Drag Race Ready

1965 Plymouth Belvedere

- 1969 440ci V8
- 1967 Heads 30 Over
- 850 Holley Carburetor
- Hooker Headers
- 727 Transmission
- Super Stock Springs
- Spool 8 3/4 Rear End
- 430 Gears

There is an old saying, “money can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you a race car and well that is pretty close!” Featured here is a potential source of happiness if you are in the market for an affordable drag strip race car. This 1965 Plymouth Belvedere is a nicely assembled car that would be difficult to build for the price it is listed for. This drag car has a serious vintage feel to it that looks like it was plucked straight out of the pits of Detroit Dragway circa late 60's/early 1970's.
This car is stunning painted white with an electric blue paint highlight the runs the length of the upper body line and it looks fast just sitting still. The classic fiberglass Ramchargers hood scoop is mounted on the stock steel hood and the modest V8 fender emblem is a subtle hint to the big Mopar V8 under the hood. This is a serious hobbyist race car is not a show field restored muscle car, so it is far from pristine, the stainless trim and chrome bumpers are in nice shape but there is some patina and mild pitting present. The body is straight, and it appears the older paint job was applied over clean sheet metal with limited bodywork. The rear lower quarter panels have some chipping in the paint and are stained with rubber no doubt for some serious burn outs in the water pit prior to staging.

Inside the cockpit is all race car and features a full roll cage and a single race seat covered in a an era correct diamond pattern seat cover and the driver is held in place by a 4 place harness. A Grant chrome steering wheel with a foam rubber cushioned rim frames steering column mounted AutoMeter oil pressure and temperature gauges with a Monster Auto Metter tachometer mounted at eye level on the dash. The dash is unrestored with light patina and the engine fires up via a vintage Longacre Start/Ignition panel with ignition system and fuel pump switches. It appears the carpet is original, showing some wear and soiling. Shifting is handled by a classic B&M Quick-Click Shifter with a thumb operated line-loc switch to hold the front brakes while warming the rear tires up and hold on the line for starting at the drag strip.

Under the hood is pure race car! The fire wall and inner fenders have been painted black and overall it presents as clean but engine compartment doesn't present as really show ready because when it comes to racing, it's the “go” that wins races, not the “show”! Speaking of the “go” between the rails sits a 1969 440 V8 that has been bored .030 over and topped with a set of closed chambered 1967 cylinder heads. Fuel and air are mixed in copious through a Holley double pumper four-barrel carburetor with manual secondaries. The mixture flows into the combustion chamber via a high rise single plane aluminum intake and is ignited by an Accel Ignition system with Moroso spark plug wires. The spent cases escape into a set of long tube Hooker Super Competition headers with no exhaust. This hot set-up is kept cool with a large brass copper radiator, and parasitic drag is reduced with an electric water pump drive. Power flows through a 727 3-speed transmission back to a 8.75' rear differential upgraded to a spool with 4.30:1 gears. Power transfers to the pavement via Goodyear Eagle Drag Racing slicks out back and skinny Goodyear Eagle front tires mounted on Weld Racing Aluminum wheels. The tires present with some dry rot and should be replaced before any serious racing is done.

The chassis is unrestored and essentially stock except for Super Stock springs, subframe connectors and a driveshaft safety loop that have been installed for racing purposes. The gas tank has been removed and a race unit has been relocated in the trunk. The floorboards have been rustproofed some time ago and are free of any rust through. The manual 4-wheel drum brakes appear to have been recently serviced including new rubber brake lines.

One will need to review the NHRA handbook for any additional safety needs before this car is taken racing and we advise a full manual inspection be given to it as well prior to competition. That said the classic look of this car has great potential for a fun street car, which of course would require some additional equipment such as the front wiring harness and exhaust to make it street legal. Please call if interested or e-mail with specific questions. Thanks for looking.