Vehicle Description
1973 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus Hardtop
"Here is that car that is built to be seen...but not heard. The
Satellite Sebring Plus. The Plus stands for things like a "Super
Quiet" sound package with 38 additional square feet of sound
deadening material plus Torsion Quiet Ride. A restyled exterior
that's as contemporary as today. A standard 318 V8 that runs on
regular, low lead gas. And special Sebring Plus exterior
ornamentation and a plush interior. It's a Plus that adds up to
extra value to you." From the 1973 Plymouth sales brochure.
For consignment, a 1973 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus hardtop
with a numbers matching drivetrain and a title verified 26,885
actual miles. The 400ci V8 was an option in 1973 and could be had
with single exhaust or dual exhaust as a secondary option. This car
checked the box and has the 400 with dual exhaust. Whether that
negates Plymouth's desire for this car to be quiet, we'll soon find
out!
Exterior
We've said it before, green and other earth tones were popular in
this era, and this time capsule is coated with single stage Forest
Green Metallic paint and another box was checked for the optional
white vinyl top. The headlight bezels are broad and make the lights
appear bigger as they flank an egg crate grille over a chrome
bumper with, yep, optional bumper guards in fantastic condition.
Thanks to the detailed brochure they put out in '73, we see that
the side mirrors were referred to as racing mirrors and could be
painted or, as in this case chrome. The rear bumper, also with
bumper guards, is also the latch panel and three sectioned
taillights are embedded on each side. Standard on the Sebring Plus
would have been wheel covers, but our esteemed first buyer smartly
picked 15-inch Mopar Rally wheels, or they could have been added
later. Either way, they look great with their deep, polished rims.
This car has been well preserved and as such, we could not find any
glaring exterior flaws.
Interior
Green vinyl and plastic with a broad swath of imitation woodgrain
trim on the doors screams early 70's and just gives warm fuzzies to
those of us who grew up then. The front seats feature green cloth
inserts in a green vinyl base and are technically a split bench,
but the seat tops are split wide and are configured like a high
back bucket with center armrest, quite unique! Like the fronts, the
back bench looks pristine and borrows materials from the front,
along with woodgrain trim on walls and faux stitched design. The
simple steering wheel hints of the Dodge 3 point logo with, also
called a Fratzog, a name Dodge invented, and in this case, made of
faux woodgrain. The gauge cluster is surrounded by sculpted and
textured brown plastic which also contrasts with the green dash and
keeps with the color palette for the interior. Simple gauges and an
AM radio are in place, along with vent and heat controls as the A/C
option was not selected. An aftermarket tachometer has been added
and mounted below the dash as an optional clock takes up the second
large circle on the dash. Plush green carpet is lovely and
protected by loop style carpeted mats, in a lighter shade of green,
and absorbing any wear the 26,000 miles may have brought. The
headliner and visors are minty mint.
Drivetrain
Somewhat more driver quality, under the hood is the numbers
matching 400ci V8, fueled by a 4-barrel carburetor. Behind it is a
numbers matching A727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission.
According to the brochure, a 3-speed column-mounted manual would
have been standard, and the TorqueFlite was an option. This one was
assembled on February 28, 1973. Power is transferred to the 8.25"
rear with 2.71 gears and SureGrip. Power disc brakes in front were
selected, and power drums are in the back.
Undercarriage
There's some patina on this clean underside and some typical
surface rust. There's a thin coating of residual oil on the oil and
transmission pans and some oil drift from the front U-joint area
has accumulated on the dual exhaust and created a harmless linear
stain. The dual exhaust continues to a pair of FlowMaster mufflers
before exiting through big, slightly beveled tailpipes. Torsion bar
suspension is up front and leaf springs are mounted out back to
provide the ride.
Drive-Ability
Our consignor calls it a "drive anywhere car" and we're tempted to
take this through the lands of Morgantown, but we'll have to settle
for our little test loop. There is certainly a rumble from the V8
and dual exhaust but with the windows up, some of that sound is
cancelled out. Meanwhile, the car has good acceleration, a smooth
ride thanks in part to 75 series tires, and decent handling and
stopping capabilities. We note the horn is not working, the high
beam switch is stuck, and that optional clock is not functional.
All other items worked as they should. While Classic Auto Mall
represents that these functions were working at the time of our
test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at
the time of your purchase.
No awards were listed on the consignor's paperwork but it's hard to
believe this car would not place very high in survivor and
preservation classes at most shows and ALL Mopar shows.
(Disclaimer: that's not a statement of guarantee!). It's almost
showroom fresh, and suddenly my box of 1973 baseball cards seemed
insignificant the minute this nearly pristine remnant entered our
domain. A numbers matching, well optioned, green on green gem from
1973. Less reading...more dialing! 888-227-0914
RP23M3A212573
R-Plymouth Satellite
P-Premium Price Class
23-2 Door Hardtop
M-400ci 2bbl V8
3-1973
A-Lynch Rd, MI Assy Plant
212573-Sequential Unit Number
FENDER TAG
RP23:Plymouth Belvedere,Satellite
Premium, 2 Door Hardtop
M3A:400ci 2bbl V8, 1973, Lynch Road, MI, USA
212573:Sequence number
E63:400ci 2bbl V8
D34: Light Duty Automatic Transmission
JF8:Forest Green Metallic
L3F6:Trim - Low, Cloth/Vinyl Bench Seat, Green
JF8:Forest Green Metallic Int. Door Frames
403:Build Date: April 03
210327:Order number
V1W:Full Vinyl Top, White
U:USA Specifications
V7W:Accent Stripes, White15154:Unknown
213763:Unknown
052:Unknown
980054:Unknown
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
