Last week we raised the question about how important a car’s originality was to you out there in reader-land. The opinions expressed ran the gamut from, “I love all original cars!”, to, “Where’s my torch and welder?” In reality, there’s a place for everyone and every taste in the hobby (except for guys grafting 1962 International truck cabs to Pontiacs). We would say that there are rare example of cars that people should be held off from screwing with, and this 1966 Hemi, four speed, Plymouth Satellite is one of them. A car with 32,000 original miles, the original front tires, and all of the other parts and pieces it was delivered with when originally bought, it is a rolling time capsule. Noted Mopar expert Galen Govier recently did a nut and bolt inspection of the car and literally wrote on the report, “One of the most original 1966 Hemi cars I have seen, to date.” That’s like Mt Everest high praise right there.
From the original window sticker to the owner’s manual, dealer documents, jack, spare tire, etc, this thing has it all. We’ve always loved the early Hemi cars like this 1966 because it was such a monster of an engine wrapped in a pretty staid and grandfatherly body. Later, when Chrysler really got the mojo working and started selling performance in loud, brash ways the Hemi was still bad ass and exceptionally cool, but when the only real call outs on the car were the hood ornament and the little “426 Hemi” script on the fenders, it was different.
Hell, look at how minuscule the tires are on this thing! That Hemi would probably wipe them out for blocks at a time when the driver romped on the throttle. Owning a car like this back in the 1960s, especially if you bought it new in 1966 had to have been exceptionally fun. We’d have to guess that this beast would be capable of walking all over small block powered Mustangs, Camaros, and even the warmed over mid-size stuff from Ford and Chevy. Stopping it was probably a nightmare with the brakes of the era, but we’re sticking with the positives here.
Call us fickle if you want but in our eyes, the importance of originality varies from car to car. It is VERY important to this car. At least that’s what we think! (Hey…we only need to raise $150K to own it…any takers?)
Scroll down to see photos of this amazing machine and the link to the eBay ad!
EBAY LINK: A 100% ORIGINAL 1966 HEMI SATELLITE
The problem with cars like this is they’re too valuable to drive. Not that I’ll ever have to worry about it. I always wonder who had the forethought in 1966 to not put headers and Cragar SS wheels on it the day after they bought it.
Beautiful car! Right down to the standard with the Hemi Blue Line Tires
What a beautiful survivor. Way too valuable to drive, as was pointed out. Absolutely love it!!
Very cool, but I couldn’t own it. I would want to beat on it, and this is a museum piece. I’m not interested in being its curator.
The original front tires wouldn’t be trustworthy to drive on; blow a tire and risk damaging the wheel or even the wheel well.
And how about the brakes! This thing might even have “Heavy Duty” four wheel drum brakes. At the best it’ll have some tiny front disks and rear drums. Two hundred foot stops from 60 were good back then.
I bought a 66 Hemi Satellite, black, 4-speed in Chattanooga, TN, in May of 67, it had 500 miles on it. You could take off in 3rd gear with blue walls, and leave black marks for over a 1,000 feet. Never got beat on the street, had a set of “Marsh’ cheater slicks from Honest Charley. Insurance cost caused me to sell it in 68 then Uncle Sam sent me on vacation, wish I had it back.