Unique 1971 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus 383 4v 400hp "Restified" Survivor

I am the 3rd owner of my 1971 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus. and it is a true survivor having 70-80% of it's original "Torr Red" (Plymouth's name for Hemi Orange) paint and all it's factory pin stripping (now cracked from age).   It has what I believe to be 124K original miles. having sat for many years in the original's garage after it had a small wiring harness fire (or so I was told). This explains the incredible original condition of much of this car.  

The 2nd owner got a California personalized plate that reads "NOT BIRD". Which of course means it is not a Roadrunner. although it looks like one and many folks ask about that.

The Satellite Sebring Plus was the Top of the Line Satellite. above both the Roadrunner and the GTX as you can see from the 1971 Plymouth catalog I've pictured here.   It was a lot more expensive that the GTX or Roadrunner. so they are fairly rare by comparison. It is actually shown on the same center page as the Roadrunner and GTX in the 1971 Plymouth catalog as the top option for an upgraded Satellite. The Sebring Plus was the "Gentleman's Roadrunner". standard with Mopar's V8 (but you could get an optional big block 383 like mine).   The Sebring Plus had a standard deluxe interior and other options you couldn't get on a GTX or Roadrunner. IMHO. mine's even better now because it's got those great looks and original creature comforts like center console. bucket seats. A/C. PS. PB. that cool half vinyl top. PLUS this one now has it's drive train enhanced with more horsepower than a stock GTX or Roadrunner.   It's also got that legendary racing 727 slap-stik auto trans that's fun to drive and really works great. The racing Mopars preferred the 727 slap-stik to the 4 speed. they were faster! So this car has all the power of a Roadrunner or GTX. it's VERY unique and rare so you will stand out at any car show among the more common Roadrunner and GTX cars. Plus NOT BIRD has that classic Mopar Orange on that ultra rare Elastomeric eyebrow front bumper. and matching rubber coated & painted rear bumper!

The 2nd owner "rescued" this Sebring Plus and put in a new wiring harness. He generally "refurbished" this car. leaving much of the cosmetics (like paint and interior) original. and mostly focused on enhancing the driving performance. which is spectacular to say the least! He also changed the color of the half vinyl top. headliner. and lower side wall panels of the interior from White to Black. This car originally had the "Halloween Interior". with Black/White/Orange 3 tone.   I left it "as is" as I prefer the two tone. and the only thing I changed were the seats that were kinda worn with new factory spec Orange/Black for both front and rear seats.   The original headliner is untorn and still in nice shape. although it was painted Black. as were the original side panels of the doors and back seat. in the color refurbushing by the 2nd owner.

The 2nd owner also found and installed the highly desirable and rare "elastomeric" front bumper "eyebrow"painted Torr Red to match the rear rubberized rear bumper.   So there is almost no chrome on the car now. and I just love it that way.   So does everybody else because this car really draws thumbs up where ever I go.   These "rubber eyebrow" bumpers were an original option in 1971 and a nod to it's famous cousin. the Super Bird driven to glory by Richard Petty.   The trunk also has the braces for the wing (under the trunk lid). but I like it "as is" so I never explored adding a wing to it. I am told these special order elastomeric front bumpers sell for $2K IF you can find one!

Although an originally an air conditioned car. the 2nd owner removed the massive factory Mopar A/C components under the hood to improve performance.   I reinstalled modern lightweight A/C components (that do not drain power) after I bought the car as I live in So Cal and needed that cold air. and it blows VERY cold now.

I am the 3rd owner of a car that was originally born in Los Angeles (like me. although somewhat earlier). The Sebring Plus was on the same page of the GTX and Roadrunner. but featured more trim nd creature comforts like A/C. power brakes and and power steering.   That said. this car was a custom ordered highly optioned (14) car including: Power Steering. Air Conditioning. Slap-stik 727 auto. Power disk brakes. Deluxe Lighting group. Posi-Traction. 6 way mechanical driver's bucket seat. 150mph "Vanishing Point" speedo. center console. rear defroster.

Original 383 drive train rebuilt to 400 HP (Dyno'd @ 265HP to rear wheels). mild cam. Edlebrock Hi Rise intake manifold w/ 650 Performer 4v Headers. 3 stage Flowmasters (it came w/ 2 stage Flowmasters but it set off all the car alarms when I drove thru a parl garage. now it only sets off half of them : > ). It also has Crager classics with bigger tires on the rear and traction bars. so it doesn't burn rubber. it just grabs and goes! 

This car has had no rust ever. anywhere. it is sooo clean and as I can tell never was in an accident. but there is a rear quarter repair which was repainted so that's the 20-30% that is not the original paint. However. I can detect no body work or bondo in that pass side rear quarter repair so it must have been a very minor scratch! The original spare tire and jack are still in trunk. and the original trunk mat is currently protected by newer repro mat.  

Last week I entered it for the first ever in the largest Mopar show on the west coast. the annual Spring Fling at Woodley Park. Van Nuys California. It won 2nd in class!  (see the plaque) The class was "71-74 Restified" which means no more than 7 modifications allowed (so not highly modified). There were literally dozens of cars in this category. and it got a 2nd!  The Spring Fling draws 100s of great Mopars every year. and dozens of vendors. It and goes two days. check out the pix on line.

Added: period correct Cragars. original period correct Grant steering wheel. modern (high powered LOUD) CD/stereo system in custom mounted under dash case with no mods to dash. it also has a period correct tachometer and separate oil pressure and voltage gauges under the dash.

As I have mentioned before. it still has 70-80%+ of it's original Tor-Red paint w/ factory White pin striping!  There are a few spots where (the former owner) polished thru thru tot he primer and a few touch ups here and there. but you must pardon it's few small dings. dents and scratches because as I believe; your only original once!

VIN: RP23L1E120393   Eng: 2468130-11 DN August 13 1970    Trans: 09104-2466901-1EI2093

NOTE: I've been collecting spare parts since I bough this car many years ago. I have two boxes of all kinds of spare parts. I have spare lights. service parts. the original steering wheel (boring) and even a spare bumper. It also comes with the original shop manual (two part set. 5" of technical details) and custom California Car cover (I always have kept the car covered in my garage).

As for transportation. I can help arrange shipping. either by truck for a domestic buyer. or by sea for an international buyer. We are close to Los Angeles or San Pedro harbors. Or. if you wish to fly into Hollywood/Burbank or LAX I will pick you up and you can drive Not Bird home. This car is well maintained and ready to drive to any city in the USA tomorrow. I have been driving it almost daily for the last few weeks. including showing (and winning!) at the big West Coast Mopar Spring Fling a few weeks ago.   I would not hesitate to drive Not Bird to Vancouver. Toronto. or Miami! tomorrow.

Also published at eBay.com

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