Hidden in this garage is an unassuming 1966 Dodge Coronet 440 with a secret. Lurking under its hood is the legendary Hemi V8, an engine that makes this sleeper one of the most potent American production cars to roll off a line that year. Its previous owner began dismantling it for restoration but didn’t get far before the project stalled. The parts for reassembly are included if the new owner wishes to return it to the road in its current form. The Coronet is listed here on Craigslist in Hemet, California. If you hand the seller $55,000, you could park this potent classic in your garage.

A previous owner commenced the restoration of this Coronet in the 1980s but must have lost interest early. They removed the front bumper and several other pieces before walking away from the build. Those parts are included for the buyer to reattach. The car’s original Light Blue paint isn’t perfect, but its condition is acceptable if the buyer treads the preservation path. The panels are straight, with no significant bumps or bruises. These classics can be prone to rust issues, but spending its life in Southern California has helped this Coronet avoid those dramas. Its exterior is clean, although there might be some surface corrosion appearing around the back window. I don’t think this has deteriorated to steel penetration, so catching it early would be wise. The underside shots confirm the floors and rails wear nothing beyond light and dry surface corrosion. The car sits on a mixture of wheels, but the original steelies and dog dish hubcaps will be reinstalled before it heads to its new home.

If this Coronet’s exterior is unassuming, its interior continues that theme. Only a column-mounted tach and a solitary gauge bolted under the dash provide clues to this classic’s true potential. It isn’t perfect, but there are no pressing needs. The dash pad and top of the back seat have succumbed to UV damage, but the remaining original upholstered surfaces and carpet should be presentable with a deep clean. The wheel is missing its center, and the armrests show signs of deterioration, but those appear to be the only problems. The original owner focused on outright performance, leaving the factory AM radio as the only optional feature.

Lifting the hood reveals what helps this Coronet stand out from the crowd. Dodge offered buyers various engine and transmission choices in 1966, but this is 1-of-96 Coronet 440 Hardtops ordered with a 426ci Hemi and a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. Considering the cost of that legendary motor, the low total is unsurprising. Those with a four-speed were marginally faster, but this car’s ability to storm the ¼-mile in 13.8 seconds hardly qualifies it as slow. Let off the leash, it would eventually run out of breath with the needle nudging 145mph. Considering its outward appearance, it could be viewed as a steel fist wrapped in a silk glove. The seller confirms the car is numbers-matching and has a genuine 68,000 miles on the clock. They rebuilt the front end and added disc brakes, including the factory 11″ drum setup for those preferring originality. A collection of new and NOS parts is included, although the seller doesn’t elaborate on what these are. It is also unclear whether the Coronet runs or drives. A careful inspection is warranted before hitting the key if it hasn’t fired a shot since the 1980s. Few things would be more heartbreaking than rushing the process or jumping in impetuously and damaging that beautiful Hemi. Erring on the side of caution is undoubtedly the best approach.

It seems that if a modern manufacturer produces a model with the slightest pretense of performance, they shout the fact loudly and proudly from the rooftop. Those cars tend to feature alloy wheels, stickers, and badges. Genuine sleepers are an exception to that rule, which is a shame. That is what the buyer receives with this 1966 Dodge Coronet 440. It would benefit from a light restoration, but I see no reason its new owner couldn’t reattach the removed parts, returning it to the road as a survivor commanding respect. Is that the path you’d follow?