1965 Plymouth Satellite: Not Sulky
I love sixties American cars. It is perhaps my most favourite decade for detroit. The styling of cars had been inched back from the garish 50’s, the interiors had evolved into space race themed cockpits, and the automakers were starting to all realise the same thing. Speed is good.
This epiphany had been realised by the rise and rise of drag racing. Stemming from the dry lakes and salt flat racing of the 30’s and 40’s, the blue collar form of racing had grown throughout the 50’s into a sport so prominent that the big three had no option but to stand up and take notice. By the early 60’s, Ford, GM and Chrysler were all producing factory racers and offering bigger and more powerful motors in their lineups. By 1965, the average punter could walk into a Chrysler dealership, order a new Plymouth, and tick the box for a 426ci Super Commando motor rated at 425hp (317 kw). But unfortunately few did, and that pre-hemi motor options remains somewhat mysterious.
Furthermore, if you really wanted to go racing, the 1965 Plymouth Belvedere could be purchased from the factory with an altered wheel base, a 426 hemi scattered with magnesium parts, Plexiglas and Lexan windows, and fibreglass body panels. And just incase that wasn’t fast and light enough for you, prior to assembly, Chrysler would send the bodies off to be “chemically machined”- shedding thickness off the sheet metal to cut weight!
They were exciting times the sixties. And whilst those factory hot rods are fetching big money now (only six of the aforementioned racing Satellite’s were produced), the average person can still live vicariously through something like this. A respectful homage to complete and utter madness.
With a 500ci solid roller cam, max wedge headed big block, mated to a 727 and a sorted rear, this example is VERY healthy. I’m talking, impounded in minutes if you are anything like me and had no self control. Originally a 318 car, there has been some serious dollars poured into it to convert it into the tyre shredding insanity we see today.
Finished in Alabaster, this stunning Mopar looks to be mint condition inside and out. If it was mine the only thing I would probably change is the modern semi slicks- replacing them with a set of Towel City Cheater Slicks to nail that period look. The perfect car for something like Chopped (the new look asphalt event, not the dirt drags of previous years).
Considering prices for later muscle cars, this 1965 Plymouth Satellite is a steal at 58k. Find it on Gumtree here.
