Vehicle Description
1965 Dodge Coronet 500 2 Door Hardtop
Nomenclature can be a tricky thing. More often than not, a car's
name or numerical model indicates something about the car. A 2003
Mercedes Benz SL500 has a 5 liter engine. A BMW 330 used to have a
3 liter engine. A Buick Electra 225 was 225 inches long. But the
Oldsmobile 442 did not have a 442 cubic inch engine, and the Dodge
Coronets, available models 440 and 500, did not translate to cubic
inches under the hood.
For consignment, a 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 2 door hardtop with a
title verified 38,323 actual miles. An original 318 and believed to
be wearing its original paint now graces our halls. This was the
top of the Coronet line up which was available as a 2 door
convertible or hardtop as you see here. About 33,000 of them were
sold in 1965.
Exterior
Our car presents with single stage White paint and a contrasting
black vinyl roof. In typical mid 60's fashion, the car has more
right angles than a Rubic's cube and both the front and rear fascia
are perfectly vertical. Four headlights are embedded in a
vertically grated grille that extends all the way to the lips of
the fenders. The chrome bumpers and other metal work, including the
window trim, mirror, shoulder line trim, and door handles, are in
excellent condition. The sharply angled rear pillar is perhaps the
most striking feature of the car, although smallish tail lights
framed by badges and reverse lights are pretty cool too. Newer
15-inch steel wheels here are uncovered and along with the wide
hood scoop, give this pedestrian shaped car a rather intimidating
profile, as if to say, "I'm too fast for wheel covers or hubcaps".
Imperfections include some checking in the decklid trim, scratches
near the bumper wrap around, rust by the rocker panel including
holes, and various scratches.
Interior
Partina laden door panels begin with red vinyl uppers with a broad
aluminum ornamental insert above the armrest and red carpeted kick
panel. Dark red inserts frame the stitched pattern of the red seats
with smooth red outers that are in good shape on the front buckets.
The driver's seat is intact but shows some discoloration and minor
compression while the rear seat remains in decent shape. Seatbelts,
once red, are now faded and the plastic steering wheel shows some
age and has a crack, along with an intact full horn ring. Plastic
framing on the instrument cluster has discolored over time, but the
black face of the horizontal speedometer looks fine. The slightly
concave mid panel takes in an AM radio while a tachometer is
mounted on the cracked dash pad and Stewart Warner oil and water
gauges are mounted below. The center console presents with
repeating bars that lead to and run under the chrome based shifter.
Red carpet below shows some age and the perforated white headliner
above is intact, but stained and tired. Opening the trunk reveals
some rust on the inner latch panel and in the hinge area and a
vinyl mat covers a rather rough looking interior space of the
trunk.
Drivetrain
We open the hood and looking up yields a view of the underside of
the hood which has surface rust and chipping paint but look down
and find a clean engine, a rebuilt 318ci poly V8 with a mild cam
and a Holley 4-barrel carburetor. It's backed by an A727
Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission sending power to the 8 �
inch rear. Drum brakes are equipped at all four wheels.
Undercarriage
Despite some rough spots on the topside, there are some shining
moments on the underside. The newer looking exhaust system starts
with headers in the back and soon reaches a cut out, giving the
driver the option of sending sound through the mufflers, here stock
style units downstream of the cutout. It ends under the car through
steel pipes to the side of a newer looking gas tank. A chrome
transmission pan dressing things up further and we note just a few
drops of oil on the flywheel cover and pan. Outside of that, just
some typical surface rust underneath and while we have it on the
lift, we note some pitted surface rust under the driver's door and
to a lesser extent, under the passenger's. Suspension consists of
torsion bars up front and leaf springs in back.
Drive-Ability
The rebuilt 318 comes to life and even through the mufflers, sounds
pretty good. C-pillars that narrow as they descend and the curved
rear window helps make visibility very good, and 70 series tires
help soften inconsistencies in our test loop surface. Good power
here helped via the high rise intake and straight tracking is
observed. The heater blower is not working but all other functional
items on board work 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.
Is this a commuter car disguised as a muscle car, or a muscle car
disguised as a commuter? However you see it, it's just plain cool
and this one can be confidently driven as is or taken to the next
level of esthetic enhancement as it has great bones, a solid
drivetrain, and a rockin' exhaust. The black vinyl top is in super
condition too! Join the Mopar nation with this 1965 Dodge Coronet
500.
W451216975
W-Dodge V8
4-Coronet 500
5-1965
1-Lynch Rd, MI Assy Plant
216975-Sequential Unit Number
FENDER TAG
3 9-Variable Speed Wipers W/Washer
6 5-Black Vinyl Roof
7 2-Sold Car
AB 40-318ci V8
D 5-Automatic
E 5-Heater W/Defroster
V 3-Backup Lights
Z 2-Front Bucket Seats W/Console
SO NUMBER 217 08179-February 17th
BDY W42-Coronet 500 2 Door Hardtop
TRM P4R-Red Vinyl Buckets
PAINT WW1-White
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!
