383 4-Speed GTX? 1971 Plymouth Satellite
The Satellite was introduced in 1965 as Plymouth’s Belvedere’s top trim level. With the advent of the car’s third generation in 1971, they went one step further with the Satellite Sebring Plus. You couldn’t get a nicer Plymouth B-body intermediate without going for the high-performance 440 V8 GTX. The seller found this ’71 Plus covered inside a barn. While it does move around on its own, it will need a cosmetic restoration. Located in Hudson Valley, New York, the asking price for this Mopar here on craigslist is $27,000. Kudos to T.J. for another neat tip!
For 1971, the Satellite went with “fuselage” styling to emulate Chrysler’s full-size automobiles. In an unusual move, 4-door sedans and 2-door coupes didn’t have common sheet metal. The latter had a loop-type front bumper so there was a lot of chrome pointed your way. The coupes also rode on wheelbases that were two inches shorter. Plymouth built more than 16,000 of the luxurious Sebring Plus hardtops, but we’re guessing only a minority came with a 383 V8 paired with a 4-speed manual. That setup was more common in the Road Runner.
As best we can determine, this car has been tucked away for quite some time. While it was in a barn, the owner had the foresight to cover it, which may have contributed to a slower rate of deterioration. The body looks okay but the bronze paint has given up the ghost. The passenger compartment is going to need attention, too, as the seats and dash pad are cracked, and the carpeting is missing. The floorboards are visible, and they appear to be solid.
When this car was ordered new, the original owner no doubt wanted to go fast. The 4-speed has a “Pistol Grip” shifter with an interesting dashboard light that comes on when you put it into reverse. The auto also has a Dana rear-end so we assume that posi-traction is present. The Plymouth has factory air conditioning, but we don’t know if it works. The seller says the car starts and will move on its own, so perhaps it could become a part-time driver with some work. Was this car intended to be a GTX with a smaller engine?
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Comments
If intended for smaller engine the rear end may be in peril.
Isn’t that a GTX emblem in the grille?
Nope it’s a Satellite emblem, you dummy!
Obviously still learning
Well thank God it’s got A/C ! Working or not the thought of a big block raising the temperature in the cab to heat stroke levels would throw a damper on the party, even if floridians are crazier then a raccoon with distemper
Pretty dang unusual combination, especially if it has a dana 60 axle, which I doubt it really does.
Either way, somebody was actively working the insurance tables when they ordered this baby. I’d like to see the fender tag on it.
I was thinking the same thing – This had to be a special order car , and ordered that way so the owner would get the performance of a Road Runner, but pay the insurance of a small block Satellite . Looks like it was originally Tahitian Walnut brown ,which would work better with the brown interior. 27G is way too high , sadly rare doesn’t always equal valuable, and his asking price is about what a good Road Runner would sell for – And this car , although mostly complete ,needs a lot
Probably a 8 1/4″ rear-end. I had a ’71 383 roadrunner that came from the factory with an 8 1/4 rear. I swapped it out for a 8 3/4 out of a ’71 Charger R/T. This car is way overpriced, as usual.
Wasn’t 71 the first year for the 9 1/4 rear end in cars? I know by 74 they were in everything.
Even if it’s not a Dana rear, the corporate 8 3/4 is plenty stout enough
Shhh, that’s a secret. You’re gonna drive the prices up. Even my 69 camaro has an 8.75 under it.
Looks like a perfect Road Kill type car.
This one is going to need a repaint and interior at least. So the price tag of $27K is a big reach If the seller wants to sell this one in the condition it’s in.
That dashboard is identical to my 1973 Charger SE.
And the body isn’t much different either.
As I believe the Charger & the Satellite both were B-body platforms
of Chrysler.
Same basic platform , but body wise ,nothing is the same, much like the Challenger /Barracudas