Here’s another “ran when parked” story, starring this 1963 Plymouth Belvedere here on eBay, bid to $2600 with no reserve. Journey with your trailer to Bellingham, Washington to fish this example out of the seller’s storage unit. The Belvedere is one of many trim levels that eventually staked a claim to its own nameplate. Launched in 1951 as a hardtop version of the Plymouth Cranbrook, the Belvedere evolved to standalone status by 1954. The Fury submodel was introduced in 1956 and was destined to shoulder the Belvedere off its top-shelf status by the late 1950s. Meanwhile, Virgil Exner was bestowing Plymouth with the “Forward Look”, which ran sales off the rails by 1960. Management tacked away from design excess, downsizing the Belvedere in 1962 and applying more restrained styling.
The last time this example motored down the road was fifteen years ago. Multiple V8s were offered in 1963 – anything from a 318 CID to a 382 CID, with output ranging from 230 to 330 hp. Late in 1963, the massive hemi was introduced, changing the muscle car landscape forever. Anyone know which engine is present here? The transmission appears to be the three-speed TorqueFlite pushbutton automatic.
Like so many projects we see, the front half of the “office” is needy but the back half is decent. The TorqueFlite allowed for a lower-profile transmission tunnel, boosting the sensation of spaciousness inside. The seller notes that rust is minimal and the hubcaps are in the trunk.
About 85,000 Belvederes were made in 1963, with the majority of these the six-cylinder sedan. For collectors a V8 is a requirement, and a four-speed would be even better. This example will find a new home through this no-reserve auction. Question is, at what price and will it be maintained in factory configuration. The big money belongs to Max Wedge manual transmission cars, where prices are in the $50k to $60k range. V8’s with automatics seem to hover in the mid $20k area, leaving plenty of headroom for restoration work at the current bid. What would you do with this storage find?
You can’t for get the 426 Max Wedge engines that came in either 11-1 or 13-1 cr. They opened the door for 426 Race Hemis a year later.
Ffred …. Yeah . That 426 Max Wedge was a wicked engine. I seen many. The best combo was the 13.1 compression and cross intake manifold 2-4bbl and the best part elephant ears aka up side down headers 4 bolt flange. Had factory cut outs on the front pipes. That mother ran the 1/4 mile like a scald dog!! 😂 On this Mopar the right price could be a good winter project. Since the Max Wedge engines are up in price a good stroke 440 to 500 would be a wicker fast Mopar. Fix up the interior and anything else. Maybe a good outside detail might work instead of a paint job. Fix up the suspension and beef up the rear end with some nice gears . 3:73 or 3:91 would move this Mopar down the 1/4 mile in a hurry. Good luck to the next owner.🐻🇺🇸
A 2dr with a V-8 and only bid up to $2650 with only 5 hours left to go. A no reserve auction somebody might get really good deal. I always liked the ’63’s and ’64’s. Dodge and Plymouth really cleaned up the styling after the odd looking ’62’s. I hope this goes to good home, it looks like a solid car to start with.
From the pictures seems like a 2 dr sedan,, no nice side shot of the car.
Yes, it looks like a 2 door sedan, which he calls a coupe. 318 Poly, (Wide Block, common term) Plymouth, came as a 326 in 1959 dodges. These engines can be Bad @$$ if built properly. The 1957 Fury came with Dual Quads! Some people put these heads on an LA 318/340/360 Blocks. There is a ‘Thunder Storm’ Dual Plane ‘Air gap’ style Intake at the Chrysler Power Store. Check out Bruce Toth’s articles on the Poly.
You know the intake to use. Air gap is great.
Note to sellers…Whether it runs or not, take it out of the damn shed!
I don’t believe it’s a 318 poly, wrong valve cover mounting. I’ve got a 318 poly in my 1964 Dodge 330, and the poly uses bolts threw the center of the valve covers and not around the base.
I looked at the pictures again, It’s a poly, 2 bolt valve covers, little scallops on the top of the valve cover. 3 bolt valve covers lasted until about 1962. 318 polys are making a comeback.
Yep….you need to do your research as well….on Max Wedge engine offerings…a yes the 318 was the only small block V/8 motor this year.
Poly wasn’t really a small block
Winning bid, $3550.
So you have never hit a 2 instead of a 3 when typing. And then did not proof read what you just typed. It is so nice to be perfect. But I would not know. Maybe it was a big finger mistake and not a small brain mistake that you think it is. But when reading I knew he meant 383. Some people are capable of reading through mistakes.