Here’s an introduction to the biggest car in the Dodge lineup for 1964, the 880.
“Meet the big Dodge, the new 1964 Dodge 880,” the announcer implores us. And big it was, as the 880 was essentially a restyled Chrysler Newport, riding on the very same Unibody platform with 122-inch wheelbase. Rushed into production in 1962, the 880 plugged a gap in the lineup created by the poorly executed corporate downsizing that year in which the standard models were shrunk down to intermediate size. For the ’62 rollout the 880 was little more than a Newport with a modified ’61 Dodge front end tacked on, But fortunately, by ’64 the 880 had evolved exclusive front and rear sheet metal and its own distinctive look.
The Dodge 880 and Chrysler Newport corporate siblings also shared this: They were remarkably similar in price. At $2,826 to $3,420, the 880 was priced nearly on top the Newport at $2.901-$3,521. The snazzy 880 Custom Convertible featured here listed at $3,264, a mere $70 less than the Newport drop-top.
Still, Dodge dealers were relieved to have a real full-sized model to offer to their traditional big-car customers, even though the 880 didn’t sell that well. Only 1,058 convertibles from the 880 line found buyers that year out of a production total of not quite 32,000 cars—a sliver of the division’s total volume. Nevertheless, the 880 was a roomy, good-looking automobile, as we see below. There’s a catchy and familiar jingle, too.
Thanks, now that song will be in my head for a week.
The announcer is Lou Crosby, father of Cathy Lee Crosby.
In 1978 I was in a shopping center parking lot with my 1955 Imperial limousine, when an older couple came up to me as I was getting into the limo. The told me they also had an older Chrysler product they were thinking about selling, and they asked me where they might be able to find someone interested in the car, a 1964 Dodge 880 convertible, like the one in the video.
Of course on hearing the word ‘convertible’, I followed them back to their house, and we went back to the garage. Inside the garage was their Dodge. I had never actually seen an 880 Dodge of any type, and realized it was Dodge’s version of the Chrysler Newport.
This car was immaculate and original. The couple had bought it brand new, and only used it on special occasions, relying on their 1962 Dodge Dart for their everyday car. They said the car rarely spent a night outside, and it was only driven in the rain if during a drive they weren’t expecting it to rain! The 880 had been driven only about 22,000 miles, and was original except for the tires. Even the top was factory installed.
They had called the local Dodge dealer about trading it in on a new car, but when the person heard it was a 15 year old vehicle, they said they wouldn’t give them anything for it on trade in as it was too old. So I asked them how much money they wanted for the car, and the reply was $100. I didn’t have a lot of extra cash lying around, but I said that was too little, so we settled on $400. They were more concerned that “their baby” go to someone who would treasure it like they had done.
The car was light blue metallic paint with a blue vinyl bench seat interior. The car was well-optioned with the 4-barrel 413, and even had factory Airtemp A/C! I’ve always thought the Dodge 880 had the best taillights on a 1964 Chrysler product.
If you go to Wikipedia and search ‘Dodge 880 convertible’ you will see a photo of what I believe is my former car, now in Minnesota.