In 1965, the Satellite became the top trim level on the mid-size Belvedere. When the B-bodied Chrysler intermediates were redesigned in 1971, the coupes and sedans/wagons got separate styling and sheet metal. That’s when the Sebring designation joined the Satellite series as one of five trim choices you had for ‘71. This 1971 Satellite Sebring has been in a garage for the last 30 years and has been nursed back to running condition, but stopping is another matter. Located in Garberville, California, this Mopar is available for $6,500 OBO here on craigslist. Our thanks once again to Pat L. for another cool tip!
As was the case with the mid-size Dodges, the Plymouth Satellite came with an all-new “fuselage” styling in 1971. Satellite coupes and hardtops could be ordered as either the standard Satellite, the Road Runner (no longer a separate series), the Sebring, the Sebring Plus, or the GTX. The seller’s car is the “Sebring” edition, so the level of trim employed was middle-of-the-road. Nearly 47,000 copies of the 2-door Sebring were built in ‘71 (plus the other models).
The seller’s Satellite is a bit of a muscle car without being tagged as such. It has a 383 cubic inch V8 and 4-barrel carburetor with a TorqueFlite automatic transmission which we’re told are numbers matching. The options list was fairly long with power steering and brakes (front disc), dual exhaust, and factory air conditioning. We’re not sure how well any of it works, though the seller says the car does start and drive well enough, but stopping is another matter (needs brake work).
For reasons unknown, the car was locked up in a garage for three decades and should be in worse shape than it is at nearly 65,000 miles. We’re told the floorboards (passenger and trunk) have some surface rust but are otherwise solid. But it gets worse behind the rear window where there are some coin-sized holes. The fenders, front valance, and front bumper are all damaged from running into something. On the inside, the driver’s side of the bench seat is shot, and the headliner has a rip in it.
The seller acknowledges having the desire to restore the car but doesn’t have the time. He/she suggests this might make a good Road Runner or GTX clone or tribute car, but I’d be inclined to stick with the Satellite Sebring concept as that would be rarer at Cars & Coffee and other events.
This is a rare Mopar because it’s just a Satellite but a 383-4 setup. I wish it showed the fender tag or vin number to see if it’s HP 383. But someone will make a clone to Roadrunner or GTX. I would fix it to original as possible. Because it’s different. It’s worth saving. Good luck to the next owner.. 🐻🇺🇸
It looks like an orange motor which indicates the performance options. The standard blocks were blue. At any rate, I’m a Mopar guy and this is the only 383 Satellite (this gen) that I’ve ever seen. Most were 318 and later you could get a 400 but it couldn’t breathe due to smog equipment.
Basically there were two 383 engines in 1971. A 383 2-barrel with single exhaust and 270 horsepower. Not bad, but not great either. Then the 383 4-barrel with dual exhaust. It produced 300 horsepower and was the HP engine for 1971. Both engines took a huge hit in compression in 1971, as did most engines made by all the manufacturers. The full size cars might have been available with a 383 4-barrel and single exhaust but I’ve never seen one. I do remember Fury I police package cars with the 440 and single exhaust so maybe the 383 cars also had single exhaust, I’ve just never seen one.
Indeed it’s rare with the 383, but there was only one four-barrel 383 in 1971 and I don’t even think it’s HP due to its lowered compression and 300 horses.
Wrong.
@Gus Fring, it’s absolutely true.
https://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1971/71_Satellite_20.jpg
Please NO MORE CLONES!!!!!! Rare as it is already. Be original and be happy with this insurance beater of its era. This is a rare car. Freshen it up and drive it. Probably the only one at Car’s and Coffee.
I wholeheartedly agree!!! This would be a fun cruiser with that 383 and factory A/C!!! Most of these rotted away!!!
I agree Bear, this one isn’t in as bad condition as it seems and being a west coastie is a big plus in the rust dept. I know it would be sweet wearing Petty blue with the flat black striping. GTX hood and rear wing. But it would be worth much more and garner more attention restored to original.
I had a 71 Satellite Sebring Plus, in a nice blue with a black vinyl half-top, console and torqueFlite on the floor, white vinyl buckets and interior, rally guages, AM/FM radio… the works, but without A/C (A/C wasn’t as popular on Canadian cars at the time). I bought it for $650 from a doctor who worked with my dad and used it to tow his speedboat. It only had 20,000 miles on it.
It was a great car, and that lower HP standard 383 had lots of torque, but not as much upper end HP as the Road Runner/GTX 383.
This car should be ‘restored’ in its current configuration and kept original as much as possible. There aren’t many around anymore.
I had the 74 Sebring plus with 727 slap stick and 400 big block. White interior. All factory with 43,000 miles bought from original owner and paid $200 bucks in 1994 awesome power and ran perfect. Last was 85 years old and never drive it. Husband passed and it set In her yard a few years with many people asking and she refused to sale it til I decided it didn’t hurt to ask and after a short chat some window blind cleaning and long John silver’s the deal was made and I took her home . The next year I became a dad and let her go.. what a mistake. I’d love to have this one..
The 383-4 setup is not common in the Satellite. Most had 318s or the venerable 225 Slant 6
Keep it original! That is a rare combo, for sure! Sleeper all the way! Good luck to the new owner. 👍
Fix the brakes, seat, headliner, dents, rust and moldings? For an appreciable classic MoPar at an incredible price?
Anyone with any interest in a once ordinary but now somewhat extraordinary ordinary Sebring should jump on this.
It’ll be amazing if this lasts the week on Craigslist.
Everyone has their own vision, but pleaase –
if you buy this, NO MORE CLONES.
Freshen up the drivetrain,stock rebuild on the 383,address the interior issues and enjoy ur sleeper…I agree on originality 100%…
Up in Humbolt County, about 52 miles of the Oregon border and is snow country. That 383 4-V, appears to be the same motor I had in my 71 Charger SE, “N” code, HP. $6500.00 is a steal by today’s standards. Would consider if closer.
Garberville is about an hour SOUTH of Eureka,
my old home town,NOT 52 miles from the Oregon border.
It’s the area we used to call “Farming Country”,where they
grew a different kind of crop.
Looks like a nice car,& if you could get it for a fair price,
it’d be a good deal.
As a kid, I remember test drive a 72 I think when I was 16 or 17. (76 or 77) and I thought it had switched to the 400 in that year. It was a Sebring Plus, and I always loved that body style. I think stroker kit for the 383 on this one, and keep the ThermoQuad if it has one.
I may be of the minority here. But as soon as I saw those hubcaps, I realized they used to he everywhere when I was a kid. I dont recall seeing those hubcaps on any old Chrysler products lately. I truly hope whoever buys it keeps them on the car with a nice modern set of period looking whitewalls. With that 383 and 4 speed, they’ll surprise a number of people at the light. I really hope they keep it stock, and enjoy it. Thats what I would do.
Driveinstile, I noticed those wheel covers too. Used to be everywhere like you said. Always replaced with rally wheels or Cragers, etc.
Its such a shame. People didnt think back then. Usually the old rims and hubcaps wound up in the back of the garage or basement, and then lost to history.
Will be nice to see a restoration of this classic car. I know someone who is a Chrysler mechanic and he restored a 1971 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus in true blue metallic with a white vinyl roof and has all the options.
I owned one of these, same color, a stripper Satellite that had NO options, 225-3 on the tree, not even a day/night mirror. When I was done it had everything – A/C, PW, PDB, posi, cruise, 360 4-spd, sport instrument cluster, black on black. In 1985 finding a decent front fender and lower valance was impossible so I had to fix what I had, I cannot imagine where one can find the front clip this will need with even fewer of these cars left to donate parts. Hopefully it will not be cloned, it is perfect as a restored Sebring. The ad does indicate it has a Holley carb, which I don’t think is stock for this engine, only the 440s, but I may well be wrong. Best of luck to the next owner. Patience will pay off….
This is a pretty rare N-code car and deserves a restoration. Even though you could order hp engines in cheaper models to beat higher insurance very few were sold.
I had a friend in the early eighties who had a 71 Roadrunner. Turned it into a really nice show car. There are enough of those out there. We need to keep this one Factory just like everyone else is saying. It would be an awesome fun car to drive and extremely rare. I agree with everyone else on this one. Restore this one 100% back to factory specs and enjoy it. Maybe add a little more horsepower to the motor because everybody enjoys a little more horses. You could even put a posi rear end in it just because but make sure to hang on to all the factory goodies.
Another classic for sale at a reasonable price? I’m confused 😁 I hope all prices plummet back down to a reasonable level. This “every old car is worth at least ten times its showroom price” mentality makes me not want to even glance at the classifieds because the obnoxious prices people are asking just depress me even more.
This has always been on my list of dream car I’ve always really liked them my neighbor had one . he was 18 and I was like 12 I fell in love with that car . It was a Sebring plus. white with tan guts and he had a set of cragers on it. Really nice car.
My neighbor loved the Sebring Plus too, while I loved the Barracuda. I could not understand why he or anyone would love a “passenger” car over a deliberately designed sporty car.
It took a few years, now I understand why.