Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 68 ¤
1966 Plymouth Belvedere Satellite Two-Door Hardtop Chassis no. RM23H67238216
Sold for US$104,160 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 68¤
1966 Plymouth Belvedere Satellite Two-Door Hardtop
1966 Plymouth Belvedere Satellite Two-Door Hardtop
Chassis no. RM23H67238216
Chassis no. RM23H67238216
425.6ci Hemi-Head Overhead Valve V-8
Two Progressive Linkage Carter Four-Barrel Carburetors
425bhp at 5,600rpm
TorqueFlite Automatic Transmission
Independent Front Suspension with Torsion Bars, Live Axle Rear Suspension with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
Four-Wheel Hydraulic Power Drum Brakes
* 3.817 miles showing with a 1970 oil change sticker at 3,480 miles
* Equipped with air conditioning, a non-standard '66 Plymouth Hemi feature
* Special features including VDO 160 mph speedometer and woodrim steering wheel
* Bought new by Bill Harrah's Modern Classic Motors
* Preserved and unrestored
THE PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE SATELLITE
Plymouth redesigned its mid-size line in 1966 and offered it in three trim levels, base Belvedere I, fancier Belvedere II and deluxe Satellite. Satellite was available in only two bodies, the hardtop coupe and convertible.
New for Plymouth in 1966 was the Street Hemi, a now-legendary powerplant that reported 425hp from its 426 cubic inches of overhead valves, crossflow porting and dual four-barrel carburetors. Paired with Chrysler's famed 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission a Street Hemi equipped (at a sticker price of $1,105 just for the Hemi package including stronger springs and shocks and a thicker front anti-roll bar) would, and often did, turn 13 second quarter miles without specialist tuning.
The Belvedere Satellite Street Hemi hardtop was the ideal sleeper that begged to be confused with a 273 V-8-powered Satellite. It was tractable enough to appear ordinary, too, and driven with a light foot, TorqueFlite and stock mufflers it would idle around town with no showoff at all. That is, until its 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque were unleashed. Then it became the Queen of the Highway.
THE CAR OFFERED
This 1966 Plymouth Belvedere Satellite Two-Door Hardtop is finished in attractive Citron Gold Metallic. It is topped by a black vinyl roof and has a gold vinyl interior, about as bland as it got in 1966.
There is some mystery about it, though. All Plymouth Hemis in 1966 got a small callout medallion on the front fenders. There is no such callout on this Satellite Hemi.
Then there is the air conditioning. By all available evidence, you couldn't get air conditioning on a 1966 Satellite Hemi. There were all kinds of heat management issues and underhood space constraints with the then-available Chrysler AirTemp piston A/C compressors. Page 11 of Plymouth's official Automobile Manufacturers Association Specifications form AMA-40A for the Belvedere/Satellite has no listing under the 426 Cu In. Hemi for an air conditioning drive belt. Every other 1966 Satellite engine has such an A/C belt callout.
Finally, the Harrah's Collection (Equipment No. 1238) inspection sheet for this car notes, "The car was bought new by M.C. M. in 1966." M.C.M. [Modern Classic Motors] was Bill Harrah's Ferrari, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce dealership in Reno. There was no reason for them to buy a new Satellite Hemi ... unless it was for Bill Harrah, who delighted in understated, over-performing fast cars.
It is thoroughly equipped including an underdash Stewart-Warner oil pressure gauge, pushbutton radio, heater, spinner wheel covers, 7.75-14 blue stripe tires, power steering and brakes, cruise control, power windows and remote outside mirror. Bespoke details include VDO 160 mph speedometer and 10,000 rpm tachometer and an Italian-style wood rim 3-spoke steering wheel. Plus, as noted, air conditioning.
The odometer at cataloging showed only 3,817 miles, backed up by an 11/6/70 Pennzoil oil change sticker that was applied at 3,480 miles. The paint, chrome, aluminum trim, upholstery and vinyl roof are apparently original and clean. The engine compartment is in original condition with some seepage and dust accumulation.
All evidence points to it having been a street driving toy for Bill Harrah, a liberating release for trips around Reno or between Harrah's Clubs in Reno and Lake Tahoe. It has survived essentially unmolested and preserved, one of only 314 Satellite Hemi TorqueFlite Hardtops built, a cherished relic of one of car collecting's heroes with rare and even unique features and an unparalleled opportunity for insightful Mopar collectors.
Saleroom notices
Please note, the chassis no. is RP23H67238216. The original broadcast sheet was discovered under the rear seat, confirming that this car was originally delivered with a 426 Hemi V8.
Additional information
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