Wow, color us shocked. We’ve grown accustomed to seeing Al Wilson’s 1960 Plymouth Belvedere running in Nostalgia Super Stock at NMCA events. In a class dominated by mid-1960s Mopars, the black-and-white car with the big fins stands out from the pack like none other. It isn’t everyday you see a 1960 Plymouth of any kind, let alone a four-door with it’s trim intact, sporting a 470ci big-block underhood with the “short” Long Ram induction system that Chrysler was selling on Plymouths as the “SonoRamic Commando” system. And it’s that short bit that needs special attention: Plymouth used two different intake runner lengths for their B-series engines. One was a more common 30″ runner that was used for more street-friendly behavior. The other was a 15″ long runner that packed a stronger punch at upper RPMs. With the intake tubes actually forming a kind of supercharging effect at RPM, the system was hot stuff in the late 1950s and early 1960s…and on the Plymouth, it works. We know the car has dipped into the 11-second territory a couple of times and is plenty happy with low twelves. If it wasn’t for his rolling stock at the races, you’d just think that the car was a nice older restoration that was well cared for, not a race car that gets sent down the strip quite often each summer.
We’re a bit sad to see that Wilson is selling the car, but maybe we can find the Belvedere the right kind of home, the kind where someone will appreciate the reverse-pattern 727 and the pushbuttons needed to operate it, or the four-wheel disc brakes that bring the big car down quickly. You might see a monster from back in the day, but at 3,500 pounds in race trim without driver, this Plymouth is doing better than a lot of later model hot rods in the weight department and under the hood isn’t too shabby, either. Somebody needs to enjoy a fin car that can hustle like a musclecar, but could that person be you?
I’ve seen this car run quite a few times, and it is a refreshing change to see it amount the sea of max wedges and hemis. (Not that there’s anything wrong with them)
The king of ugly.
Its so ugly its real cool. Those are the “short ,long rams” Then I don’t think I have ever see the Long type. I have also seen this car run. This would be fun to have . Real simple to keep it up and running. Don’t have to 7’s to have fun.
Always nice to see ‘oddball’ combinations at the track :^). It seems to acquit itself pretty well ~12.0 to ~11.75, for a ~ 3800-4000 lb car (estimated). It certainly is aesthetically challenges, but I can tell you for sure I’d rather be seen in and race it rather than an Aztec ;^). I know of one of these which has a Hemi in it (saw it at Carlise – spoke with the owner). He used it to look for “Tuna” on the street. I bet he made a lot of money with it. There are uglier cars (not many, I grant you)
25+ year pro car builder chiming in here , I’m over car’ed if there is such a thing , and to be honest I actually love everything that Chrysler built from 60-63 the baddest dashes and chrome geegawks that ever hit the highway , styling just for stylings sake you may not know exactly what a say 61 imperial looks like but you can bet the heater controls are the baddest you’ve ever seen lol , just my 2 cents on “style” fabricator john
I agree, John! Ain’t nothin’ like late ’50’s-mid ’60’s Chryco metal, ‘cept maybe Ponchos. Could be ugly as sin outside, but you fergot that when you slid beheind the wheel. Magnificent machine!
One of my first cars was a 2drht 361 golden camando crossram swivel seats square steering wheel 3.91 gears with cast iron tf.
I have a 62 plymouth 2 door fury that I drag race with a 383 with the Midwest gassers and Door Slammers ,runs 11.2s and I took it on the power tour from Madison to baton Rouge a few years ago I just love driving that car on the street and the track, been racing it since 1979 and my 67 Valiant 10 second car since 1976
I have a 62 plymouth 2 door fury that I drag race with a 383 with the Midwest gassers and Door Slammers ,runs 11.2s and I took it on the power tour from Madison to baton Rouge a few years ago I just love driving that car on the street and the track, been racing it since 1979 and my 67 Valiant 10 second car since 1976
Gotta love big ole Chrysler, Plymouth or Imperial stopping the ground. Still remember running our 1970 Imperial Lebaron (slightly worked 440) down the strip once at Atco Raceway, NJ on street night…the crowds literally went crazy, and the ole girl had much respect paid her after that.
The length of the 2 different crossrams were measured internally or the actual length of the runners inside were 2 different lengths outside they looked pretty much the same . I happen to own a set of them never have installed them they have to go on something with a wide engine compartment