Vehicle Description
So, you've undoubtedly browsed the photos of this chin-checking
Dodge Coronet. And you've probably formed a few thoughts and
opinions. Indeed, the car is a righteously retro custom that was
built to turn heads. And yes, the car IS capable of hitting the
drag strip and knocking down some impressive times. However, this
mighty MoPar isn't just some whipped dragster that's been wrapped
in nostalgic paint. It's a bona fide street steed that's been
professionally sorted for both the street and the strip. Backing
511 cubic inches of professionally built Hemi with a buff A727
3-speed, a custom chassis and killer aesthetics, this beast has
been dropping jaws ever since it rolled into our showroom! And if
you're the kind of enthusiast who wants a classic that poses well
for judges AND kicks asphalt in the quarter, it's a chance to turn
your dreams in to reality!
POLISHING THE GOLD
This magazine-featured Dodge spent most of its life as a slant-6
Coronet Deluxe sedan. That is, until vintage Funny Car enthusiast
Richard LeFebvre located it in early 2004 and kicked off an intense
build that, with the help of an altered wheelbase, shaved a pair of
the car's doors. The new 2-door profile capped steel doors, a steel
trunk and a steel hood with composite fenders and composite bumpers
that were ordered directly from the pros at Fiberglass Plus, Inc.
And naturally, a distinctly '60s profile looks best in '60s
pigment, which is why 1965 Dodge Gold worked so well under vintage,
hand-painted graphics. For the next 12 years, this MoPar roared
along as a deliberately faithful tribute to moody racers of a
bygone era. But then, in 2017, a professional freshening, conducted
by Mike Mancini's American Muscle Car Restorations, Inc., totally
refined the car into a clean, street-friendly marvel that's both
sorted and reliable. Today, this Dodge rocks as a dreamy pavement
pounder that's poised to claim trophies and sure to turn heads!
Thanks to an acute attention to detail, this Coronet certainly puts
the "hot" in hot rod. At the front of the car, a black-trimmed
grille hangs a MQQN Equipment catch can between clear parking
lamps, a painted bumper and halogen headlights. Behind that grille,
15-inch, Ramcharger-style ram tubes front a stainless-trimmed
greenhouse that's lightened by plastic side windows. At the sides
of those tubes, a clean profile is devoid of everything but factory
door handles. And at the back of the car, a Dodge-branded trunk
bends around stylish taillights, a small kill switch and a second
painted bumper.
REFINING THE RUSH
Gaze into this classic's fenderless engine bay and you'll find 511
cubic inches of stroked Hemi big block that turns 93-octane pump
gas into stout 10.5 to 1 compression and 488 rear-wheel horsepower.
Built by Richard LeFebvre, and fully overhauled by Richard
LeVangie, the massive mill is currently tuned for max drivability.
The foundation for that cruising is a 1965 Chrysler iron block
that's filled with a billet Winberg crank, billet Manley rods,
forged Ross pistons and an Indy solid roller cam. Those components
spin thanks to Hilborn aluminum fuel injection, which has been
modified to accept EFI bungs, fuel rails and 40lb./hr. injectors.
Those stacks, commanded by a Holley electronic control module,
flood aluminum Mopar Performance heads that, in addition to being
machined, stack 2.25/1.94 valves under adjustable Indy rollers,
chromoly pushrods and aluminum shaft stands. At the front of those
stainless-capped heads, an electronic Chrysler distributor
sequences spark between a hot MSD Blaster coil and MSD Super
Conductor plug wires. Under those wires, quality Hooker headers
feed a 3-inch exhaust system that's finished with rowdy Flowmaster
mufflers. Cooling is simple, with a Mopar Performance high-volume
water pump insert siphoning a 22-inch radiator. Oiling is easy
thanks to a trick 7-quart pan and a high-volume Milodon pump. And
cadence is kept by COMP double-roller timing components.
STREETING THE BEAST
Bottom-side, a 111-inch chassis, shortened five inches from the
factory's specifications, relocates the car's front spindle
centerline ten inches forward while relocating its rear spindle
centerline fifteen inches forward. In addition to obvious cosmetic
changes, that configuration places 55% of this Dodge's static mass
on its rear tires at rest. Naturally, that massaged chassis rides a
massaged suspension, which is led by a 1966 Dodge A100 front-clip
that's been set on custom springs and narrowed two inches. Opposite
that clip, which saves 38 pounds over traditional Coronet bones,
3,800lb MP leaf springs complement extra-length MP shocks. The Hemi
twists power through a 1965 Chrysler A727 3-speed that, overhauled
by American Muscle Car Restorations, follows a 2,500RPM B&M
stall with a reverse manual valve body. That transmission twists
torque through a tough Dana 60 axle, which spins a Sure Grip
differential around buff, 4.10 gears - a street-friendly set-up
that Mike Mancini's outfit used to replace the car's original
8.75-inch axle and massive 4.56 gears. Stops come courtesy of a
full set of A100 drums, which are pumped by a Mancini-installed
Mopar Performance dual-reservoir master cylinder. Steering remains
a manual affair. Fossils are propelled through a double-pump fuel
system. Everything rolls on timeless American Racing Torq Thrusts,
which spin 7.75-15 BF Goodrich Silvertowns in front of 275/60R15
Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S. And if you're feeling racy, the
car's sale does include a pair of old school steelies that are shod
in 10.00-15 Mickey Thompson Radir slicks.
REFORMING THE RACER
In addition to freshening its build, this Dodge's stay at Mike
Mancini's American Muscle Car Restorations, Inc. focused a lot of
energy on comfort and streetability. See, Richard LeFebvre made his
creations as authentic as possible, which, in the case of this
Coronet and many other Match Bashers, meant a 'barely there'
interior that highlighted obvious race car modifications. The still
sparse but tasteful cockpit kicks off with two retrofitted A100
buckets that were retained with the help of new Dodge A990 vinyl
from Kramer Automotive Specialties. Those skins were part of a kit
that also included fresh carpet and new door panels, which look
nice contrasting a tough roll bar. Front and center, a fiberglass
dash founds factory telemetry next to a Holley EFI screen, small
accessory gauges and a large MQQN Equipment tachometer. There's a
large fire extinguisher within reach of the driver. A "CORONET"
branded steering wheel laps a factory shifter, which features
rearranged gear quadrants that suit the transmission's
reverse-pattern valve body. And the car's sale even includes an
awesome retro helmet!
Lust worthy, fast and fully capable of cruising up and down Main
Street, this awesome Dodge is an excellent combination of classic
hot rod looks and incredible straight-line performance. It has the
potential to rip invigorating passes and will politely cruise the
show 30 minutes later. Ready to hit the road in style? Welcome to
the quixotic world of owning a first-class collector car!
HIGHLIGHTS
Tenacious Coronet Match Basher that's been professionally tamed for
the street
511 cubic inch Hemi V8 with electronic fuel injection and 488
rear-wheel horsepower
A727 3-speed automatic transmission with a 2,500RPM B&M
stall
Dana 60 rear axle with a Sure Grip differential and 4.10 gears
Custom chassis with an altered wheelbase and custom suspension
Customized vinyl interior with a roll bar
Modified body...for more information please contact the seller.
