1964 Dodge 880 Series

The Dodge 880 and Custom 880 were produced from 1962 through the end of the 1965 model year. These full-size vehicles were priced to fill the void in Chrysler's lineup left by the discontinuation of Desoto in the early 1960s.

Rumors in the marketplace were that Chevrolet was downsizing all of its cars for that year. In response, Chrysler performed a last-minute downsizing on all of its designs. This downsizing did not translate well for the already approved larger styling to the new smaller cars, resulting in awkward-looking vehicles that did not sell well.

Dodge borrowed the Newport platform from Chrysler and fitted it with some Dodge parts, resulting in the 880, which was brought to market in early 1962.

The 1964 Chrysler 880 and Custom 880 Series rested on a 122-inch wheelbase platform and were available in several body styles. The 880 Line consisted of a sedan and station wagon (the station wagon was available as either a six- or nine-passenger wagon). The Custom 880 Line also had a sedan and a station wagon, plus a hardtop sedan, hardtop coupe, and convertible.

1964 was a commemorative year for Dodge, as it marked a half-century of building automobiles for the marque. Over that time period, they had built a reputation for building well-designed and dependable vehicles with solid construction. For 1964, the most luxurious and largest of the Dodge automobiles was the 880 Convertible. It had a base price of $3,260 and just over a thousand were built.

The 880 series received its largest cosmetic update of its production lifespan in 1964, which agreed with buyers, resulting in the 880 series enjoying its highest sales year for the model. They were given a revised grille and updated rear quarter panels and taillights. Custom 880 models had a polished aluminum rocker panel molding and more luxurious interiors.

by Dan Vaughan

Custom 880 Station Wagon

The 880 and Custom 880 received their most significant and final redesign of the 1960 body for 1964. This time, the rear body contours were squared up somewhat, with new decklids, wraparound rectangular taillights, and new quarter panels. Four-door models received a new roofline, although this was actually the same as had been used on the Chrysler New Yorker until 1962. Regardless, it did impart a fresh appearance. The grille was also updated, this time featuring a concave design with a central horizontal break spanning the distance between the headlights. Custom 880s received stainless steel rocker panel trim, foam-padded seats, and a grooved stainless steel panel that spanned the distance between the taillights. The Customs, as the top-of-the-880 line, also received better interior appointments than the base models. Because of tooling expenses, station wagon bodies - which were also shared with Chrysler models - did not receive all of the changes applied to non-wagon models. Most notably, wagons continued to feature the heavy rear horizontal blade stamping first seen on the 1961 Plymouth wagons. The station wagons continued in both pillared (880) and hardtop (Custom 880) models, although this would be the final year for the hardtop wagon - Dodge and Chrysler being the last American automotive brands to offer the style. Station wagons also received rectangular taillights that wrapped around the side of the vehicle. All 880s and Custom 880s received a revised instrument cluster layout, replacing the previous design which had been in use with little change since 1961. An oil pressure gauge was standard. Front leg room was 41.9 inches. The 880 and Custom 880 received favorable press reviews, especially for their redesign. Evidently, the public also agreed, as they bought 31,800 vehicles, a record for the model.

by AACA