Vehicle Description
For sale in our Chicago showroom is this very unique 1965 Plymouth
Belvedere. These vehicles are truly a result of the perfect
conditions. Ford and Chrysler had gotten into extremely heated
battle of who would win at the drag strip. The sanctioning bodies
of the races decided that a factory firewall must be used, so the
unsafe practice of moving the firewall, engine, and transmission
rearward in an attempt to place more weight over the rear tires
and, in effect, gain traction, was no longer legal. Chrysler then
sprouted the idea to move the wheelbase of the vehicle to provide
the same effect. The rear axle was moved forward approximately 15
inches, and the front wheels moved forward 10 inches. All of this
shifting put an estimated 56% of the weight over the rear wheels,
providing absurd amounts of traction for the day. Cars in factory
trim would run low 10-second 1/4 mile times and some as low as
middle 9-second territory! The pioneers driving these
groundbreaking "altered wheelbase" vehicles were known as the
Ramchargers. This particular example is powered by a Hilborn
injected 526 cubic inch HEMI V8 engine churning enough power to
drag this lead-sled down the � mile in a consistent 10.20s-10.30s.
The transmission is a 727 Torqueflite 3 speed automatic. While all
of this sounds very race-oriented, this is a fully legal street
car, and was originally marketed as such. As an option on the
vehicle, all of the fiberglass pieces, including the hood, front
fenders, doors, and the front and rear bumpers, weighed in at only
eighty pounds. That's about half of what a typical driver would
weigh. Inside, the red vinyl seats are the correct interior for
what one would find in one of these very capable machines. A full
exhaust system has been fabricated for this vehicle, and will be
included with the sale for those looking to show off this beauty
both at the strip, and on the street. A race-ready roll bar with
swing-out door bars keeps you legal at the drag strip. This period
correct factory street-strip Plymouth is a chance to own a staple
in automotive history, and is sure to prove itself as a worthy
investment. All but one of the original "Ramchargers" have signed
the steel trunk lid on this vehicle. This 1965 Plymouth Belvedere
is sure to strike up memories, emotions, and conversations with
those fortunate enough to have lived through the golden age of drag
racing. Take a look at the photos and video to see how special this
car truly is. Options include: Alloy Wheels, Radial Tires, Seats
Belts, and Vinyl Interior. For more information on this piece of
automotive history, visit our Chicago showroom or call (708)
444-4488. To see more HD photos and video of this vehicle, visit
www.GatewayClassicCars.com.
