Plymouth : Other

Attention all Mopar Lovers!! Up for sale is a rare. only one of 50 built 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II hardtop. VIN RH23H61180429 The car is a numbers matching 426/ 425hp Hemi-equipped Plymouth Belvedere II.

This car is a very solid. rust free. garage kept car with only 11. 00 original miles.

To break the car down.

VIN RH23H61180429 plate decodes as follows:
                   R = Plymouth. 116” wheelbase
                   H = Belvedere II (high trim)
                   23 = 2-door hardtop
                   H = 426 Hemi engine
                    6 = 1966 model year
                    1 = Lynch Road. Detroit assembly plant
                    180429 = sequential production number
   Build plate has the following codes:
                     u1 = sold car
                     A7 = 426 cubic inch
                     B3 = 2x4 barrel carbs
                     C3 = 4 speed transmission
                     G1 = 26” radiator
                     C14 = December 14. 1965 build date
                     32008 = shop order number
                     RH23 = Belvedere II 2-door hardtop
                     H4X =  “high” trim bench seats. black (X)
                     661 = mauve metallic paint (top & bottom)
                     B = black inside door paint
   Engine block has the following markings:
                     2468330 = 426 Hemi block casting number
                     -1 = number of cores required for block casting
                     8-16-65 = August 16. 1965 block casting date
                     B = 1965
                     H = Hemi
                     426 = cubic inch displacement

                    490lbs torque.

                    10. 25 compression.
                      + (Maltese Cross) = . 001”  undersize crankshaft main bearings

The features found only on Belvederes equipped with the 426 Hemi engine by the factory. To help cope with the extra power of this engine. the factory strengthened the unit body in several key areas. similar to a convertible body. The proper gussets are welded to the front and rear attachment points of the rear springs. An additional brace is also welded to the bottom of the rear floor pan. where the rear axle pinion snubber could strike it under extreme acceleration. A skid plate is also welded to the bottom of the front frame cross member. The factory added this to protect the Hemi-only deep oil pan from damage. The front frame cross member is unique to Hemi cars due to the special motor mounts required to harness the extra power of this engine. A front sway bar is correctly mounted to the front suspension. The floor areas and unit body structures are all in excellent condition with no evidence of damage or repair. Hemi cars built with a 4-speed manual transmission were always equipped with a Dana 60 9 ¾” ring gear rear axle. This rear axle. as well as the front end are shod with the expected 11” drum brakes that were part of the heavy-duty Hemi package. It is evident that Chrysler over-built some areas of these cars. expecting them to be raced. with a minimum of breakage.
   Under the hood. the car exhibits the 1966-Hemi-only bracket mounted to the driver side inner fender that carries the horn and starter relays. The original 1966 Hemi-specific wiring harness is also present and correct. This car is equipped with a 26” radiator as part of the Hemi option. as indicated on the trim plate. This larger than normal radiator requires a special front bulkhead with a larger opening to accommodate it. This larger bulkhead is correct and original to this car.
    The car build date is shown on the trim plate to be December 14. 1965. An examination of the engine block casting date shows it to be August 16. 1965. and date specific. The Belvedere II exhibits HP2 signs on the forward sections of the front fenders. Only 426 Hemi-equipped Plymouth B-body (Belvedere I. Belvedere II. & Satellite) built before January 1. 1966 had these signs. With the December 14. 1965 build date of the car. these would be correct. Legend has it that no more than 150 Plymouth B-bodys. across the three different series were assembled with these HP2 signs. Hemi Plymouths built after January 1. 1966 all received the 426 HEMI signs that Dodge used on their Hemi-equipped B-bodys. These signs were attached to the lower section of the front fender. behind the wheel opening. Only 280 Belvedere II 2-door hardtops were built with a 426 Hemi engine and 4-speed for the 1966 model year.
   The car does have aftermarket Edelbrock carburetors. and a Hurst shifter on the 4-speed. None of these changes are permanent. and could be easily returned to stock equipment.

The car is equipped with TTI hemi headers with 3” exhaust.
A good many race cars had their rear wheel wells enlarged to accommodate larger racing slicks. Thankfully such was not the fate for this Belvedere. as the original wheel houses are uncut and in excellent condition.
   This Belvedere II demonstrated that the power train. brakes. suspension. and steering all functioned well. This is a nice. tight-feeling car. The standard drum brakes. non-power steering. manual transmission and heavy-duty clutch all require some extra effort that modern cars have made us forget.