1971 Plymouth Satellite

The Plymouth Satellite was in production from 1965 through 1974, with the original styling lasting through 1967. In 1968, it was given a 116-inch wheelbase for the sedan and coupe while the station wagon used a 117-inch platform. It was larger than the Valiant and Barracuda and smaller than the Fury and VIP.

The Coke-bottle styling gave way to a new 'fuselage' design for 1971, similar in appearance to the larger Chrysler C-body models. The coupes and hardtop coupes wore integral bumpers and grilles, with dual rounded headlights, and down-swooping curved panels. The sedans and station wagons had their own unique appearance, with conventional doors, regular-type grilles, and narrower horizontal taillamps. The trim levels on the sedan included base, Custom, and Brougham, and the two-doors were available in five trim levels, including the base, Roadrunner, Sebring, Sebring Plus, and GTX.

The two-door coupes rested on a 115-inch wheelbase while the sedans and station wagon used a larger 117-inch wheelbase. The coupes had an overall length of 203.2-inches, the sedans measured 204.6-inches and the station wagons at 210.9-inches. The standard engine was an overhead valve inline-6 with a 225 cubic-inch displacement, four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Carter two-barrel carburetor, and 145 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The 318 cubic-inch V8 with overhead valves, five main bearings, and a two-barrel carburetor delivered 230 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. The 340 CID V8 produced 275 hp, the 383 CID V8 with 335 hp, and the 440 CID delivered 375 hp.

The Satellite Sebring hardtop coupe was priced at $2,930 with six-cylinder power and $3,025 with the base V8. Among its list of standard equipment included drip rail accents, sill moldings, wheelhouse trim, dual conventional horns, and front foam cushions.

The Satellite Sebring Plus two-door hardtop coupe was priced at $3,180 and came with vinyl bucket seats, front foam cushions, and deluxe wheel covers. Wheel trim rings could be added as a no-cost feature. A total of 16,253 examples were built.

The Satellite Custom four-door sedan was priced at $2,900, the six-passenger station wagon at $3,235, and the nine-passenger wagon at $3,315. The sedan was the most popular with 30,773 examples built, followed by 5,045 of the six-passenger wagon, and 3,865 of the 9-passenger version.

The Satellite Brougham had bright armrest bases, rear seat armrests, whitewall tires, and bright upper door frame moldings. Offered solely as a sedan with a base price of $3,190, a total of 3,020 examples were built.

The Satellite Regent wagon included a six-passenger version priced at $3,560 and a nine-passenger version at $3,640. A total of 2,161 had the six-passenger seating while 2,985 had the 9-passenger configuration. These were well-equipped vehicles with standard amenities found on the Sebring Brougham plus added a vinyl bench seat, carpeting, and heavy-duty brakes.

The Road Runner had a heavy-duty suspension and heavy-duty shocks, floor shift controls, Rally gauge cluster, 'Beep-Beep' horn, performance hood, low-restriction dual exhaust, a 383 cubic-inch V8 engine, front foam seat cushions, and deep pile carpeting. The two-door hardtop coupe had a base price of $3,150 and 14,218 examples were built in 1971.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2022