1967 Plymouth Belvedere II

Pontiac added extra muscle into its 1964 intermediate line-up as the GTO option, and automakers who were going to compete required a big-inch performance model. Chrysler's Dodge and Plymouth divisions offered plenty of options and in 1967, Plymouth introduced the GTX. With the 426 Hemi option and big Wedge engines, it was more than capable of taking on the GTO.

Chrysler introduced its 426 cubic-inch 'Street Hemi' in 1966. Although many of the race engine parts were retained, Tom Hoover and his crew had converted this engine for street use by making modifications to the compression ratio, cam timing and valve train, heated intake manifold, progressive throttle linkage, and exhaust manifolds. Chrysler had to balance reliability with performance as the Street Hemi engine was under warranty.

720 examples of the 1967 GTX models received the Hemi option out of the 12,500 GTX versions built. Plymouth's intermediate-sized Belvedere with the 'Street' Hemi was also a very potent option, but the lighter, stripped Belvedere II with the same Hemi had even more performance and rarity. The optional RO23 'Super Stock' option was a totally stripped-down version of the Belvedere that was hundreds of pounds lighter. The Belvedere II RO23 had no hubcaps, heater, radio, body insulation, carpet underlay or seam sealer. Racing sanctioning regulations stated only factory available configurations were eligible to compete, making the R023 a popular and potent option for drag racers.

All of the factory RO23-code Plymouths and sister WO23-code Dodges came off the Lynch Road assembly line on February 12, 1967, and all were delivered new only in White. Both were stripped of excess weight, with almost no options, accessories, or comfort and convenience touches, and boasted the most powerful available engine and transmission combinations. The engines were built to cope with higher tolerances, with forged pistons and modified manifolds, special carburetor jetting, and a transistorized ignition with special wiring. The specially tuned twin Carter four-barrel carburetors were fed by a large ram-air hood scoop. Cars equipped with automatic transmissions receive the TorqueFlite that was modified for manual shifting.

At least 50 cars had to be built to the Super Stock configuration for NHRA homologation. As a result, 55 Plymouth Belvedere IIs and 55 Dodge Coronets were so manufactured. Seventeen Belvedere IIs were fitted with the optional four-speed manual transmission.

Plymouth's 1967 model lineup included the Valiant and the Barracuda resting on a 108-inch wheelbase, with the Valiant offered in two- and four-door body styles while the Barracuda only had two. This was the first year the Barracuda was not part of Valiant but instead its own model line. The Belvedere, Satellite, and GTX had a 116-inch wheelbase except for the station wagons, which had a slightly larger 117-inch platform. Satellite and GTX models had only two doors, while the Belvedere had two- and four-door configurations, plus station wagons. The Fury and VIP were full-size models resting on a 119-inch platform (122-inch for the station wagon).

The base Belvedere was an economy model, replacing the prior Valiant station wagon, and offered solely as a station wagon with seating for six and priced at $2,580. It came with dual outside rearview mirrors, flashers, an energy-absorbing steering column, a dual brake system, no body side molding, and the Belvedere nameplates on the front fender tips.

The Belvedere I was offered as a two- and four-door sedan, and station wagon with prices that ranged from $2,310 to $2,650 for the six-cylinder version. The Belvedere I added a padded dash, cigar lighter, armrests in the front and rear, back-up lights, two-speed wipers with washers, Belvedere I nameplates, rocker panel moldings, and a tailgate filler panel on the wagons.

The Belvedere II came as a hardtop coupe, sedan, convertible, and 6- and 9-passenger wagon with prices that ranged from $2,440 to $2,480 (six-cylinder). Along with the features and amenities bestowed upon the Belvedere I, the Belvedere II added Belvedere II nameplates, wheel opening moldings, front foam seats, parking brake warning lamp, carpeting, wheel opening moldings, wraparound taillights, and full-length side moldings.

Convertible body styles in the Belvedere II line had glass rear windows, and the three-seat station wagons had all-vinyl seats, two dome lamps, a power tailgate window, wall-to-wall carpeting, and rear bumper step.

The Satellite and GTX both came with eight-cylinder engines and offered as a hardtop coupe or a convertible. The Satellite was priced at $2,750 for the coupe and $3,000 for the convertible, and the GTX listed for $3,180 and $3,400 respectively. Additional styling features of the Satellite included deluxe wheel covers, upper body accent stripe, aluma-plate full-length lower boy trim panels. The interior received a glovebox light, courtesy lights, and bucket seats with console (or optional center armrest).

The GTX was the high-performance model equipped with a 440 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine, dubbed the Super Commando 440, producing an astonishing 375 horsepower. A 426 cubic-inch Hemi engine was optional and boosted horsepower to 425. The three-speed automatic transmission was standard with a four-speed manual optional. It incorporated the features of the Belvedere (I and II) and Satellite plush Red Streak tires, dual hood scoops, 'Pit-Stop' gas cap, heavy-duty brakes, suspension and battery, and dual-sport stripes.

The total Belvedere II production was just over 88,300 units accounting for approximately 14-percent of Plymouths total production.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2019