From 1962 through 1964, the Plymouth Belvedere and Fury rode on the same smaller B-body platform. In 1965, the Fury returned to full-size status on a C-body setup while the Belvedere was now officially a mid-size car. With styling changes in 1965, the two series offered were the Belvedere I and II, with the new Satellite being a subset of the latter. The seller has a ’65 Belvedere II 2-door hardtop that may be running and looks like a restoration project. Located in Ellensburg, Washington, and listed here on craigslist for $4,500.
Most noticeable in the differences between the 1964 and 1965 Belvederes was that the latter switched to single headlights. Mechanically, not a lot was changed, with the 225 cubic inch Slant-Six as standard and the 361 V8 being the top eight-cylinder. We’re not sure what motor occupies the engine bay here, but a 273 or 318 would be probable. An automatic transmission is on board, and Chrysler dropped the push-button arrangement after 1964.
According to the seller, this is an estate sale car, which explains the lack of details. It was one of nearly 30,000 Belvedere II hardtops produced in 1965, which is about 20% higher than those with Satellite trim. Though the original paint has given up the ghost, the body is straight per the seller. The seller says the car runs, but just how well? The odometer sits at 42,000 miles, but a safe bet is that it’s on a second time around.
If you’re in Washington State, this may be important. The Plymouth carries a set of collector license plates. To help you get this old girl back on the road, some spare parts are taking up space in the trunk. The interior has had some work done, as the seats are not 1965 Mopar. And the photos are fuzzy (sorry about that). The seller wants the car to go to a good home. Kudos to “Curvette” for the Mopar tip.
Was going to say the seller should have waited for the Puget Sound fog to lift before they took the pics, but Ellensburg is far inland. Must be smokin’ sumfin…but at least the price isn’t all hot air.
Younger folks may say, meh, just an old Plymouth, but kids, this type of car set drag racing to what we have today. Some of the 1st altered wheelbase cars, soon be known as “Funny” cars, because they looked, well, funny. Some big names drove these, Ronnie Sox, Butch Leal, even the “Grump”, and get this, singer Roy Clark, of Hee-Haw fame, drove the “Hee-Haw Hemi” and “Super Picker” Plymouth(never knew that). Looking up engine choices, apparently the 383( 2 or 4 barrel) was offered, and even the mighty 426 hemi, if you could find one. Great find, except I just don’t know who would want this car today. Ol’ Roy passed away in 2018, at 85, he had quite the car collection, but no mention of any of his drag cars.
I pitted next to Roy Clark at a musclecar racing event in Oklahoma City in the early ’90s. He spent most of the day in his trailer but came out for a couple of exhibition runs in his Hemi Powered Ramcharger style SuperPicker. It was only about a second faster than my stock A12 Superbee which was a bit of a letdown.
I finished with a runner up trophy that day behind a LS6 Chevelle that was tuned to a razor’s edge.
That is so cool, pal, not many folks can say that! It was said, Roy Clark was one of the nicest, cordial entertainers you’d ever meet.
Yes, he seemed nice enough, we smiled and waved at each other first time he came out. I’d liked to have walked over and bugged him, but he was spending so much time inside his rig that I assumed he wasn’t really in the mood to socialize.
These are great looking cars. They are still desirable, which isn’t going to change soon. If the body is straight and rust free it will find a buyer. Hopefully the engine runs, it has aftermarket valve covers and an Edelbrock Quadrajet, suggesting there may be more unseen modification. Serious potential buyers will make the time to see it in person.
Steve R
Pretty sure the 426 wedge/4spd was an RPO in ’65. I had a friend with one that he believed was original to the car.
Yes, 365HP with a 4bbl, and the super stock with the 2 4bbl and cross rams might have also been available as a special order. As Howard said, the Hemi was out there , but in short supply, and only for sanctioned racers. Chrysler wanted that magic only to go to the best to get the best publicity.
Nice project hot rod. Too many projects, not near enough time!
Decent enough price if actually a runner.
I took the fuzzy pictures to Google Gemini and they cleaned up real nice. easy to do.
Reading this because I’m partway into a ’69 Charger that somebody already had their hands in, so I’ve stopped trusting anything that bolts on easy.
Question for the Mopar crowd: on a ’65 B-body, how do you tell a factory four-speed car from a later swap when there’s no broadcast sheet? Is there a welded-in tell on the pedal bracket or the Z-bar mount, or does it all look the same once a guy’s been under the dash with a drill?
One small thing on the carb – if it’s an Edelbrock, it’s Carter AFB lineage, not a Quadrajet (that one’s Rochester). Doesn’t change the point that it’s a later add.
Does it really matter if all you want to do is drive the car? Too much aTTENTION GOES TO “ORIGINALITY”, IT MIGHT MAKE A FEW BIG BUCKS, BUT IT RAISES THE PRICES FOR THE TRUE ADMIERERS.
i HAVE BIG FAT HANDS, and I am forever hitting that caps lock instead of shift (arthritis does not help either) . Been going on since HS typing class so very long ago on an old manual Underwood typewritter. Gosh, I miss those days. Days before the tramas of young adulthood, the years of trying to reconcile with those memories, and then the trials of old age. To be young and innocent again, with a fresh exciting world of possibilities ahead, even if much of it was a lie. What would anyone of my age give for that? Okay, old man going off on a tangent…….again. What I will say is that, back then, old cars were not “investments”, and we all got along just fine.
My Dad had a 66 2D HT with the 273 Torqflite. It was a zippy little ride. I used to leave the house and pull the hubcaps and hit the streets looking for action. Had to be judicious. There were so many fast factory cars out there. I always liked the ’65 body style more than the 66.