1966 Dodge Coronet

Description

We've had a few of these pretty mid-60s Mopars recently, and this 1966 Dodge Coronet hardtop is as solid as they come. The bright red paint shows off the angular body quite well and with a burly 440 under the hood, it more than lives up to the hype. Add in a couple desirable options, a cool white interior, and you end up with a Mopar that tops the cool charts.

Big Mopars sometimes blended in with the crowds in the '60s, and given how non-committal many of the factory colors were back in 1966, the red works just fine at turning heads today. It's an attention-grabber, that's for sure, but the good news is that they seem to have gone the extra mile to make it tidy. You'll note that the detailing on the quarter panels is crisp, the crease along the top of the fender is sharp enough to give you a paper cut, and the smooth, flat areas are distortion-free. The only way to get all that is time and effort, and it shows. The paint shines up well and the gloss is impressive, and although there are a few signs of age and the shade could be more consistent throughout, the red really sets off this car's more aggressive look that's often lost on the softer colors. I'm glad they skipped the vinyl roof, too, because draping the dramatic roofline in red only makes it stand out that much more. The chrome and trim is in decent condition, highlighted by shiny bumpers fore and aft. Man, this Mopar sure looks good bombing down the road.

The sparkling white vinyl interior is also a combination of original and restored parts that works really well. Bench seats are made for cruising and there are newer carpets on the floor, black to really anchor the interior. The dash and gauges are crisp and sharp, surrounded by a gorgeous steering wheel with one of the last horn rings in the industry. Even though there aren't a lot of options, there's a certain appeal to the no-nonsense Coronet's dedication to performance. The headliner is taut and appears to be original and the back seat barely looks used, but has plenty of room for all your friends. Out back the massive trunk is fitted with a correct plaid mat and an original jack strapped to the inner quarter panel to round out the period-correct look.

This car was no slouch when it was new, since it came with a 318 under the hood. Sometime in its past, however, someone swapped it out to a big block 440 cubic inch V8 and dressed it up like the factory put it there. From the finned Mopar Performance air cleaner to the corporate turquoise paint on the block, it has a very OEM look under the hood. The valve covers match the air cleaner, and the firewall and inner fenders are neatly painted in the same red that adorn the exterior. The TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission snaps off gear changes without hesitating, and the original 8.75-inch rear end carries street-friendly gears. The Flowmaster dual exhaust sounds fantastic, and the floors are painted to match the body, so you know there's nothing hiding underneath. Power steering and front disc brakes round out the options list and chrome Cragar SS wheels with fat 235/60/15 front and 245/60/15 rear Cooper Cobra white-letter radials finish off the list of combat-ready features.

Surprisingly fast yet completely civil, this is the kind of Mopar muscle that built the legends. Best of all, it's still insanely affordable, so call today!