1965 Plymouth Belvedere

1965 was a significant year for Plymouth for several reasons: the introduction of the all-new Belvedere Satellite, which became the premium model on the B-body platform, and the new race-oriented package for the Plymouth Belvedere (RO51). When new rules in the NASCAR series banned the 426 Hemi, factory race boss Ronney Householder protested by boycotting the series, which freed up money to sponsor drag racers. With the ingenuity of engineers working under Race Hemi engine creator Tom Hoover, the company developed a new-for-1965 Super Stock sedan, now referred to as the 'A990' model because of the unique single-year characteristics of the car's Hemi engine, which included a magnesium cross-ram intake and aluminum heads. Built on the newly-redesigned Plymouth Belvedere body and sister Dodge Coronet, it was constructed in all-steel, as the NHRA had outlawed all aluminum and fiberglass body panels in the stock classes for the new 1965 season.

The year 1965 was the second for the Hemi following its dramatic introduction at the 1964 Daytona 500. Unlike the original 1950s version, the new 426 cubic-inch engine had been designed with competition in mind from the beginning. With the Hemi, Joe Smith won the 1965 NHRA World Champion title, and Ed Miller won the 1967 Super Stock World Finals. The North Carolina team of Sox & Martin was hired away from Mercury that season as well, and would run a hardtop model the factory had acid-dipped and a modified sedan based on the SS release.

The 1965 Plymouth Belvedere

The 1965 Plymouth Belvedere came standard with a six-cylinder engine but was known for its muscle, a reputation that would continue with the introduction of the GTX in 1967. A full range of V8 engines was offered for performance enthusiasts, including the 426 S Wedge. The list of eight-cylinder powerplants included the 318, 361, 383, and the 426-S Wedge Head. Plymouth even had a special 426 Hemi reserved for professional racers, producing an astonishing 425 horsepower.

The styling had been new in 1964, and significant changes to the front end were implemented in 1965. The headlamps were relocated from inside the grille to the fenders, and a larger, more intricate grille was fitted with a distinctive, full-width horizontal bar. The side molding was less sculpted, providing a cleaner look.

The Belvedere Series included the Belvedere I, the Belvedere II, and the potent Belvedere Satellite. The Belvedere I came as a 2- and 4-door sedan or as a station wagon. The Belvedere II added a 9-passenger station wagon and a convertible. The Satellite model was available only as a sporty 2-door hardtop coupe or as a convertible. The Satellite Convertible was the most exclusive body style in the lineup, with production figures reaching just 1,860 units. This was nearly matched by the Belvedere II Convertible, which saw just 1,921 units produced for 1965. The most popular was the 4-door sedans, with 35,968 and 41,445 examples produced for the Belvedere I and Belvedere II, respectively. Total model year production for all Plymouths reached 683,456 units (with calendar year sales at 728,228). In total, 159,535 examples of the Belvedere and Satellite Series were produced.

For 1965, the Belvedere name was no longer used as a level of trim designation but was now used on intermediate-size vehicles. The differences between the Belvedere I and Belvedere II were (besides the additional body styles), extra accessories. The Belvedere I came equipped with a heater and defroster, seat belts in the front, an oil filter, and Blackwall tires. The Belvedere II came standard with all the equipment found on the Belvedere I, plush carpeting, special trim and upholstery, foam cushions, and backup lights. There were also several design differences to help distinguish the I and the II. The Belvedere II had its name behind the front wheel openings, and there were full-length slanting horizontal moldings with color inserts.

The premium level Belvedere was the Satellite model which was both luxurious and sporty. It had all the equipment found in the Belvedere II, plus bucket seats in the front, full wheel covers, and all-vinyl trim on the two-door hardtop. A few exterior cosmetic features further distinguished it from its siblings.

A group of Chrysler engineers was assigned to develop a race-oriented package for the Dodge Coronet and Plymouth Belvedere models (W051 and RO51 models, respectively). Conforming to the rules of the era, the cars were based on standard production models and outfitted with numerous modifications that enhanced their competitive performance. Special front seats, the removal of the rear seats, special glass, and lightweight steel body panels were among the modifications. Power was sourced from the potent race-only A-990 426 Hemi modifications. This competitive package, designed for off-road (track) use, became legendary on the track. Approximately 100 examples of the RO51 were built.

The biggest engine available in 1965 from the Chrysler Corporation for street use was the 365 horsepower 426-S Super Commando Wedge. Individuals with connections with the factory could order the limited-production A990 racing version. This came with the 426 Race Hemi, special body changes, and an NHRA-legal race car. Partway through the year, factory engineers led the charge toward 'funny car' by rearranging the wheel positioning forward for better weight transfer.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2011