In 1966 the newly released Plymouth Satellite was an average car that the average American would have purchased as average transportation. However, buyers in the know who checked the appropriate boxes on the Chrysler/Plymouth order blank that year transformed this luxo ship into a destroyer with relative ease. Such was the case with this example. Only 314 automatic-equipped Satellites would come down the assembly line sporting a 426 Hemi mill under the bonnet during the street version's inaugural appearance.
The present owner of this beast, David Kruk of Warren, Michigan, has owned the car since 1990. David makes his living working for GM, but the car's cherry condition made it one he couldn't refuse (yeah, right, plus maybe ol' King Kong residing under the hood helped that decision too, huh, Dave?). All kidding aside, with little wear showing for its 64,000 miles, the car looks like a showroom traffic-stopper, helped along by a fresh sheen of PPG Dark Green Urethane applied by Tony G. of Showcase Collision.
Although David is the 11th owner, he contacted several of the previous owners and learned that the engine definitely resided between the fenderwells when the car first left the assembly line. To that end, the list of aftermarket hop-ups is exactly zero. Internally, the .020-inch-over pistons are the only nonoriginal pieces. The rods, crank, heads, valves, and even the intake and carburetors are the original units. Holbrook Racing Enterprises of Inkster, Michigan (which, incidentally, are best known for its IHRA Ford Pro Stocks), gets the credit for the engine rebuild.
Chrysler chose to use the narrow Blue Streak tires on this muscular Mopar when it was new, since the tires were the best street rubber of the day. Despite their razor-blade appearance, David returned to them during the restoration. The interior of the car was reupholstered by Legendary Auto Interiors in the original black vinyl and looks factory fresh. The rest of the driveline is as built, with a stock converter and a 3.23-equipped 8 3/4-inch Sure Grip differential.
Due to the car's state of preservation, it's highly unlikely you'll find Dave at Milan or at Mid-Michigan doing smoky burnouts any time soon. After all, those Blue Streaks would last about 30 seconds with the engine kicking 3,000 rpm or better and the rear gear spinning with abandon. No, this Satellite stays close to earth these days; its time-traveling past is now as historic as the Apollo programs from its youth.