CLR on that when you wash it and you will be amazed by how it brightness the paint that's left on the car.

[@channels740]

Could have sprayed it with the pressure washer first and then switched to the brush

[@BAMA355NATION]

Officer: “You know why I pulled you over?” Dylan: “No, why?” Officer: “Your tint is too dark.” Dylan: “That’s not tint….”

[@gordonjohnson405]

My first car was a 1970 Dodge Polara. I bought it in 1984. It looked just like that one, except the paint was blue. Nice car. But definitely rides like a boat.

[@edwinspeaks2515]

The perfect 71 Polara would have a 383 with a 4-bbl and dual exhaust. A rear axle in the low 3s would be a good compromise for cruising and still doing burnouts

[@TheBlindbowman]

dude , : the paulara was my dad's favorite car , he had 66 dark blue with a 426 ... he was a bootlegger between mississippi and NY ... he was a 4 door just like that . bad a** video dude .. i love it ... brings back the memories,.....i am 63 and all my 4 brothers are gone , but man thank you .. i remember those days well and you don't know how much it means to see one of these cars being saved .. great video ! his was a push button shift 3 speed auto .i am not sure about the year but it look just like that 71 ... maybe a little more squared off .. big smoth boat ,rode like glass ...! Stay Safe Stay Free

[@kevinAuman1]

Heck yeah, heyyyy Dilly do you know the history of these ol polara cars they were really one of the first "muscle cars" and they even competed in Nascar with these and all types of drag racing dirt track you name it lol if you had a 440 or a 426 hemi in there then you head out on the streets Friday night just a lookin for trouble 😉 hahaha man I could just imagine it I swear I grew up in the wrong Era! 😝

[@beng1860]

Should call it "Cash" cause it's 40 shades of green. Way to bring it back to life.

[@richardarthur8191]

Sweet running 318. I've owned a few of them. 66 Fury III, 65 Dodge, 61 Dodge, put a 318 in a 64 Valient. Good engine, 100,000 + miles with no problem.

[@thomas5890]

S.O.S. pads lightly over the entire car next time will make a world of difference. Don’t apply a lot of pressure let pads do the work, and you’ll be good to go.

[@captaindew3106]

hey I got one of those Polara yellow in color been sitting rotting away since 2010 but the fender for that driver side is still mint condintion only thing is bad on it is the interior is shot the vinyl wrap top been remove and the car here needs to be gone but the 383 in it needs to stay and the duel Cherrybomb glasspack also stay but the rest needs to go.

[@michaelmarrett6423]

Hey Dylan! I really enjoyed this video! When I was a kid, growing up in NC, we had a 1970 Dodge Monaco Brougham for a family car. It became my older brother’s car, and then was passed down to me. I loved that car, and would love to see you track one down like it, and do a video on it. It was a 4 door, it was gold (not an original color, I don’t think) with a black interior. It had power everything, and a 383, if I remember correctly. Sadly it got wrecked really bad in the front, and was totaled.

[@FreedomRock44]

Has to feel good having Briar with you....A good faithful bud is always a comfort.

[@Realbigbrain]

My first car was a 1971 Polara 2 door. We called it "the golden bathtub". The 360 never ran right, really.

[@jrranch9712]

Texas DPS and Game Wardens used to drive 'em. I've seen these tanks roll through river bottom roads with no problem at all.

[@townhall05446]

Check the firewall near the top towards the passenger side for a rubber flap about the size of a business card. That is the drain for the wiper area and probably is plugged up with leaves. Just peel it back a little and you can feel them with your finger.

[@jamesashabranner2426]

My uncle had a 1971 Dodge polara black upholstery 318 body was dark brown metallic that old car would scoot 😁

[@harrysgarage1440]

Hey Dylan, if you still have the 58 Fury how about a Christine make over episode and you can drive it around on Halloween.

[@jblumemusic4455]

Super cool car. Keep the body as is. ( wet sand at the most ). Clean the interior. Rebuild the 318. Beef up the rear end and suspension. Make it a sleeper.

[@pecktox]

My brother in law once had a polara. That thing would scream. He said it had a police interceptor. Not sure what that was. But it was fast. Pex

[@jeremyconary9325]

Dang, Someone send these guys a razor scraper for the next dirty windshield. That was painful.

[@skinnernsk]

I live in Russia, and no matter how much hostility, disagreements, disputes and intrigues we have between countries, I have always admired the gorgeous works of art - American cars of the 60-80s..

[@jeffgravel9042]

Thanks for posting James 5:8-9. I needed to read that.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Wow interior cleaned up pretty nice i think the paint can be brought back with some love and elbow grease 1:07:30 @Dylan McCool

[@TheRealSmithFamily]

Put some 4/0 steel wool in your travel pack. It’s dirt cheap and it works great on glass like that.

[@Wooley689]

Buford Pusser would approve of the ride. I find the tire cleaner mode the car wash has works great to loosen and remove all the tree slime that gets baked on.

[@ford_truck_garage]

I had the privilege of meeting Dylan and seeing this Polara at the PHBC carshow last Saturday.

[@davetelling]

I am really amazed that they put a 318 in a rig that big! My wife's parents had several big Dodges and Chryslers, and all had 383 engines. With that much weight to pull around, I'd think a 318 would be marginal for any kind of decent performance. BTW - I really like the Scriptures you provide!

[@heofthesquarebum]

That was the stingiest foam brush I have ever seen 52:00. I would have ask for my money back lol.

[@DakotaSchultZ-l6z]

What’s funny is that my 78 Chevy gets 5 mpg and it’s a lot niceer how is that getting more after not running for so long

[@rayhope7957]

had a blue 73 Polara in the late 70s with a 360 4 brl, and a green 72 in the mid 80s with a 360 2 brl...

[@MikeJBlues]

Always bring some bleach, cuts through the moss really easy and fast, and an ice scraper lol.

[@wilhelmforsberg5267]

Yay, you brought this beautiful clunker back to life. I want one too! And a 1970-71 Plymouth Fury. Man, that would be something to drive around in up here in northern Sweden... EDIT: Just a suggestion: skip the music when you're out driving, the natural noice from the car and wind is the high.

[@michaelholmes6385]

Before today, I had never heard of a Dodge Polara. It’s a lot bigger than my 71 Beetle. 😂

[@luckysgarageshow]

NICE!!

[@DylanMcCoolVideo]

Thanks Lucky!

[@Mr.mopar71]

Dylan, put that spooge tube in the trash and use either copper gasket in a can or Indian head gasket sealer instead. Please!

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

That windshield is horrible wow not even degerm is touching the dirt on that window 45:31 @Dylan McCool

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Wow at how clean the carb is Must be the crack on the carb thats alowing to much air mixture 21:23 @Dylan McCool

[@giancarlopbranco]

Just spetacular! Thanks for share knowledge and the hope for rescue jewels with us!

[@benjamintresham9649]

The C body is to me the best vehicle platform out there and it needs respect 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😎😎😎

[@daviddion719]

that a car i want have someday i love 70 dodge-chrysler-plymouth 4 door

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

Hey dylan you know how every sucessful youtuber sells t shirts and hats and such i wonder why no one has ever thought of selling flags or posters i think it would be way cool to have a its straight besides the dents poster hanging in my shop it would be way cool to have a its st

[@MikeJBlues]

Man this would make a great CHP tribute car ! 392 hemi swap

[@robertmcfarland3323]

I hope you got that polara cheap 318 4 door smashed and green on green you are a brave man .I congratulate you sir.

[@jakedode]

The air cleaner wingnut is in the passenger side engine compartment, somehere near the firewall.😅

[@pecktox]

Howdy rooster. Some one lied that they only crow at sunrise..ha😅 pexc

[@Rebel9668]

I like the land yachts because of the floaty boulevard ride. You can drive one all day long and not feel like you've been beat up when you get there. Ride all day in a modern vehicle with a stiff sporty suspension and at the end of the day you're gonna be tired.

[@zaneclone]

Needs some TLC... but that's a beautiful lookin' car....

[@Im.Richard]

What are you going to do about the brake pedal sticking? The reason I ask is because I have a 77 Ford pickup truck that just started doing that and I am thinking maybe it's the booster it does have power brakes.

[@jasoncroson8466]

Love the content, brother 🙌. You're a very skilled young man, well spoken. It's so refreshing to see a young Christian man teaching. you're keeping these old cars alive . Now someone else can enjoy them.❤

[@seanhurley6647]

I had a sixty nine dodge palera back in the eighties called it the urban assault vehicle

[@jasonmarks1636]

I had a blue '71 Polara with the 318. It was my first car in 1979 when I was in high school. Bought it for $300 bucks. It was a real decent running car. Always missed it.. your video brought back memories.

[@rickallen6378]

Starting the car like that on a stripped wire with gas fumes in the car is not a good idea.

[@Kane26510]

Deja Vu - "It's straight beside the dents." Love the C-Bodies.

[@kevins5621]

It’s a 70’s 318 those things are damn near indestructible

[@Nicks_adventures247]

Great video! Steel wool pad and glass cleaner for caked up windows next time! Doesn’t scratch, do it at the dealership for sticker residue 👍🏼