Just when things seemed unstoppable for Mopar wins during the Golden Age of NASCAR, the rules suddenly changed, and those wacky wing cars were no longer allowed to participate on the racetracks. However, before the fun was spoiled, a new version of the Superbird was already in the works, as the B-Body was getting a new body style for the ’71 model. The concept never went into production, but that didn’t stop a few fans from crafting one, such as this 1972 Plymouth Satellite here on Facebook Marketplace in Vinton, Virginia. This unusual clone is sure to get plenty of attention wherever it goes, but you’ll have to decide whether or not it’s $22,000 worth of cool. Reader PRA4SNW shared this one with us recently, and we’d like to thank him for the tip!
To make things clear, the seller lists both a Satellite and a Road Runner in his description, but fortunately, he also includes a photo of the fender tag. Some of it is hard to read, but code RP23 is clear, indicating its origin as a Satellite. However, this one’s so far from how it started, with an extended beak up front and a tall tail on the rear. I seem to remember that at least one company offered these pieces as kits, but the owner mentions that they are no longer available. The workmanship outside appears pretty good for the most part, but there are some paint issues and a couple of other exterior blunders that will require attention, if you want to take this one up to a higher level.
The seller also mentions that this bird-like contraption came from Texas a dozen years ago, and that under the hood resides a built 440. Another legible tag code is E44, meaning that this one was originally equipped with a 318. Specific details regarding the big block are sparse, but the owner states that it runs well, plus everything in the bay appears to be in good order. There’s also an automatic transmission, operated by one of those inspiring Slap Stik shifters.
The interior’s condition seems worthy to leave alone for a while, with no serious defects visible, and sporty enough to complement the attention-getting factors found outside. I’m spotting some A/C vents in the dash, an item that was never available on a “real” Superbird, but that’s getting sort of nitpicky here! Who knows, maybe it would have eventually become an option, had the new model actually moved forward and gone into production. I’m sure our readers will have plenty of thoughts to share here, so what’s on your mind regarding this Satellite-turned-Superbird?
Officer: “Can you describe the getaway car?”
That’s not too far from here.I’ve never seen it before.
Horrible!
I like it. It goes together better than I would have imagined in my head.
Yeah, when I hear clone I cringe because who knows what the h..l they fudged together, but this is pretty decent, not a piece of junk either. I don’t need the police following me around so I’d pass.
Looks pretty good. except what is with the bottom front of the nose, an illusion?
Well, it’s different, to put it mildly, but it’s really not all that bad looking. I personally don’t see anything even approaching 22K here, but then I ain’t a big Mopar sort of fella. For the right price it would be a surefire conversation starter at your local cars-n-coffee for sure.
If memory serves, there was a husband & wife team building some win cars out of ’71 b-bodies & I think a challenger or two.
That’s correct. I believe they are the “Dayclona” company out of Massachusetts. Forget the husbands name but I think the wife is named Pam. Last name begins with a “B”. They had I think a ‘71 Charger called “Serpent” that I think had the tall rear wing but no bullet nose but had green halo headlights and was painted a beautiful serpent metallic green. Saw it on the highway once and it was cool looking.
As for this car, $22k may seem a bit high but if you get this car almost guaranteed you will not run into another at a car meet. Worries me though if the nose gets damaged, not sure if you can replace it. I think these noses from Dayclona were fiberglass where the original Daytona/Superbirds were metal.
Bring it on, says the Ford King Cobra! France didn’t initially issue an outright ban, just mandated they run an engine no bigger than 305, IIRC. I think Charlie Glotzbach tried one, without much luck,
I just have to say, why?
Answer to
A question no one asked
Who asked you to begin with?
“I’m sure our readers will have plenty of thoughts to share here, so what’s on your mind regarding this Satellite-turned-Superbird?”
Uhhhh….the author of the article, perhaps? Just a wild guess…
I love it.
Had a ’72 Satellite Sebring – and it appears that’s what this Satellite was before it’s transformation. I really enjoyed the Sebring in every way – just the way it was – almost wrapped the odometer on it before passing it on – and would not ever have entertained making it into a clown car with a clothes line on the trunk lid. I’m a Mopar guy and I never understood this ridiculous remake of the Satellite. It just looks so clownish juvenile to me – like something a nine year kid old would come up with – putting a nose on it that makes it impossible to park it anywhere (without wiping out a few pedestrians – or ruining the parking space in front of you) – and why not make it another 3 feet longer – that would be even cooler – right? LOL!!! – And that ridiculous wing on the back that had little to no affect on its high speed stability and was more useful to hang your laundry on to dry. — But someone had to go and ruin a perfectly good Satellite with ‘the kit’ and now I guess there may be a nine or ten year old boy out there that would like to have it – if he has rich parents to buy and store it for him.
Trust me, you’re clearly not a “Mopar guy”. Anyone that knows even a vague history of the winged cars knows that they were designed exclusively for NASCAR competition and that ” silly wing” contributes a ton to stability at high speed.
You’re 100% correct, but some people love to hear themselves babble.
I KNOW the history of the car – and WHY it was developed. That does NOT mean it isn’t one of Chrysler’s most ridiculous design ideas. The entire aerodynamics and weight of the car was all wrong for it’s purpose. And the “wing” proved to be a total JOKE, which became the laughing stock for years to come.
All you have to do is “THINK” for a few seconds. IF the wing was such a great idea – you would have seen them on ALL competition stock racing cars from that point on. But did you? Well – did you?! NO! Precisely because it does not do the job – it just adds weight and bulk in exchange for very little added stability at high speeds. And what is the number one enemy of racing? – WEIGHT and BULK — any unnecessary weight and bulk makes for a loser in racing – and that’s exactly what happened to this ridiculous design modification.
So – why didn’t everyone else make stock racers just like this clown car? If it was so great – they would have – but didn’t! And that tells the entire story!
But you can call the truth “babble” – from someone who lived it when all the hype about it was all the rage – and then proved to be a one-off laughing stock of the circuit. And so — since you “know” it IS such a “great design” – you better get in line and start bidding up the price on this one before it’s gone and you’re all crying about the great one of your dreams that got away….. If you don’t – you’re just babbling about something you know very little about with no skin in the game.
Dee’s probably right, except that 7 of the top 10 cars at Daytona in 1970, including the top spot, sported wings. Nascar promptly banned the Mopar wing cars because of the speeds being achieved by the ‘ridiculous’ design then formally banned any wings much later. Imagine over 200 mph on 1970 race rubber tech. Miracle that they didn’t all perish.
Yeah, it will get plenty of attention wherever it goes, but not the kind of attention a car owner would want.
Is this what happens when you finish that second 30 pack on Friday night instead of waiting until the weekend is over.
Put me in the minority group. I don’t care. I like it and would totally daily drive it.
Anyone else notice that the wing is attached to the deck lid? I guess you’ll have to hold it open?
What made this really interesting to me when I spotted it was this claim by the seller: “For people that read this they built a 71 for petty. Never raced it they were banned. From nascar.”
I’m not sure if this is true or not, but if so, it lends credence to doing something like this to a Satellite.
You gentlemen who claim this was a failure know nothing about the history of those cars The top of the wing didn’t do that much the side of the wings only go through the air cleanly is straight forward If the car started to slide out in the back the wind pushing against the side would help keep it straight Not perfect but it helped The other drivers weren’t laughing since most were behind it MOPAR first car in NASCAR to go over 200 mph but just barely less than 1mile per hour over The wings were banned because they were too fast NASCAR was trying to keep the speed down for safety under 200 mph
Well ! I guess I did not know your vast knowledge of everything !! Please explain again how wrong aerodynamics and weight lead to there never being “winged” race cars ever again ?? I haven’t noticed that.
Just got through watching the F1 race. You can’t miss the wings all over the cars. Same for INDY cars. Present NASCAR cars are aerodynamics with a car in the middle, including the entire bottom. They must work because everyone’s got them.
You don’t see winger cars in NASCAR for two reasons: 1-NASCAR outlawed them. 2-wide bodied cars create a ton of down force with a smooth undercarriage (see the old IMSA GT class)
Notice I didn’t say anything about wings on NASCAR cars.
Notice that I didn’t say you did? I was just clarifying why they don’t.
Notice that I didn’t say you did? I was just clarifying why they don’t.
Now, now kids. The world is spinning off of its axis and this is a big concern? Let’s revert to being adults.
Totally agree, Godzilla. And I’m usually the guy poking bears with sticks. Civility should rule the day.