Belvedere was a Plymouth fixture from 1954 through 1970. It was a full-size car at first before becoming a mid-side model in 1965. Sandwiched between the Savoy and Fury lineup in 1962, it was downsized with the rest of Plymouth’s automobiles, a move that proved to be a competitive disadvantage at the time. This 1963 9-passenger wagon is a one-owner vehicle with a 330 hp, 383 cubic inch “Golden Commando” V8 under the hood. While it needs cosmetic attention, the Mopar is mechanically solid. Located in Fountain, Colorado, and sporting loads of patina, this transport is available here on eBay. $7,600 is the current bid without a reserve in sight to be met.
Realizing the 1962 downsizing was a mistake (Chrysler heard a rumor that’s what Chevy was doing), the Savoy/Belvedere/Fury was restyled in ’63 to look bigger but rode on the same unibody platform. Budget-minded buyers ordered their Belvedere with a Slant-Six or 318 V8, but the purchase order for this wagon went with the powerful 383 engine with a push-button automatic transmission. The same family has had this vehicle since Day 1 but parked it for reasons unknown in 1999. We assume some indoor storage was involved because corrosion seems to be confined to one lower extremity.
If you’re into patina, this red Plymouth should light your fire. For the rest of us (me), I would start working on a repaint with the same kind of shiny finish it had in 1963. The passenger compartment has two of three bench seats in good condition, while the third, door panels and dashboard will all require attention. The headliner is dirty but passable. The Belvedere retains its original but optional aluminum window screen for the rear.
Work has been done to get it going again, with new tires and a battery. The car performs well, but some more maintenance items are needed, like belts and hoses. One oddity from the undercarriage is the dual exhaust: we see one regular muffler and one “glasspack”. There’s no mention if the indicated 58,000 miles are accurate, but who says they couldn’t be? Once you fix up the interior, the AM radio comes next as it turns on, but no sound emerges. This is a cool wagon waiting for a better life. Who’s game?
I’ve looked for a while, does any know what those sunshades on the rear windows are called? I loved them as a kid, cannot find or really search for them now. Thanks!!
Might they have had something to do with keeping
exhaust fumes outside the car when the rear window was open?
The “sunshades”, were to deflect airflow to the rear window to keep the dust off.
There was a place called Scott’s Sun Screens in Temple, TX, if my memory is correct. I talked to the owner and he stated they were the only manufacturer of the aluminum screens. Not sure about that though. Closed shop in the 70’s.
The screens for that wagon might be found at the Mopar at Carlisle annual show in PA. Or by placing an ad in one of the Chrysler club magazines.
Lived in Temple most of my life, born here, worked in different parts of the state in my 30’s and 40’s came back home to retire. I remember Sidle’s, the sunscreen place. It was out on I-35, near what we call Midway. Though these days it’s hard to tell where Temple ends and Belton begins!
Anyhow, the sunscreen place was a thriving business until window tint film became the “in thing.”
Your comment brought back good memories of a simpler time!
Actually the Belvedere became a mid-size in 62, as did all Plymouths. This wagon should definitely be restored to original. This would really be a neat project, hopefully the price doesn’t reach Mopar madness insanity.
way back in the early 70’s my elder brother had one of these briefly. His was a slant 6 with a 3 on the tree. I think it was dark blue but the only thing I really remember was it had no reverse, I would say that was from trying to upshift into second and going straight into reverse. Some people just never got the hang of shifting those
Absolutely love it. Only one state away. Hoping it doesn’t go stratospheric on the price. Sorry up front to all purists but a very mild custom is in order here. Same motor but with oomph. Aluminum heads, roller cam and lifters. Roller rockers. Aluminum intake. Holley Sniper and setup. Nice close to original paint. Add a little metallic and some mild graphics down the sides Redo the interior to match and yes Craeger (sorry if that’s spelled wrong) style wheels or something subtle……… Or hell. Lets go full gasser. Big fat wheels and tires on the back and pizza cutters on front. Just kidding about the gasser. Bet I got some blood to boil. Helluva nice wagon. Would be great any way. Perfect engine choice. Sure would like to see it done.
Just make it factory no restomod no extra stuff
20 ( 30?) years ago, I knew a guy that had a wagon like this. He was an odd fellow, ran his own woodworking shop, and if you knew him, this fit his persona perfectly. 9 seat,,I remember many of these, sagging horribly in the back, as the local soccer team piled out. For many, like my old man, they served a multi-purpose role. 10 sheets of plywood would easily fit, also causing severe sagging in the back. The things on the back window, were air( exhaust) deflectors, and claimed to “wash the rear window with fresh air”, and I never knew what the grab handles and rubber foot rests were for, were people really riding back there? Secret agents, maybe, on a Plymouth wagon? It’s a neat find, and evident, there’s still all kinds of crap out here, not really sure why. Part of it has to do with, people out here never get rid of anything. There are no salvage yards to speak of, and many places sure look like one. If a vehicle failed, it was merely put out back, not gotten rid of. Only on a VERY rare occasion, do I see any actually driving around. These were the best wagons, although, to be fair, all wagons were tough, they had to be, as most were driven by mechanically inept folks, unmaintained and worked to death and simply replaced.
Apparently you live in a town called “out here” lol, well I live out here too, or maybe out there, but there’s all kinds of salvage yards, out here and there, granted, some are in Joe’s backyard, but Joe’s got a back yard in all 50 states. I know plenty of salvage yards “out here” and “there”
actually howard a i think you will find those handles and foot pads were there so that the vertically challenged and the minions could load and unload the roof rack when they got to the camp ground and dad started on the beer drinking and fire starting duties.
not a bad find. if it was to find it into my list of projects, i’d clean her up and put her back to her tribe hauling and sometimes enclosed truck duties
Howard, the rubber steps and grab handles are to facilitate entry to the third seat. My 9 passenger 63 BelAir wagon had similar.
I don’t like 4 doors on any vehicle, but the styling on this wagon is really Jetson era cool. Forget the junkyard patina look. This wagon deserves complete restoration.
“Jetson era cool.” I understand your reference. This prompted me to read Wikipedia’s article on The Jetsons, as viewed from today’s decades-later perspective.
Interesting car, I like to see models rarely seen today.
I think it’s time for one of the Big 3 to create a retro station wagon. The one that sort of maybe looked a little bit like a retro wagon was the Dodge Magnum RT. 340 HP. They did not seem to sell well.
I’m so tired of seeing SUVs. Glad I was in kid thru the 1950s and got to see true art on wheels instead of the box on wheels SUVs. I have to own one of them because of little kids, but I don’t even know what the letters S U V stand for. The only wagon I ever got to drive was a girlfriend’s old severely under powered 4 cyl. K-car Plymouth or Dodge station wagon from the 1980’s. She was flattered that I was thrilled to be driving her vehicle but she could not understand my fascination because it was a station wagon.
Another rare wagon to have fun with.
My family had a light blue/white one; 318 torqueflite. We moved to Germany months after getting it and the reactions of Germans to this whale was amusing. The car I got my license in when we came back. We did a lot of traveling on 2 continents in her.
RE the eBay photos: Do you think you could slide a dollar bill in between the exhaust pipes and the driveshaft?
I was 8 years old in 1963, but already loved cars, well American cars. At the time my family all drove cars made by the Chrysler Corporation. I remember them to be good cars. I love the sound of the Chrysler starters from the 60s, and the push button drive was great, again, I loved the sound the buttons made when depressed. Last but not least, I loved the sound the Tourqueflight automatic transmission made in first gear as the car accerated from first to second gear, it was a high pitched whine that sounded really powerful and cool. You could even hear it outside the car if you were standing nearby as it drove away.
I love the early to mid-60s. I thought they were good-looking, but not for everyone. I love the sound of the Chrysler starters from that era, I like the sound of the push button drive made when depressed, and I really loved the sound of the Tourqueflight automatic made as it would accelerate out of first gear. It was a high pitted whine that sounded really powerful and strong. The 383 is one of Chrysler’s best engines.
I would part with my 62 Dart convertible to have this. a really cool unique vehicle in easy return to glory shape.
I also am a molar nut and love the sound of a molar starter
I’ll have to chew on your biting comment for a bit, MC.