The 1965 Dodge Factory Altered Wheelbase Coronet and its Plymouth counterparts were the ultimate production-based muscle cars and were in effect missing links between the Super Stock factory lightweights of the early 1960s and the all-out Funny Cars that were just over the horizon.
Hemi engines and lightweight body parts already were optional in midsize Mopars. The next frontier was weight transfer to optimize traction off the line. Chrysler's solution was to design six Dodge Coronets and six Plymouth Belvederes that put maximum weight on the back axles. The front and rear wheels were moved far forward of their stock position, and the wheelbase itself was shortened by 5.5 percent.
The Dodge and Plymouth factory drag teams did an end run around the NHRA. The cars became a sensation running as AHRA Factory Experimentals and in lucrative exhibition matches nationwide. Capacity crowds turned out to see such popular drivers as Dick Landy, Roger Lindamood, Dave Stickler, and Bud Faubel at the wheel.
This car has a wheelbase of 110 inches and a weight of 3,050 pounds.