1966 Dodge Coronet

Dodge's first 'Hemi' engines appeared in the 1950s, helping the company build a reputation based on performance, reinforced on circle tracks and drag strips. By the mid-1960s, Chrysler designers were still perfecting its design direction, fazing out any residual style cues left over from the Virgil Exner day. Dodge's Coronet, which had been dropped for 1958 only to re-appeared in 1965, would shoulder much of Dodge's performance standard through the balance of the decade. Resting on a 117-inch wheelbase, the styling with crisp and clean, with its most distinguishing design cue being a rear roof pillar on the sedans and hardtops that was wider at the top than at the bottom. It is true that most Coronets were trimmed for commuter duty, providing day-to-day transportation for 'suburbanites.' A keen eye, however, could spot the mischievously subtle badging indicating that a Hemi powerplant had taken up residence under the hood of the car lined up beside them.

Dodge brochures stated that the 1966 Dodge Coronet was the '...rambunctious rebel that's leading the charge on Dullsville. Slip into the tempting interior, and you're on your way. We say dull driving must go. The new Coronet is how.'

The 1966 Dodge Coronet continued to occupy the mid-sized vehicle segment and competed with the Oldsmobile Cutlass, the Buick Skylark, American Motors Ambassador, the Pontiac LeMans, the Chevrolet Chevelle, and the two Ford Motor company entries, the Fairlane and the Mercury Comet. Although the competition was tough, the Coronet managed to achieve rather impressive sales this year, thanks in part to its new handsomely styled exterior. The bulk of the Coronets built in 1966 were equipped with the 273 cubic-inch, 2-barrel engine, but 361's and 383's were also available. The biggest news in the performance arena for 1966 Coronets was the availability of a 425 horsepower Street Hemi 426 CID V8, the most powerful production engine ever built (up to this point in history). It was rated the same horsepower as the race version and the cost was less than $500. Hot Rod magazine called it 'one of the fastest and most fantastic sedans ever.' Although newsworthy, its production wasn't staggering by any means. Chrysler produced approximately 10,904 vehicles with the Street Hemi from 1966 through 1971, with approximately 3,350 installed during the first year. The 426 Hemi was only available in the B-body models from Dodge and Plymouth, including the Coronet, Charger, Belvedere, and Satellite. Approximately 732 Coronets were equipped with the potent Chrysler powerplant in 1966. Approximately 34 were installed into the 'base' Coronet 2-door sedan (coupe), 49 into Coronet Deluxe 2-door sedans, 288 (some sources say 256) into Coronet 440 2-door hardtops, and 340 into Coronet 500 2-door hardtops. Of the 340 in the 500, 135 were WP23H6 Coronet 500s equipped with a Hemi-matched A727-B TorqueFlite automatic with console. Additionally, it is believed that 21 Coronet convertibles were with the Street Hemi were built in 1966, included 12 Hemi Coronet 500 convertibles with a four-speed transmission.

In 1966, Dodge made available three different trim level Coronets, including the Deluxe series, the 440 series, and the 500 series. The 500 was the top trim level and came with the same features as the 400, plus a center console, bucket seats, wheel covers, and padded instrument panel. The key visual features that separate this 500 series from the 440 series are the '500' on the front fenders and four vertical louvers just ahead of the rear fender wells.

As the intermediate offering, the Coronet was one of the bread and butter models the company counted on to sell. And sell it did, with about 85,000 examples (base Coronet including Deluxes) moving out of the showrooms during the 1966 model year. There were wagons, sedans, convertibles, and coupes, most of which had either 225cid six-cylinder or 273cid V-8 engines, although there were several other choices. It used a conventional ladder frame featuring independent front suspension and solid rear axles. Inside those 14-inch wheels, hydraulic drum brakes handled stopping. Unless an optional transmission was specified, Coronets were shipped with a three-speed manual gearbox. Despite the extra cost, many buyers opted for the three-speed Torqueflite automatic, while others chose the four-speed manual gearbox.

Standard Coronet equipment included a chrome windshield, rear window moldings, a single horizontal bodyside chrome strip, a heater and defroster, and electric windshield wipers. The two-door sedan had a factory base price of $2,265 and the four-door at $2,300 (with the six-cylinder engine). The eight-cylinder counterpart added approximately $95 to the base price. The Deluxe two-door sedan listed for $2,300 and the Deluxe four-door at $2,300. Dodge built approximately 10,700 of the Coronets during the 1966 calendar year, plus 46,200 Coronet Deluxe models, and $27,700 station wagons (for a total of 84,600).

Above the 'base' Coronet was the intermediate trim level 'Coronet 440,' outfitted with all the features found on the 'base' Coronet, plus air foam front seats and carpeting. The convertible body style had a power top and vinyl interior. Other body styles included a sedan, a two-door hardtop, and a 6- and 9-passenger station wagon. The 9-passenger wagon came equipped with the 273 CID V8 and had a power tailgate window. Both six- and eight-cylinder engines were available on the other body styles.

Dodge built approximately 110,600 examples of the 440 during the 1966 calendar year, with approximately 96,600 being equipped with the V8 option.

The Coronet 500 was the top trim level for 1966 and came with all the standard features found on the lower trim trims, plus a console and bucket seats, padded instrument panel, wheel covers, four vertical chrome louvers on the rear fenders, and the Coronet 500 name, in script, and the front of the front fenders. The four-door sedan was powered by the 225 CID Slant Six while the other body styles came standard with the 273 CID V8 engine. Approximately 55,700 examples of the Coronet 500 were built in 1966. The two-door hardtop had a base price of $2,700, the sedan at $2,590, and the convertible at $2,830. Again, the eight-cylinder engine option proved the most popular, with a mere circa-500 being fitted with the six.

Confusingly, the Coronet could be ordered in 440 and 500 trim levels with neither number necessarily indicating anything about the engine. In fact, a buyer could check the 'Hemi' box when ordering any Coronet.

The 225 CID Slant had overhead valves, solid valve lifters, a Holley one-barrel carburetor, four main bearings, and delivered 145 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The 273 CID V8 with OHV used a Carter two-barrel carburetor and five main bearings to deliver 180 horsepower at 4,200 RPM. The high-performance version of the 273 CID, with a Carter four-barrel carburetor and higher compression of 10.5:1 (compared to 8.8:1), produced 235 horsepower at 5,200 RPM. The 318 CID V8 had a Stromberg two-barrel carburetor and 230 horsepower, and the 361 CID V8 had a Carter two-barrel setup with 265 hp. The 383 CID V8, depending on setup, delivered either 270 or 325 hp. The 426 'Hemi' produced 425 horsepower, and the 'Street Hemi Eight Barrel' (Chrysler Engineering Code A102) V8 was the same as the 'Race Hemi' but used hydraulic (instead of Solid) valve lifters and 10.25:1 compression (rather than 12.0:1). The 'Street Hemi' was better suited for the road while the 'Race Hemi' was high-strung and volatile - perfect for the track. The largest engine in the arsenal was 440 CID 'Wedge' V8 with hydraulic valve lifters, five main bearings, and 365 horsepower at 4,400 RPM.

The 'Street Hemi' was built to overcome the NASCAR ban on Race Hemi engines after 1964, which could be sold to the public in the numbers required for homologation. To make it suitable for the street, the 'Street' Hemi had lower compression, less aggressive valve timing, and cast iron cylinder heads. To preserve the engine's racing pedigree, most of the later engines were installed into barebones two-door sedans or hardtop coupes.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021