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Do all muscle cars look the same? When I think of a GTO Judge, it’s the signature Carousel Red. Or what about a Plymouth Superbird? Available in only a few colors, all with black vinyl top and that silly wing. And don’t get me started on “Resale Red” Mustangs.
But every once in awhile you find a muscle car that didn’t follow the usual herd. These cars usually were ordered by individuals instead being for dealer stock. This 1966 Plymouth HEMI Satellite on eBay is a perfect example of how creative use of an order form made for a wonderful car.
Citron Mist with Soft Yellow top makes this HEMI Satellite a true rarity. Images: eBay
After the introduction of the GTO, Pontiac’s sister divisions rushed their respective versions by 1965. Ford came out in 1966 with the Fairlane GT and the Mercury Cyclone (previously, the latter was a sporty compact), but Chrysler had no car with the image to compete with the GTO. What Chrysler didn’t realize was that horsepower alone was not enough for the muscle car formula. Still, the only Mopar motors to have any presence on the street was the four-barrel 383 and the brand-new 426 HEMI. The Street HEMI was introduced because NASCAR’s changing homologation rules required a certain number of HEMIs to be produced. It immediately became the most-feared motor in the industry, but they all were installed in plain cars without a hint of performance.
The heart of the Satellite. It's hooked to a 4-speed with a 3.54 Dana rear.
The HEMI was installed in Plymouth’s B-body, consisting of Belvedere I, II and Satellite. As the top of the Belvedere line, the Satellite came standard with a V-8 motor, bucket seats, console, knock-off hub wheel covers, front and rear armrests, left-hand remote side mirror, full-width rear trim, and more. And out of all the Belvederes ordered with the HEMI, the Satellite hardtop was the most popular with 817 US-spec cars built (a handful more were ordered for Canada and export markets).
Two-tone paint is super-nifty. Blue Streak tires also are cool beyond compare.
Despite their rarity, HEMI Satellites are not hard to find. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll find another one like this. Two-tone trim still enjoyed some popularity by 1966, but it’s something that isn’t often seen on a performance car. In this car’s case, it’s painted Citron Gold with a Soft Yellow painted top. Aside of the combination of metallic and solid colors being startling at first, it’s a nice combination that is complemented by the Citron interior. As it has a four-speed, a mandatory Dana 60 rear is out back holding 3.54 gears.
It’s easy to be part of the masses. Some people prefer to roll to the beat of a different drummer. How would you order yours?
