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1968 Plymouth Satellite

The Plymouth Satellite was part of the lineup for nearly a decade, from 1965 to 1974, and initially offered as the top trim model in the 'B' platform Belvedere line with two-door hardtop and convertible body styles. The Valiant, Valiant Signet and Barracuda rested on the 106-inch wheelbase, the intermediate-sized Belvedere and Satellite used a 116-inch platform, and the Fury and Sporty Fury were slightly larger at 119-inches.

1968 Plymouth Satellite photo
V8 Sport Satellite Convertible
Chassis #: RP27H8G161779
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The Satellite would retain its top trim status until the 1967 model year when, in 1968, the Sport Satellite assumed the top role. The Satellite shared its grille with Belvederes and the Sport Satellite used the same blacked-out grille as the newly introduced Road Runner. The Satellite line now included s hardtop coupe, convertible, station wagon, and a sedan, and the Sport Satellite was offered as a hardtop coupe and convertible. The crowded Plymouth intermediate-sized line included the Belvedere, Satellite, Sport Satellite, Road Runner, and GTX, offering everything from luxury to performance, and utilitarian transportation to boulevard cruisers. Nearly every conceived permutation of cubic inches and body style was offered, and the new sheet metal for 1968 was sleek and aerodynamic, with subtle curved 'coke bottle' profiles.

The new Road Runner occupied the medium-priced high-performance segment and was positioned between the Belvedere and Satellite, in regards to price and features, and came standard with the 383 CID four-barrel V8. The Belvedere I, Belvedere II, and Belvedere III nameplates disappearaed and were now simply called the Belvedere. The GTX was the top-level trim, offered as a hardtop coupe and convertible (the same as the Sport Satellite), and wore a dual scoop hood, GTX identification, and equipped with the 440 'Super Commando' V-8 and heavy-duty brakes, suspension, shocks, and battery.

1968 Plymouth Satellite
The Satellite was above the Belvedere and below the Road Runner in regards to price and features. The Satellite sedan was priced at $2,550 and the hardtop coupe was approximately $20 higher. The convertible was priced at $2,830, the six-passenger wagon at $2,865, and the nine-passenger version at $2,970. The most popular was the hardtop coupe with 46,439 examples built, followed closely by the sedan with 42,309 units built. The convertible was the most exclusive with 1,771 examples constructed. 12,097 examples of the six-passenger wagon and 10,883 of the nine-passenger were built.

1968 Plymouth Satellite photo
V8 Sport Satellite Convertible
Chassis #: RP27H8G161779
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The Satellite came standard with a three-speed manual transmission, or optional automatic or four-speed manual with floor shift controls. The standard engine was the 225 CID inline-6 with overhead valves and 145 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The 273 CID V8 with 180 horsepower was optional, along with the 'Commando' 273 CID V8 with a four-barrel carburetor and 235 horsepower. The 318 CID V8 delivered 230 hp and the 440 CID V8 (standard in the GTX) had 375 hp.

The list of standard amenities and safety equipment included a padded dash, energy-absorbing seatbacks and steering column, safety armrests with ashtrays, Safety-Rim wheels, seat belts, padded visor, turn signals, rearview mirror, side marker lights, dual brake system with warning lamp, carpeting, vinyl door panels, dual horns and a horn ring, day-night inside mirror, two-speed washer and wipers, folding seatback latches on two-door body styles, recessed controls, and flashers.

Styling features of the Satellite included wide rocker moldings on the station wagon, chrome window frames and gutter rails, and upper belt moldings. The 'Satellite' name appeared on the fenders in script.

1968 Plymouth Satellite photo
V8 Station Wagon
The Sport Satellite hardtop coupe was priced approximately $225 higher than the Satellite hardtop coupe, and $75 less than the Road Runner coupe. The convertible was priced at $3,035 and 1,523 examples were built, much lower than the 21,014 examples of the hardtop coupe.

The Sport Satellite came standard with the 318 CID V8, body accent stripes, wide rocker moldings, the blacked-out horizontal blade grille and foam seat cushions.

The combined Satellite, Sport Satellite, and Satellite Sport Wagon production accounted for approximately seventeen-percent of Plymouth's 1968 production. The 136,136 examples built in 1968 were higher than the 114,157 units built for 1969 and much higher than the 32,378 built in 1967.

1969 Plymouth Satellite and Sport Satellite
With the Road Runner satisfying customer's performance needs, the Satellite and Sport Satellite lineup was expanded to full-line coupes and sedans. For 1969, the Sport Satellite gained body styles equal to the Satellite, consisting of a sedan, hardtop coupe, convertible, and a 6- and 9-passenger station wagon. The styling introduced the previous year would continue through 1970, with new grilles added in 1969 along with minor front and rear restyling for 1970, which was also the final year for the Belvedere name.

1968 Plymouth Satellite photo
V8 Station Wagon
Satellite two-door hardtops could be ordered with an optional flowered vinyl roof and matching 'mod' interior. Standard equipment included dual horns, a heater/defroster, nylon and vinyl trim, front shoulder belts, roof drip and lower body rocker moldings, vertical center grille divider, and rear ashy armrest. The convertibles and coupes had all-vinyl interior trim.

The four-door sedan was priced at $2,635, the hardtop coupe at $2,660, the convertible at $2,875, and the six-passenger wagon at $3,000. The nine-passenger wagon approximately $105. The standard engine was the 273 cubic-inch inline-6 with overhead valves, a cast-iron block, four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Carter carburetor, and delivering 190 horsepower at 4,400 RPM.

The Sport Satellite wore additional moldings along its 'B' pillar and wheel openings, chrome door frames on sedans, an accent stripe, and equipped with foam front seats. The convertibles had bucket seats. The Sport Satellite, with the same body styles as the Satellite, was approximately $275 higher, with the range-topping nine-passenger wagon listed at $3,350. The Sport Satellite was offered solely with eight-cylinder power, with the standard engine being the 318 cubic-inch eight (optional on the Satellite) with overhead valves, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter two-barrel carburetor, and 230 horsepower at 4,400 RPM.

1968 Plymouth Satellite photo
V8 Station Wagon
Auction entries : 1
Optional engines on both the Satellite and Sport Satellite included the four-barrel 383 CID V-8 that was standard in the Road Runner and offered 335 horsepower at 5,200 RPM. The 440 CID option, standard in the GTX, produced 375 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. The Road Runner and GTX could also be equipped with the 'Street Hemi.'

The Satellite hardtop coupe and four-door Sedan were the most popular with 38,323 and 35,296 units respectively. 1,137 examples were convertibles, 5,837 were the six-passenger wagon, and 4,730 were the 9-passenger wagon.

The hardtop coupe body style of the Sport Satellite was the most popular of the line, with 15,807 examples built, followed by 5,836 of the sedan, 818 of the convertible, 3,221 of the 6-passenger wagon, and 3,152 of the nine-passenger wagon.


by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2021

Related Reading : Plymouth Satellite History

Introduced in 1965 as the top model in Plymouths mid-size Belvedere line, the Plymouth Satellite used Chryslers mid-size B platform. The Satellite was available with the newly optional Street Hemi engine in 1966. This engine came to compete with the two 4-barrel carburetors and 10.251 compression. This body style remained for the following year with only minor trim changes. All mid-sized....
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1968 Plymouth Satellite Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1968 Satellite
$3,210-$166,900
1968 Plymouth Satellite Price Range: $2,545 - $3,210

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1968 Plymouth Models
$2,230 - $2,420
$2,590 - $3,425
$3,230 - $3,420
$3,330 - $3,591

Satellite

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
38,158
116.00 in.
8 cyl., 273.00 CID., 180.00hp
8 cyl., 318.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 361.00 CID., 265.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 325.00hp
, 426.00 CID., 425.00hp
$2,695 - $2,905
32,378
116.00 in.
6 cyl., 225.00 CID., 145.00hp
8 cyl., 273.00 CID., 180.00hp
8 cyl., 273.00 CID., 235.00hp
8 cyl., 426.00 CID., 425.00hp
$2,745 - $2,990
136,136
116.00 in., 117.00 in.
8 cyl., 318.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 290.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 330.00hp
8 cyl., 426.00 CID., 425.00hp
$2,545 - $3,210
114,157
116.00 in., 117.00 in.
6 cyl., 225.00 CID., 145.00hp
8 cyl., 273.00 CID., 190.00hp
8 cyl., 318.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 290.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 330.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 335.00hp
8 cyl., 440.00 CID., 375.00hp
$2,636 - $3,349
129,106
115.00 in., 117.00 in.
6 cyl., 225.00 CID., 145.00hp
8 cyl., 318.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 275.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 335.00hp
8 cyl., 440.00 CID., 375.00hp
$2,660 - $3,640
115.00 in.
8 cyl., 400.00 CID., 255.00hp
$3,075 - $3,075
199,148
115.00 in., 117.00 in.
6 cyl., 198.00 CID., 110.00hp
$2,755 - $3,740
150,963
115.00 in., 117.00 in.
6 cyl., 225.00 CID., 105.00hp
$3,155 - $4,380

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