Here’s a nice, rock-solid Plymouth for those of you (us) who ain’t a’gin anything with four doors. This 1965 Plymouth Belvedere II is in Cereal City – Battle Creek, MI – and is listed on craigslist for $5,500 or best offer.
This is an all-original, numbers-matching car, according to the seller, who once again didn’t take enough photos and/or took them from too close of a distance. But, what photos there are show a great-looking car. This is the sixth-generation Belvedere and although I’m stuck in the fifth-dimension.. I mean, fifth-generation models, these are great looking cars, in my opinion. They were made for only three years from 1965 to 1967 and Plymouth made 41,445 Belvedere IIs in 1965.
The interior looks absolutely perfect, other than a couple of rips on the driver’s area of the front bench seat. You can get a new OEM-type seat cover for that here. The rest of it looks like you wouldn’t have to do anything but maintain it, keep it clean, and make sure that you aren’t carrying a screwdriver in your back pocket, again. Ha, I knew it, you’ve done that, haven’t you? There are no engine photos, unfortunately, but this one has a 7.35 x 14″ back-tire-burning, 230 hp 318 V8 with 340 ft/lbs of torque! And, it would probably look like this; but you all know what a 318 looks like by now. This looks like a great car for cruising on the weekends or just to have something other than a used Accord to commute with. Are you a fan of these rock-solid Plymouth Belvedere sedans or would you hold out for a two-door model?
Can somebody tell me why there seems to be a general disdain for cars that have either 4 doors, an automatic transmission, or front wheel drive?
@ Roseland Pete: My guess is that cars with two doors are less practical to get groceries in and out of, less are usually made than four door models, they are a visual step closer to “sports cars”, denote having less family obligations and encumbrances than a four door, get rodded, thrashed and wrecked by teenagers more often, so end up being ver’ rare and desireable. I’d rather have one, but I am fine with my fifth gen, pushbutton automatic Belvedere–having two extra doors easily knocked 2/3 off the price at the time.
I’ve had a few in my day and I still have one now but when I see
these luxurious two-door boulevard barges, “sports car” is not the first thing that pops into my mind. :)
Roseland Pete,
They just look better and were generally lighter for better performance. But a suicide 4 door Lincoln has a cool factor also.
I have seen many of the 55 to 57 Chevy’s chopped from 4 to 2 doors and if done right they look good.
Everyone wants a coupe, but I can see a future for the 4 doors. They are still reasonably priced and more plentiful.
I have been to many car shows and regardless of how nice a 4 door is, it doesn’t get much attention.
A 66 Barracuda with a slant six gets walked past also. The 4 door and 6 cylinder cars that were offered in 2 door with a V8 don’t turn heads or bring much money. Maybe one day.
4 door hardtops are cool
Fix the front seat and add A/C and you have a great driver. The 318 provides plenty of go for this car. I prefer 4 door cars. The 2 door sedans were usually the price leader for a car line, 4 door sedans were a cost increase. Hardtops with any doors were always the most expensive.
This is a way better Plymouth for $5k than the 1980 Volare.
Agreed
2dr cars have a different look 4dr and wago more practical I like them all but prefer convertables for some reason. Same with automatic versus something with a clutch. Like em both no preference.
Good body style. I believe this is the last year for the basic 1963 shell. Reminds me of one of Richard Petty s cars, a 64.