1963 Dodge Polara Max Hemi

This is a genuine dream car. The product of the fertile imagination of then 17 year old Max Cohen, under the auspices of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Boyd Coddington Foundation, the Max Hemi came to fruition. A reverent nod to the notorious Max Wedge cars that ruled the drag strips in the early 60s, the Max Hemi is just that. No fewer than 472 cubic inches of Elephant reside under the dual-scooped hood. Raising the hood reveals — yes, fans — a Mopar Cross-Ram intake and twin Holley carbs. Supreme attention to detail is evident in such items as a coated regulator and polished stainless fuel lines, plus a polished alternator, March pulleys, coated water pump, and a billet expansion tank. Coated Sanderson headers feed into a 3-inch mandrel-bent exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers and an X-pipe. The sound is fabulous. The best way to describe it is a 472 inch Hemi through Sanderson headers and 3-inch exhaust! Another Max Wedge tradition is a beefy 727 Torqueflite automatic to transfer the power. This one has a B&M ratchet shifter connected to it to make gear changes quick and safe. (Includes reverse lock-out) The top tier drivetrain concludes with a Currie 9-inch rear axle. To handle the power, the chassis was upgraded with rack & pinion steering and coilover shocks and Baer slotted disc brakes all the way around. Naturally, Boyd wheels grace each corner with 17s in the front and massive 19 inchers in the back. The proper mods were done to tuck the rolling stock into the fenderwells. Goodyear 225/45R17 tires do the steering and big 295/40R20 meats put the power down. They also provide a great big n’ little look. Magnum Force Race Car Fabrication did the suspension — including a complete Mopar tubular front suspension assembly. The Max Hemi project began with a 1963 Polara body that was completely disassembled and media blasted. Any corrosion repair was done by welding in new metal. Then the Coddington crew put in the effort by sanding to make the surface ready for the mirror smooth black paint, specified by young Max. The paint is so nice, that all excess trim was removed and the door handles were shaved to further enhance the smooth effect. Simple, clean custom “Max Hemi” graphics adorn the hood scoops. The interior is also uncluttered yet it’s all custom from the masters at Gabe Lopez’s Street Rod Custom Interiors of California. The red leather nicely contrasts with the black exterior. The steering wheel is on a tilt column, and the instrument panel has an Ultimate Fighter theme. There’s a richness to the plush red carpeting, and the spacious trunk is custom-upholstered as well. Billet door handles and billet pedals provide the appropriate finishing details. In addition to the impressive array of quality hardware, there’s exceptional provenance and notoriety associated with the Max Hemi. The Learning Channel’s American Hot Rod series chronicled the build, the finished product was featured at SEMA 2005, and it garnered a winning bid of $550,000.00 at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale with the proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish. The car lives on in loving memory of one of the all-time great builders and a young man who represents so many like him with a dream in his heart. The car has been meticulously maintained and is ready for top-level shows or the most discerning driver. It was acquired for the Maxwell Family Collection and has now been released for sale at Maxmotive, giving you a unique opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind custom from the shop of the legendary Boyd Coddington.