Solid Roller: 1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus
The Satellite was Plymouth’s mid-size entry between 1965-74, starting as an upscale Belvedere before becoming a series of its own. During the car’s third-generation (1971-74), the Sebring Plus would be its high-end model before being replaced by the Chrysler Cordoba in the personal luxury segment. The body on this 1972 Sebring Plus looks quite good, although the paint has given up the ghost from being exposed to the Sun. Without an engine, this Plymouth is in Taneyville, Missouri, and available here on eBay for $6,500. However, you can make an offer. Thanks for another great Mopar tip, Larry D!
Named for the famed raceway in Florida, the Sebring and the rest of the Chrysler intermediates got a new design in 1971, adopting the “fuselage” styling of its larger corporate brethren. Sedans and coupes no longer shared sheet metal, carrying their own appearance cues. Except for the Satellite GTX, the Sebring Plus was top dog and focused more on creature comforts than performance, so a 318 cubic inch V8 was a common sight under the hood, like the seller’s car once had. This Plymouth employed a TorqueFlite automatic, but it now resides in the trunk and its functionality is unknown.
The Sebring Plus saw a production of 21,400 units in 1972, the nameplate’s second-best year out of four. After 1975, the Satellite/Sebring names would be dropped in favor of the Fury moniker. This car has likely been sitting for years and the removal of its motor is the likely culprit. We’re told it’s complete, so what you don’t see in the photos may very well be inside somewhere. To help with the car’s restoration, the vinyl top has been stripped and a new one still in the box comes with the car.
This was likely an attractive car when new, with black paint accented by silver on the lower exterior pieces. Rust doesn’t appear to be an issue, though there could be some hiding that you can’t immediately see (and maybe where the vinyl top was). The seller is also providing the paint needed to make this car look new again. The interior will need a complete makeover, from upholstery to carpeting as well as door panels and carpeting. If you were to buy the Plymouth, would you restore it as stock with another 318 or go with something with more punch, like a 440?
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Comments
I had the same car with a 400 4 barrel. Nothing less would do.
400 is the magic Mopar number (and I’ve already discussed “the recipe” for a zero deck height set up, that will easily rev to 7500 rpms, as recounted to me by the late Lee Hancock. Add a Hemi Grind Camshaft, a set of Trick Flow aluminum heads, 1-7/8” TTI headers, an Air Gap RPM intake and an 800 cfm AVS -2 with electric choke for a fun ride.).
I’ve got a spare 318 and A-727 Torqueflite on my car port. However, I’d probably keep this as cheap and simple as possible and go with a Magnum 360 and use the Trick Flow Heads, an Air Gap RPM, a decent cam and headers. 500 HP with a Magnum 360 is simple any more, even with Engine Quest replacement heads and a mild porting.
Actually, not a bad price.
Some people are really hard up for a car. To even think to pay that price.. No motor—maybe to Fred Flintstones its a good deal
I always liked the ’72 Sebring and imagined owning one someday. It makes me sick to the stomach to realize what they are going for and knowing that they are now out of common sense range.
The problem is that I seriously doubt anyone is buying this stuff to keep, it is for resale and profit. Then there is speculative price creep (or dare I say, price dash). This kind of mindset leaves most of us now out of the game. Are the people that finally end up with these really car people? I used to be all for the profit aspect of the hobby, telling people it is good for it. (and of course there is, repo parts for one) but after spending a great deal of time with people of lesser means, I can now see that some of us need to change our beliefs, and not just for the car hobby, for all sorts of things. We need to do it for the good of the country.
I think the price is reasonable as long as the paperwork is all in order. It is a well optioned SSP, including power windows. Restoration would yield a beautiful Mopar. A date coded engine replacement would not be to difficult to find. Always like this body style for the 71-72 years.
Knew a guy who had a satellite in the late 80s It had a 400 4 barrel and posi rear end and would burn the tires all day till they blew up if you wanted. He would do burn outs at night with old h78 snow tires with studs looked pretty cool with the glowing orange studs spinning and sparks flying although pretty dangerous for anyone behind. One night as he was leaving a park parking lot he did a donut or 2 and continued smoking both wheels for a couple hundred yards out the driveway only to be met by cop pulling In who hit the lights right away. Well back then not sure if they still do it but the cop gets out a measuring wheel and proceeded to count every foot of black rubber he’d left on the pavement times 2 ,thanks to posi -trac, and multiplied that number, think was a little under a 1000 feet by a dollar amount.. was 30 + years ago so cant say for sure what the amount was .. I’m thinking 25 dollars a foot maybe. What ever it was it put a quick stop to any more burn outs around there without a look out for any cruisers 1st !
Iirc that guy had a nice judge who dropped the 1000s of dollars in fines down to a more reasonable amount a young guy could actually afford to pay if he promised to be good in the future
Kirk, that guy was me. I got caught too, but the cop was my BIL. Your friend got off easy.
Those 400’s were under rated. Awesome ride.
with the biggest bore, yeah the 400 b block for sure throw in some stroke for about 500 inches and see what happens