When it comes to 1960s Dodge classics, everyone is talking about the Charger, Coronet, Super Bee, and Dart. The Polara and Monaco are also getting a lot of attention. On the flip side, almost a handful of nameplates are getting ignored.
The Dodge 330 is one of those cars. A short-lived nameplate produced from 1962 to 1964, this midsize slotted above the Dart. And even though it was discontinued after only three years in showrooms, it’s one of those rare Mopars that got the iconic Max Wedge engine. The same goes for the 440, a more upscale version of the 330.
The Matador is yet another Dodge that most people have forgotten about. Designed by Virgil Exner, it arrived as a base full-size model positioned below the Polara for the 1960 model year. Sporting the 122-inch (3,099-mm) wheelbase of the Chrysler Windsor and Newport, the Matador was discontinued for 1961 after only 27,908 units sold.
Then there’s the Dodge Custom 880. Developed for the mid-price full-size segment and to help fill the void in Chrysler’s lineup left by the discontinuation of the DeSoto brand, the Custom 880 arrived in 1962. A somewhat rushed model, it featured a modified clip from the Polara and de-finned rear quarter panels and interior from the Chrysler Newport.
The Custom 880 was available in various body styles, ranging from two- and four-door sedans to a convertible and a station wagon. The engine lineup was formed from V8 engines exclusively. The full-size debuted with a 361-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V8 and got a 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) mill in 1963. For 1965, Dodge added 413- and 426-cubic-inch (6.8- and 7.0-liter) big-block powerplants.
Nowhere near as popular as the competition, the Custom 880 was discontinued in 1965 after only four years on the market. Dodge moved 101,200 units before it pulled the plug. While this figure is not small enough to call the Custom 880 a rare nameplate, some iterations of the full-size car are pretty scarce.
The convertible version is the rarest, with yearly production rarely exceeding 1,000 examples. In 1963, for instance, only 822 of the 28,200 Custom 880s sold were ordered with the drop-top body style. That’s less than three percent of total production! The red and derelict example you see here is one of those cars.
Showcased by YouTube’s “Nobody’s Show,” this Custom 880 spent quite a few decades off the road. The paint has seen better days, some of its body panels have been swapped, while the interior appears to be in terrible condition. The top is still on the car, but it will take much work to function again. The original V8 engine is still under the hood, but it’s stuck after so many years without a sip of gasoline. All told, it’s the kind of car that most people would send to the crusher. But that would be a big mistake.
With only 822 units produced in 1963, the Dodge Custom 880 convertible is a rare classic regardless of its condition. It’s one of those junkyard gems that needs to be preserved as much as possible until the right person shows up to restore it. Okay, maybe this Mopar would be too expensive for that relative to its market value, but it’s still a pretty solid parts car. As our host points out, you just don’t see these cars anymore.
And while it may not be as desirable as other Mopars from the era, it sports quite a few exciting design cues. Just check out the massive taillight pods that extend into the rear quarter panels and the space age-style dashboard. Yup, this Dodge was designed in an era when styling was still a big part of automotive marketing. Hit the play button below to see one of the last 1963 Dodge Custom 880 drop-tops standing.