1966 Dodge Coronet - Carolina Coronet

Harry Houpe and his wife Linda already owned one Mopar, a B5 blue '69 Dodge Charger, but decided they would enjoy another Chrysler product to drive and take to car shows. Not in a big hurry, Harry and Linda kept their eyes open and let friends know about their search, but weren't finding any decent cars within a reasonable distance of their Nebo, North Carolina, home. Then one Sunday, a fellow church member named Jeff told Linda about an old Dodge two-door hardtop he had seen, and that it was in nearly perfect condition. Excited, Linda and Harry got the phone number of the car's owner from Jeff and called to find out what kind of Dodge it was.

When the owner of the Dodge answered the phone, he said that he did have a '66 Coronet 440, and that he was interested in selling the car. He invited Harry to come check out the car in person, and they arranged a time to meet. Pulling into the driveway, Harry already had a number in mind, but was shocked by the condition of the Coronet. Speaking with the owner, he learned that the car was purchased new by the gentleman on June 25, 1966, from the Harris Motor Company in Marion, Indiana, and that it was his wife's transportation to and from work. After only a few years, however, she could no longer work so the car just sat in a carport, then a garage, for many years.

Looking the Coronet over, Harry saw that it was in amazingly immaculate condition for its age. The paint, interior, and engine were all original, and receipts confirmed that the only real maintenance performed on the car involved installing a set of shocks in 1994, new tires the next week, and regular oil changes. The owner stated that he kept the car clean and waxed, and started it regularly to keep the battery charged and the fluids circulated. Harry took some photos to show his wife, and the Coronet's owner said he would wait to hear from Harry before letting anyone else know the car was for sale.

After showing Linda the photos, the couple decided they had found their next Mopar. A week after seeing the car for the first time, a deal was struck and the car was taken to Harry and Linda's house with the help of friend and fellow car club member Randy and his trailer. When asked to describe the Coronet, the only term Harry could come up with is remarkable, and after seeing the photos we have to agree.

Equipped with a 318 poly engine, this '66 Dodge is optioned with power steering, automatic transmission, a remote driver's mirror, AM radio, and ZZ1 gold metallic paint. Showing just over 25,000 miles on the odometer, Harry plans to simply clean and detail the car, replace the belts, hoses, fluids, and brakes, and then enjoy driving the Coronet to local car shows. This Coronet is a true survivor car and gives us hope that there are still Mopars out there in great shape, just waiting to be discovered. We thank Harry and Linda for sharing their hidden treasure, and look forward to seeing the Coronet in person at one of the shows they plan to attend.