Vehicle Description
From the "unsung muscle cars" comes this fairly awesome 1966 Dodge
Coronet 440. It's got a matching numbers big block punch, a cool
'60s color combination, and just the right mods to make it a real
joy to drive today, all at a very appealing price.
That's original sheetmetal and it's only been repainted once,
suggesting that this car has led a pretty clean life. That's the
original color, called Saddle Bronze, and unlike so many other
truly '60s hues, it seems to have aged rather well. It's subtle and
sophisticated, perfect for an unusual car like this Coronet, and
seems to enhance the nicely tailored sheetmetal. Note the creases
along the side and how they flare out on the quarters, making the
car look like it's always in motion, and you already know how much
we love the cantilevered roofline on these Mopars. Despite being a
few years old, the paint is in excellent condition and shows only
minor signs of use, even though the car has undoubtedly been a
favorite driver. The chrome and stainless trim is also original and
quite remarkably preserved, with a great shine that shows almost no
signs of being nearly 50 years old. Yes, we could pick a few nits,
but quite honestly, there isn't much to fault on this chiseled
Dodge.
The matching gold interior would initially seem like too much, but
have a look; it's pretty slick, isn't it? Most of it appears to be
original, from the bench seat to the door panels (although new door
panels come with the car), and even the carpets are in really good
shape. I know a bench isn't as exciting as buckets, but in this
car, it seems to work better, particularly with the wide instrument
panel with a full set of gauges to monitor the big block up front.
A handsome steering wheel with horn ring provides fingertip control
of the steering and there's a Classic Auto Air A/C system under the
dash, so neatly installed that you almost don't notice it. The
factory Music Master AM radio is in the center of the dash,
something that's easy to upgrade if that's what you want. As you'd
expect from those long quarter panels, the trunk is positively
cavernous and includes what appears to be the original plaid
mat.
Now, with a 383 cubic inch V8 under the hood, this Coronet is
smooth and effortless in everything it does. It's one of Chrysler's
most durable engines and in the relatively lightweight Coronet
hardtop, performance is extremely entertaining. Looking very stock
save for the shiny A/C compressor and lines, it's a reliable runner
that seems as tight today as it did decades ago. It's obviously
been freshened and detailed, but the clean inner fenders speak
volumes about the easy life this car has led. A 727 TorqueFlite
3-speed automatic transmission doesn't seem to mind munching on all
that torque, and with 3.23 gears on a Sure-Grip limited slip in the
8.75-inch rear, it seems that this car is a bit of a sleeper, too.
The floors are impressively solid, the dual exhaust has a great
sound, and those 17-inch Torque Thrusts with 215/55/17 are the
perfect rolling stock for this neat Mopar.
Stand out from the crowd without giving up performance. For the
right guy, this is the Holy Grail of Mopar performance, and you
won't find many cleaner than this. Call today!