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

I am just 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 most 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 by the 2nd owner who revived her). 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 think it is a "customized" Roadrunner. which is actually is. but it's a FACTORY customized Roadrunner!

The Satellite Sebring Plus was the Top of the Line Satellite. above both the Roadrunner and the GTX  (see the line up on the back of 1971 Plymouth catalog I've attached).   It was common in 1971 to have your MOpar custom oredered with the features you wanted. and the build sheet for this custom ordered Sebring Plus meant it was a lot more expensive that the Roadrunner or the GTX. To my knowledge. this is the only Sebring Plus ordered with this custom feature set. so it is VRY rare rare by comparison to other 71 Mopars.   The bone stock Sebring Plus was the "Gentleman's Roadrunner". with a standard 318 V8. but then at the dealer you could order an optional big block 383 like mine. and many other options.   The Sebring Plus had a standard deluxe interior and other options you couldn't get on a GTX or Roadrunner. IMHO. I was attracted to my SP because it's had those great cosmetic upgrades and original creature comforts like center console. bucket seats. A/C. PS. PB. and that cool half vinyl top. PLUS it had the recently rebuilt. or "restified". nbsp; 383-4V drive train with a mild cam and that produces just over 400 more horsepower. which is MORE HP than optional 426 Hemi wih a 6 pack back in '71!  It's also got that legendary racing 727 slap-stik auto trans that's fun to drive and really works great. many feel this is the best racing auto trans ever. The racing Mopar guys (I. E. Richard Petty)s preferred the 727 slap-stik to the 4 speed. they were faster!

So this car has more power than a Hemi Roadrunner or GTX. plus it's cosmetically VERY unique and rare.   It certainly stands out and attracts attention at car show among the many more common Roadrunner and GTX cars. especially with NOT BIRD's classic Torr Red original paint (aka Hemi Orange) on that ultra rare optional (added) Elastomeric eyebrow front bumper. and with it's matching rubber coated & painted rear bumper!

NOT BIRD's History: I am the 3rd owner of a car that was originally born in Los Angeles (like me. although somewhat later). 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.

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 still in nice shape. albeit painted Black to go 2 tone. 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.   Most the customised Mopars just have a painted bumper. but the sculpted look of the Elastomeric always steals the show! You almost never see this original option so the Mopar guys really geek out over Not Bird!  The trunk also has the braces for the wing (under the trunk lid). but I never though about adding a wing to it. I like it as is.   FYI. I am told these special order elastomeric front bumpers sell for $2K. but only  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 had to decide to restore it to original or upgrade it to moder AC. which is what I did (at great expense!).   I had to engineer all new pullys and bracing and of course this is he stuff that cost money. I spent $4. 00 at a local hod rod shop installing modern lightweight A/C components (that do not drain power) to match up and function with the original inside AC control. so it looks stock on the dash! Expewnsive. but well worth is as I live in So Cal and needed that cold air. and it blows VERY cold now.

NOT BIRD's "Restified"Performance: The 2nd owner rebuilt the original 383 engine to 400 HP (Dyno'd @ 265HP to rear wheels). added a mild cam. Edlebrock Hi Rise intake manifold w/ 650 Performer 4v Headers.   The is now 3 stage Flowmasters (I got it w/ 2 stage Flowmasters but it set off all the car alarms when I drove thru a parl garage so I changed those out for the 2 stage. 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! 

I have receipts from the 2nd owner and myself totaling over $14. 00 spent on refurbushing Not Bird. all done within the last 5. 00 miles so the car is mechanically like new. it needs nothing but gas!

NOT BIRD's Condition: This car has had no rust ever. anywhere. really! As I can tell. it was never was in an accident. except there is a rear quarter repair which was repainted so that's the 20-30% that is not the original paint. and one small parking lot scrape on the front Passenger fender well. 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 there. but currently protected by newer repro mat.  

Last month 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 factory paint has been polished thru thru to the bare metal (Plymouth did not use a primer in those days!). nbsp; and more tnan 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 rear (chrome) 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. Dallas. Toronto. or Miami! tomorrow.

Also published at eBay.com

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