1964 Polara 500 Convertible

[Texas_JP]

Hey all! I’m new here posting, but have read some of the incredibly helpful and knowledgeable people. I’m looking for some help. I have a 1964 Polara 500 convertible I am restoring. On some of the lower (wide) molding, there are some circular patterns in the middle of it that looks like a decal or tape. Does anyone know if this is original or was the molding just a solid silver? I have seen some people paint it black.

 

[toolmanmike]

It is called "engine turned" material and was probably original. The experts will chime in but I think the 550's had it but the 440's and 330's didn't. (different trim that wasn't as fancy)

 

[Don67Satellite]

from the somewhat chilly north!

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

Welcome from North Florida…
Let’s see the car.

 

[Jerry Hall]

Welcome from Alabama, 64's were a good year.

 

[Dan64]

Bill Petro from Special T's makes it pre cut, i used it on my 64' ,nice stuff and great guy to deal with. The Polara 500 used the engine turned material and the base model Polara used paint. A base Polara will say "Polara" on the rear hockey stick molding and a 500 will not have the writing in there. The Polara embossed writing is really just a very thin aluminum cover that is glued over the 500 molding and can be removed by LIGHTLY heating the back surface of the molding to release the glue. Oh yeah, welcome from South Jersey

 

[RemCharger]

Welcome! My father had one of those. I'm a fan.

 

[Dave6T4]

Welcome to FBBO from Ontario, Canada. Good luck on your '64 Polara 500 restoration. I did one of these up a few years ago. Dan64 is correct about side trim. Bill at Special T's also has an insert that overlays the fine grooves that are usually pitted on the large tail light bases. These are made of stainless and are held in place by the tail light bezels. Pictures of the 500 that I had.

 

[Budnicks]

welcome to FBBO

 

[polywideblock]

G, day from Australia

 

[Hey-O]

Welcome from Missouri!!

 

[1969VAGTX]

Welcome from Fredericksburg, VA.

 

[68sprtsat383]

Welcome

 

[ckessel]

Welcome.

 

[440 4 speed]

from the somewhat chilly north!

Hope you didn’t get flooded out. And welcome to the newbie.

 

[Don67Satellite]

Hope you didn’t get flooded out. And welcome to the newbie.

Thanks for saying @440 4 speed, I was fortunate, compared to some. I am literally "up the street" from the Sumas prairie where it flooded, but thankfully I live on a decent hill so would have to get almost biblical floods to get me.

 

[440 4 speed]

Thanks for saying @440 4 speed, I was fortunate, compared to some. I am literally "up the street" from the Sumas prairie where it flooded, but thankfully I live on a decent hill so would have to get almost biblical floods to get me.

Good friend of ours lives on Shore Crescent mobile home park, east of the mall. He is fine. Not very far north of the freeway.

 

[Don67Satellite]

Good friend of ours lives on Shore Crescent mobile home park, east of the mall. He is fine. Not very far north of the freeway.

That's not very far from me, maybe 5min drive. That area also was safe.

 

[65Bel]

Welcome to FBBO! The '64 Polara 500 is one of my favorites. Post some pics if you will.

 

[Texas_JP]

Wow! Thank you all for the welcomes and the information. It’s heartwarming to know there is a Mopar community out there willing to help each other.
My father and I did a basic restoration on this car back in the 90’s. I then purchased it from him a few years ago and unfortunately he passed away before he could see the progress being made. The car survived hurricane Harvey here in Houston so it’s coming along nicely.
One more question/recommendation I would like to ask is about the power brake booster. My father converted the car to disc brakes and then claimed he could never get enough vacuum so he built and installed this silly resivoir (see the aluminum rectangular box in the image) which I want to get rid of. Does anyone have a recommendation for a power brake booster that works well with converted disc brakes or does the existing one just need to be rebuilt?
Here are a couple of photos, thanks again for all the help!
P.S.
does anyone have a website or contact for Bill at Special T’s?