Make: | Plymouth |
Model: | Satellite |
SubModel: | Sebring Plus |
Type: | Other |
Doors: | 2 |
Year: | 1972 |
Mileage: | 89,219 |
Color: | Orange |
Engine: | 400 V8 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Interior color: | Black |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Local pick-up only |
This 1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus is today exactly what it was in 1972: the answer to ever-more-expensive muscle cars. It was too expensive to own a top-of-the-line Road Runner, what with insurance rates skyrocketing, so the Sebring Plus rolled out with plenty of firepower, bucket seats, and an outrageous look, all at a lower price. Looks pretty good, even today, doesn't it?Of course, painting anything Hemi Orange is going to attract attention, and this Satellite wears it just as well as any of its more prominent siblings. It also wears the fuselage styling better than almost any other early '70s Mopar, mixing equal parts aggressive looks and smooth curves. It was refinished a few years ago and it's pretty clear that this has always been a nice, clean car. We love the blacked-out grille surrounded by that chrome bumper, the blacked-out hood treatment, and the traditional Go-Wing out back, all of which should resonate with Chrysler fans. But the Plus included the strobe stripes on the B-pillar, the chin spoilers, and a few other tidbits to add that high-octane look. Add in a black vinyl roof, some well-placed emblems and badges, and twin exhaust pipes out back and you get a car that looks as fast as it is.Bucket seats were part of the Sebring Plus package, giving you Road Runner accommodations without the price tag. The rest is pretty much the same, from the center console to the three-spoke steering wheel that wears the same woodgrain as the door panels. Nice carpets are protected by monogrammed floor mats, and this one carries a full set of gauges, including a factory tach. A T-handle shifter manages the TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic underneath and you'll note that this car is equipped with factory A/C, which has now been upgraded with a modern compressor. A factory Music Master AM radio is still in the dash, but it works and if you like authenticity, don't bother changing it out. The back seat might very well be original, which is a good indicator that this car has led an easy life, and the trunk is nicely finished with a correct mat, full-sized spare tire on a color-matched steel wheel, and a factory jack assembly.A 400 cubic inch V8 replaced the venerable 383, and with a 4-barrel carburetor, made a rather substantial 255 horsepower. Luckily, this one still retains the original number's matching engine, which was the top engine in the Satellite (you could still get a 440 in your Road Runner) and delivers that fat punch of torque right off idle, so no worries about needing more cubic inches. The engine bay is beautifully detailed, starting with an open-element air cleaner with reproduction decals, Hemi Orange on the block itself, and beautifully finished inner fenders and firewall, suggesting that the car was fully disassembled for paint. A big aluminum radiator provides plenty of capacity for warm days and long-tube headers feed a burbling dual exhaust system that sounds just about right. The TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission has quick reflexes and won't make you wish for a 4-speed, while 3.23 gears out back make this a decent highway cruiser that never gets tiring. The underside is mostly original, but you can see that it's in good order and not rusty, and you have to love that lowered stance with a nasty rake. Cool 17-inch Magnum replicas are the right choice and they carry staggered 245/45/17 front and 255/50/17 rear performance radials.This Satellite gets a lot of things right, not the least of which is the price. Add in the cool looks, quality workmanship, and its rarity, and you get a collector car that is the answer to ever-escalating muscle car values. Call today!