1965 Plymouth Satellite

Description

Some of our favorite cars are those that that you never expect to love. This 1965 Plymouth Satellite is a pretty unassuming car, a cool hardtop in awesome '60s colors, but you'd never think that there was a predator lurking within. Not quite a pure sleeper, but it's a subtle factory hot rod that hits all the right notes with a 440 cubic inch big block and a 4-speed waiting inside.

Chrysler marketers weren't that talented in the paint naming department, but the KK1 "Medium Turquoise" paint on this car is indeed its original color and it really works well. It's bright, clean, and unassuming, perfect for a car with serious blasting powder under the hood. The sleek lines of the '65 Satellite mean that you really need to nail the bodywork, and with straight panels and crisp details like that slashing character line down the sides, the guys who painted this one really got it right. There are definitely some signs of age and use, but the basics are excellent, and the overall patina helps with the low-key demeanor of this sleepy-looking hardtop. You already know that we love the cantilevered hardtops that Chrysler was turning out during this period, which gives the car an industrial-strength look that's both attractive and a little bit intimidating. The Satellite wasn't big on flash, but the chrome bumpers, bright stainless, and nicely finished tail panel all contribute to its clean overall look.

The matching turquoise interior is every bit as stylish, perhaps even more-so, than the bodywork, and it defines the minimalist style that Mopar delivered. It's clean and uncluttered, but the patterns on the seats make it look upscale and the dashboards on these cars have always been somewhat remarkable in their design. A set of auxiliary gauges have been installed under the dash in the usual location, and the only real demerit inside are some holes on top of the dash, presumably where auxiliary gauges used to live. You also get tinted glass, which was still a rare option in 1965 and yes, that's a 4-speed manual there on the transmission tunnel, so you know this sucker was built for combat. The only other major option is a factory AM radio, but the engine sounds so good you won't even miss your favorite station. The trunk is massive and includes a new mat and a full-sized spare with matching redline radial.

The big 440 cubic inch V8 is a neat fit in the Satellite's engine bay and it's so clean and tidy that you can see where all the money was spent. Mopar Performance dress-up parts work well with the bright aluminum Edelbrock intake, custom braided stainless fuel lines for the Holley double-pumper, and Hemi Orange paint on the block, so it looks fast before you even turn the key. You know it was built for speed because it has neither power steering nor power brakes, but you'll probably find they're not really necessary and the car is easy to drive just about anywhere. Trick headers feed a brand new exhaust system, and as long as you're under there, be sure to check out the new gas tank as well. It's not detailed for show, but it doesn't have any glaring problems and in a car that you'll want to drive, having a spotless undercarriage isn't really an advantage anyway. Classic Magnum 500 wheels with fresh BFGoodrich redline radials complete the period performance look.

A neat car that only gets better the more you look at it, this industrial strength Plymouth offers a lot of performance at an attractive price. Call now!