Dog dish hub caps on black steelies give a stealthy look to this drop-top Dodge. The 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 convertible in Pottstown, Pennsylvania left the factory with a 318 Polysphere and now packs a 440 and a strip-oriented drivetrain. The “383” fender badges and non-original hood scoop betray the sleeper look, though this ride might still surprise folks who discount classic muscle cars in today’s age or 700+ HP pony cars. Check out more pictures and details here on eBay where a $27,500 Buy It Now price marks the only option besides Make Offer.
The 440 first filled Coronet engine bays in model year 1967, which might explain the 1966-appropriate 383 badges. The seller describes a 440 built by a long-time Mopar mechanic. The big-inch mill spins a normally-sturdy 727 three-speed automatic with a 2800 RPM stall converter, sending power rearward to an 8.75 inch rear end packed with 3.91:1 gears. That should cause serious trouble for the smallish tires we see here, as supported by claimed quarter-mile times in the low 11 second range. Zowie.
Demerits confessed in the listing include fading and imperfections in the “mostly original” paint, though “everything works,” according to the seller. The gas gauge is not completely accurate, but it sounds like a turn-key street/strip driver with plenty of power. Long-distance cruisers may want to change the high-stall converter and rear gears, though it should be fine and rather entertaining for short trips to local car shows.
Despite an array of pictures, this is the best shot of the dash. The top-level “500” includes extra trim inside and out. The tan interior compliments the dark green paint nicely, a combination often found on post-war British roadsters.
Only the 500 got this nifty black grille. Turn signals glow through the grille slots from the outside edges. I owned a ’66 Coronet in the mid-level “440” trim and have a soft-spot for these mid-sized B-body muscle cars. This one seems well-kept and reasonably-priced if everything checks out. I’d prefer a stock hood and the original 318’s “V8” badges to complete the stealth look, along with the highway-friendly changes recommended above. Would you keep the track-oriented go-fast parts on this convertible Coronet?
Very good looker with power to go with it. Remove scoop and 383 badges. Love poverty caps.
I like the convertible Mopar but would suggest thouroughly looking hard underneath and around the car with the bubbles of rust showing in places.
Does everyone else thing the car next to it looks to be a 67 GTO with the center hood bump?
Good luck on sale!
Based on the drivers door panel, it is a 65 GTO with the Custom Sports steering wheel. Same hood, though, nice catch! I bet this Coronet could produce a pretty wild burnout, it has a Roll Control (line lock) switch on the shifter. Low 11’s? Maybe once, he wouldn’t be allowed back on the track without a roll bar.
Low elevens? I highly doubt it.
Low 11’s yeahh, that is funny. No, not like it sits. The claim is qualified by “has ran in low 11’s 15+ years ago” and with nitrous went into 10’s… well, that could be. 13s.
Give it credit, if properly tuned and well running, the 440, 727, 3.91:1 will pull hard, accelerate, and spin tires in a straight line.
It’s possible, but NHRA rules require a roll bar of a convertible of that vintage if it runs 13.50 or quicker. Some tracks aren’t particularly strict, but I’ve never seen one that lenient due to liability, if the track let it happen more than twice at one event or once each at multiple events the insurance company will not cover the track.
Steve R
Nice car and can’t see the underside of the hood but it might just be cut out under that scoop for that factory “fresh air” later model air cleaner. Of note on the rear window – 1966 windows were pressed in the track – 1967 windows bolted in. Good luck to the buyer – this is a top of the line model Coronet 500.
Ended with no takers.