OK, spoiler alert, this 1965 Plymouth Belvedere I looks like a Super Stock racer but it’s really not, it’s a tribute car but a fantastically executed example. It has diverted a bit from the original configuration but is still pretty faithful to the original set-up and is certainly worth a once-over. This Plymouth hot-rod is located in Headingley, Manitoba, Canada and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $37,300, reserve not yet met.
According to Hemmings, it is claimed that Plymouth built about 80 Super Stock factory race cars in 1965 to comply with NHRA’s homologation requirements for its Super Stock drag racing class. And the turn to NHRA competition made sense as NASCAR kicked anything Hemi powered off of their high banks that year for essentially the same reason – homologation, they didn’t consider a Hemi-powered car to be a production piece and thereby would not allow one to be entered into competition. That all changed in 1966 but that’s another story entirely.
This recreation was restored about twenty years ago and is now sporting a 680 HP, 511 CI John Arruza Hemi V8 connected to a Hemi four-speed manual transmission and a Dana 60 series differential spinning 3.55 gears. The seller claims, “GREAT RUNNING DRIVING CAR“. Gee, ya think? It ought to be spectacular, at least in a straight line.
The exterior is said to still be wearing its original “Code C” Light Blue finish. The seller suggest that it was too nice to repaint. As expected, the exterior is spartan in appearance but that’s how a Belvedere I rolled back then. The proper vibe is projected with the hood scoop, American Racing wheels up front, and the black steelies helping to put the go to the ground. Again, referencing Hemmings, it is stated that a true Super Stock came equipped with “lightweight doors, bumpers, acid-dipped fenders, and ultra-thin window glass“. It’s not stated but seems unlikely that this Belvedere has received any of that treatment.
One nod to the original, is the missing back seat – dead weight on the drag strip, right? The vinyl-clad interior is extremely stock in appearance right down to the deleted radio cover plate. It has an aftermarket tachometer, and what looks like an under-dash oil pressure gauge, but that’s the only hint of non-originality. One important thing lacking are seatbelts – correct or not, this car would be better served with them.
So it’s not a for-real race car or an uber-dollar, true Super Stock but think about how much fun you could have with this set-up and not have to worry about it – it’s a looker too. The seller adds that for $700, he’ll deliver this Plymouth to Cavalier, North Dakota with the import duties paid and that’s certainly accommodating. Wanna hear it? You can with this video clip, pretty impressive right?
Boy O Boy, them are some nice Alabama super slicks in the rear there. Whooo Wee!!
BEAUTIFUL CAR!! Love it!
Nice original paint or not, this thing’s just screaming to be cut up for a 60’s A/FX style, altered wheelbase.
Sport’n A Woodie …. Now that’s the way cars are suppose to sound.
Fasten your waist belt, and hold on!
A 680 hp hemi?( on one carb?) Pfft, come on, is that all Jeggy has? No, no, it’s okay, if a regular 426 hemi is good,( and I feel should have stayed to keep it original, as the tag says) surely a more powerful one MUST be better,,Driving this, or more accurately, attempting to drive this, will be not unlike skating on eggs. This thing would smoke those skinny hides starting in 4th gear,oh, but it looks so impressive. And another thing, not many drag cars were like this. Because of the poor traction these monstrous motors put out, many moved the rear axle forward, creating the 1st “funny cars”, because they looked “funny”. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a really cool car, but tis’ no drag racer.
No Belvedere I of that year came with buckets either. So much for originality.
Don’t get me wrong- it’s a very very nice car, but it’s just not close to being a A990 “tribute”; it’s a hot rodded Belvedere I. Besides having an intake set up nobody used back in the day, the only thing the interior got right is no back seat (A990’s interiors were gold, with A100 Dodge truck buckets and super stock only box pleated door cards). These “custom” touches will keep it from hitting the reserve.
In 1967 I was looking at a dealership for a Barracuda and the salesman took me across the floor to a 66 Belvedere that was a leftover. It was a hemi that looked alot like this one. It had the oil pressure gauge in the same spot. 30 day unlimited warranty! $2650 out the door. Needless to say a wife and new baby didn’t agree with the great deal.
Well bought….
As stated in the video here,…
“Yuuuhappitty yapitty..wobilty wobilty…”
All that wonderful noise without even blipping the throttle
Tach should be on the top of the dash otherwise very cool street machine
Nice and rare to see one.