Quick intro w pics - Plymouth Satellites
Discussion
Hello all, I just joined up. . Thank you for indulging my passion and letting me share these pics and information here about our two Yank classics. (Love your use of the term 'Yank' for our cars)...
We have two Plymouth Satellites.
1965 was the first model year for the Satellite and it was slotted as the premium "personal luxury" model of the mid-size Belvedere range. Satellites were exclusively 2-door, hardtop or convertible models with V8's. Standard was the small block 273, a lot were delivered with the 318, and they could be ordered with big block wedge engines in 361, 383 and 426cid (note that the street 426 engine for 1965 was simply the big block wedge, not the famous 426 Hemi available for street cars in 1966). The Satellite was considered a success with over 23,000 sold.
Our 1965 hardtop was customer-ordered by Nathaniel Alschuler from Max Barish Plymouth of Los Angeles in November 1964. He ordered it with a 361, console automatic and vinyl roof, power windows, A/C, tinted glass, dash clock, bumper guards, courtesy light kit (trunk and glove box lights), and retractable front seat belts. He chose SS1 Ivory paint and a two-tone Gold interior. The sticker price in 1964 was a blistering $3,957.85. We purchased it with full documentation in 2006 for $3,500 (!!) complete and running but cosmetically worn out with 57,000 miles. We took 6 years restoring it, had it back on the road in 2014 factory appearing but with 9.4 compression, higher lift cam, front & rear sway bars, wider rims for 14x7" tires, and we installed two-circuit brakes.
The seats are remarkably comfortable for a 50 year old design..
The A/C has been decommissioned, removed and crated for future.
Next is our 1967 Satellite convertible. After very poor sales in 1960-63, Chrysler gave Virgil Exner the boot and lured stylist Elwood Engels (designer of the JFK Lincoln Continental) away from Ford and under his supervision the Chrysler line up got a major sheetmetal restyle. He styled the 1965 Satellite with a lot of carry-over from the 1964 Fury. Engels gave the Satellite a major restyle first in 1966, and a few follow-on styling changes were added for 1967 including a quad head light grille and new rear trim. The Satellite remained the premium luxury mid-size model. It shared its premium trim with the new high-performance GTX model. Offered again only with V8's, the Satellite was barred from having the GTX's 440cid engine, but 7 Satellite customers got away with ordering 426 Hemi's before Chrysler execs barred Hemi's from the Satellite line. Two of these Hemi Satellites are known. 5 remain unaccounted for. The biggest engine available for a 1967 Satellite was the 383cid big block. Our Satellite was customer-ordered in Colorado with a factory 383cid big block wedge, column shift automatic, front center fold-down armrest, white convertible top, dash clock, 3-speed windshield wipers, and the courtesy light package. Paint is DD1 Light Blue Metallic, interior is P6B Dark Blue. We bought this car in 2002 for $6,800 from Golden, Colorado. A long-time fan of Satellite's I knew what I was looking for. We flew out, gave it a once over, fresh fluids, bought a fresh spare tire and drove it 2,000 miles home to New York. It is unrestored with 81,000miles, but was resprayed the original color some time in its past. Only 1,370 Satellite convertibles were delivered for the 1967 model year. According to Plymouth sales records, 7% of all Satellites (hardtop and convertible) were ordered with the 383 big block. We can thus only speculate that this makes ours 1 of about 96 cars delivered with the 383cid option.
You can tell in the sunlight that the driver's door paint is slightly off from its repaint...
You Brits may have invented the aircraft carrier, but us Yanks perfected them... Long and flat - absolutely one of my favorite Mopar styles...
The weekend of this photo she took home a trophy for "Top 10 Most Popular" at a Hemmings Motor News Musclepalooza Show, I think it was 2012. It was by popular vote, not a judged trophy. The hood was shut for the show because the engine bay looks its age and judges need the hood open.
Lovely interior, but not as comfortable as the '65....
Less-than-beautiful unrestored engine bay... but the power from the 383 is smooth and willing.
Cheers!
- Art
We have two Plymouth Satellites.
1965 was the first model year for the Satellite and it was slotted as the premium "personal luxury" model of the mid-size Belvedere range. Satellites were exclusively 2-door, hardtop or convertible models with V8's. Standard was the small block 273, a lot were delivered with the 318, and they could be ordered with big block wedge engines in 361, 383 and 426cid (note that the street 426 engine for 1965 was simply the big block wedge, not the famous 426 Hemi available for street cars in 1966). The Satellite was considered a success with over 23,000 sold.
Our 1965 hardtop was customer-ordered by Nathaniel Alschuler from Max Barish Plymouth of Los Angeles in November 1964. He ordered it with a 361, console automatic and vinyl roof, power windows, A/C, tinted glass, dash clock, bumper guards, courtesy light kit (trunk and glove box lights), and retractable front seat belts. He chose SS1 Ivory paint and a two-tone Gold interior. The sticker price in 1964 was a blistering $3,957.85. We purchased it with full documentation in 2006 for $3,500 (!!) complete and running but cosmetically worn out with 57,000 miles. We took 6 years restoring it, had it back on the road in 2014 factory appearing but with 9.4 compression, higher lift cam, front & rear sway bars, wider rims for 14x7" tires, and we installed two-circuit brakes.
The seats are remarkably comfortable for a 50 year old design..
The A/C has been decommissioned, removed and crated for future.
Next is our 1967 Satellite convertible. After very poor sales in 1960-63, Chrysler gave Virgil Exner the boot and lured stylist Elwood Engels (designer of the JFK Lincoln Continental) away from Ford and under his supervision the Chrysler line up got a major sheetmetal restyle. He styled the 1965 Satellite with a lot of carry-over from the 1964 Fury. Engels gave the Satellite a major restyle first in 1966, and a few follow-on styling changes were added for 1967 including a quad head light grille and new rear trim. The Satellite remained the premium luxury mid-size model. It shared its premium trim with the new high-performance GTX model. Offered again only with V8's, the Satellite was barred from having the GTX's 440cid engine, but 7 Satellite customers got away with ordering 426 Hemi's before Chrysler execs barred Hemi's from the Satellite line. Two of these Hemi Satellites are known. 5 remain unaccounted for. The biggest engine available for a 1967 Satellite was the 383cid big block. Our Satellite was customer-ordered in Colorado with a factory 383cid big block wedge, column shift automatic, front center fold-down armrest, white convertible top, dash clock, 3-speed windshield wipers, and the courtesy light package. Paint is DD1 Light Blue Metallic, interior is P6B Dark Blue. We bought this car in 2002 for $6,800 from Golden, Colorado. A long-time fan of Satellite's I knew what I was looking for. We flew out, gave it a once over, fresh fluids, bought a fresh spare tire and drove it 2,000 miles home to New York. It is unrestored with 81,000miles, but was resprayed the original color some time in its past. Only 1,370 Satellite convertibles were delivered for the 1967 model year. According to Plymouth sales records, 7% of all Satellites (hardtop and convertible) were ordered with the 383 big block. We can thus only speculate that this makes ours 1 of about 96 cars delivered with the 383cid option.
You can tell in the sunlight that the driver's door paint is slightly off from its repaint...
You Brits may have invented the aircraft carrier, but us Yanks perfected them... Long and flat - absolutely one of my favorite Mopar styles...
The weekend of this photo she took home a trophy for "Top 10 Most Popular" at a Hemmings Motor News Musclepalooza Show, I think it was 2012. It was by popular vote, not a judged trophy. The hood was shut for the show because the engine bay looks its age and judges need the hood open.
Lovely interior, but not as comfortable as the '65....
Less-than-beautiful unrestored engine bay... but the power from the 383 is smooth and willing.
Cheers!
- Art
Thank you gentlemen, your compliments are humbling...
Very pleased you like the '65 stance, I had the rear leaf springs re-arched and stiffened by a local truck repair shop, it is just a pinch higher than stock. The '67 has never been re-arched, I assume it sits a bit lower than stock, and it's soft back there... we are used to it being the plushest riding car we have. Here is a YouTube clip I edited of the '67 early this spring..... https://youtu.be/aA5TLwlDp4w
Cheers,
- Art
Very pleased you like the '65 stance, I had the rear leaf springs re-arched and stiffened by a local truck repair shop, it is just a pinch higher than stock. The '67 has never been re-arched, I assume it sits a bit lower than stock, and it's soft back there... we are used to it being the plushest riding car we have. Here is a YouTube clip I edited of the '67 early this spring..... https://youtu.be/aA5TLwlDp4w
Cheers,
- Art
Loved the video, I am even more envious now! Not surprising that you had a smile on your face.
And you have disproved the widely held belief here in the UK that no older US made car can get round a bend.
As for the creaks- well, I used to have an Alfa which sounded worse at 5 years old!
And you have disproved the widely held belief here in the UK that no older US made car can get round a bend.
As for the creaks- well, I used to have an Alfa which sounded worse at 5 years old!
Thanks again,
It can take a bend or two, but LOL - captaining one of these around the countryside still isn't nearly as 'spirited' as your average lovely Brit..
..your observation reminds me of photos from vintage track events where big brute V8 Fords/Chevy's do battle with nimble Jags/Lotuses with the outcome too close to call before they cross the finish line.
Cheers, - Art
It can take a bend or two, but LOL - captaining one of these around the countryside still isn't nearly as 'spirited' as your average lovely Brit..
..your observation reminds me of photos from vintage track events where big brute V8 Fords/Chevy's do battle with nimble Jags/Lotuses with the outcome too close to call before they cross the finish line.
Cheers, - Art
07satisfaction said:
Thanks again,
It can take a bend or two, but LOL - captaining one of these around the countryside still isn't nearly as 'spirited' as your average lovely Brit..
..your observation reminds me of photos from vintage track events where big brute V8 Fords/Chevy's do battle with nimble Jags/Lotuses with the outcome too close to call before they cross the finish line.
Cheers, - Art
Like this I guessIt can take a bend or two, but LOL - captaining one of these around the countryside still isn't nearly as 'spirited' as your average lovely Brit..
..your observation reminds me of photos from vintage track events where big brute V8 Fords/Chevy's do battle with nimble Jags/Lotuses with the outcome too close to call before they cross the finish line.
Cheers, - Art
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BxduyNQQUDM
Edited by Total loss on Sunday 13th November 12:44
07satisfaction said:
Thanks again,
It can take a bend or two, but LOL - captaining one of these around the countryside still isn't nearly as 'spirited' as your average lovely Brit..
..your observation reminds me of photos from vintage track events where big brute V8 Fords/Chevy's do battle with nimble Jags/Lotuses with the outcome too close to call before they cross the finish line.
Cheers, - Art
Like this I guessIt can take a bend or two, but LOL - captaining one of these around the countryside still isn't nearly as 'spirited' as your average lovely Brit..
..your observation reminds me of photos from vintage track events where big brute V8 Fords/Chevy's do battle with nimble Jags/Lotuses with the outcome too close to call before they cross the finish line.
Cheers, - Art
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BxduyNQQUDM
Edited by Total loss on Sunday 13th November 12:47
07satisfaction said:
Thanks again,
It can take a bend or two, but LOL - captaining one of these around the countryside still isn't nearly as 'spirited' as your average lovely Brit..
..your observation reminds me of photos from vintage track events where big brute V8 Fords/Chevy's do battle with nimble Jags/Lotuses with the outcome too close to call before they cross the finish line.
Cheers, - Art
Like this I guessIt can take a bend or two, but LOL - captaining one of these around the countryside still isn't nearly as 'spirited' as your average lovely Brit..
..your observation reminds me of photos from vintage track events where big brute V8 Fords/Chevy's do battle with nimble Jags/Lotuses with the outcome too close to call before they cross the finish line.
Cheers, - Art
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BxduyNQQUDM
Edited by Total loss on Sunday 13th November 13:18
Total loss said:
Like this I guess
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BxduyNQQUDM
Yes! Perfect! Thank you! Something for the hardtop to potentially aspire to... (the question is, do I risk the jealous wrath of our gorgeous and capable GTV6? We are fortunate to have one for local track days... and she is so very lusty.) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BxduyNQQUDM
Edited by Total loss on Sunday 13th November 13:18
Cheers!
- Art
Here is lighthearted mash-up of driving experiences in the convertible around our area in summer....
(due to windnoise, I dubbed music over the audio)
https://youtu.be/FNdxoIS20tY
- Art
(due to windnoise, I dubbed music over the audio)
https://youtu.be/FNdxoIS20tY
- Art
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