I’m going to make a couple of concessions to using the phrase “muscle car” when describing a 1973 Plymouth Satellite with a 318 and a column shift automatic: here, it’s not the muscle that the car came with. The 318 is many things and is a good engine, but a barn-burner it is not in stock form. But the 1973 B-body shape still has enough muscularity to it that when done right, they look the part. The power-bulge style hood will help out with the looks a bit, and finding a set of the fluted exhaust tips will go a long way as well. Getting some properly-sized mag wheels on the car will top of the look aspect, and you know that a small block LA Chrysler engine can be built up to make solid power. But affordable and useable? This Satellite is both of those things. It’s not so rare that you’d be afraid to drive it and chances are good that if it’s this complete after all these years, there isn’t much to worry about. 

So what can you do on a budget for this primered example we found in Iowa? Well, the car itself pushes the upper end of the Rough Start budget at $4,500 and we wouldn’t expect much in the way of flexibility in price. The interior is present but has some age marks…but we’ve looked past much worse than this car’s green gut, so we’d leave well enough alone there. The Cragars look to be in good shape but look really skinny on the car, and the primer gray isn’t ideal. Flip a coin…do you want some good-sized wheels on the car or do you want to paint the car? Either way, you’ll probably bust the budget, so start saving up for the wheels and price out some F8 Green to match up with that interior. We highly doubt that the 318 will give you trouble, so just enjoy the car for now!

Craigslist Link: 1973 Plymouth Satellite