Plymouth retired the Belvedere name in 1970, so the all-new 1971 mid-size, B-bodied Plymouths were now Satellites. And the top-of-the-line model was the Satellite Sebring Plus (excluding the GTX muscle car). 1971 hardtops had styling vastly different than sedans and wagons, an unusual departure for U.S. automobiles at the time. This ’71 Sebring Plus is a numbers-matching car with a 383 cubic inch V8, so it was similar to the Road Runner in the performance department. Located in Malvern, Arkansas, this Mopar is available here on eBay, where the bidding stands at $13,800 with the seller’s reserve still in play.
The company kicked out nearly 130,000 Satellites in 1971, of which 16,250 were Sebring Plus 2-door hardtops, the only body style offered. By comparison, the Road Runner only found 14,200 buyers in 1971 as muscle car mania was showing signs of weakness. The most prominent feature of these cars was the huge wraparound front bumpers, which also incorporated the headlights.
We’re told the body is solid on this Plymouth, though there is some crusty material on the undercarriage. The paint is fair but may be okay from 20 feet away. The seller has owned this Mopar for several years, so this sale is not that of a flipper. The car spent most of its life in New Mexico, and it’s titled in that state. It was in storage for many moons but has been partially refreshed and is on its way to becoming a daily driver. It runs and drives, but needs a tune-up and some brake work.
This machine could be cloned as a Road Runner, but why not leave it the way it is and enjoy it as a car that a lot of folks may not remember? The 383 V8 is original and is paired with a TorqueFlite automatic. The Torque Thrust wheels add a touch of muscle and have new donuts at all four corners. When was the last time you saw one of these automobiles out in circulation?
Can’t recall the factory wheels on these big Satellites. Thanks Dixon.