If you want to get a muscle car that instantly receives respect with the old school muscle car crowd, then you might want to consider this car.
Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1966 Plymouth Satellite.
The Satellite was introduced in 1965 as the top of the range of Plymouth offerings. The car was available with just about any engine you wanted, from the underwhelming straight-six to the top tier 426 Hemi. The Hemi is a great engine, and a Satellite that was equipped with the legendary 426 Hemi commands the most money on the market, but there is to me a better choice for a street car that’s available for less money. That engine is the one in this car, the 440. The 440 has more low end torque and is a more usable engine than the 426, which was really developed for top speed instead of torque. This makes a Satellite like this one the perfect engine for a street going muscle car.
The seller offering this second year of production 1966 Satellite describes it as restored with new Dark Orange Metallic paint over a black vinyl interior and has upgrades that include a JVC AM/FM stereo and a dual exhaust system. Features include a hood scoop, bucket seats, a factory center console with a tachometer, and an aluminum radiator.
The seller reports that this Satellite has a rust-free body and was professionally refinished in its Dark Orange Metallic paint. Exterior features include chrome bumpers, rocker and wheel opening moldings, a manual remote driver-side rearview mirror, and dual side-exit exhaust outlets. They also state that some minor touch-up spots are present and that all the glass is free of cracks. The car rides on a set of chrome five-spoke Cragar S/S wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich and Cooper Cobra radial tires.
The interior of the car looks as nice as the exterior with front bucket seats and a matching rear seat upholstered in black vinyl surrounded by black vinyl door panels and trim. Features include manual windows, manual steering, a center console-mounted automatic transmission shifter, an AM radio, and a glove box-mounted JVC AM/FM stereo. The selling dealer adds that all electrical components are in working order.
What’s under the hood is the best part. This Satellite which was originally equipped with a 318 V8 now has a 440cid big-block V8, backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. Engine bay features include Mopar Performance finned black cast aluminum valve covers, an aluminum intake manifold, a four-barrel carburetor, and a chrome air cleaner housing with a K&N air filter.
Sure this car is not stock and as a result it won’t command the money that a Satellite with a factory equipped 440 would. My take on this is that if you are a driver who cares. This car is a perfect car to take on an event like the Hot Rod Power Tour or to take to a local Friday night cruise in show. This is the perfect way to buy car that is fast, looks cool, and will turn heads. The average person seeing your car is not going to ask if it came with the 440 originally and those ‘in the know’ in the muscle car hobby will completely understand the engine swap when you let them know that your car originally had a 318. This is a car to drive, do burn outs with, and enjoy.
The auction for this 1966 Plymouth Satellite with a 440 under the hood ends Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 12:15 p.m. (MST)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
Nice, takes me back to HS in Indy, ’74-’78. I’m not a fan of side exhaust on anything but Hooker equipped ‘Vettes & Cobras, but this is worthy and cool. For true period looks, replace the Cragars with Keystone Kustomags- the go to for Mopar guys/gals in the ’70s Indy car scene. Thanks for the blast from my past!