For sale in our Chicago showroom is this very unique 1965 Plymouth Belvedere. These vehicles are truly a result of the perfect conditions. Ford and Chrysler had gotten into extremely heated battle of who would win at the drag strip. The sanctioning bodies of the races decided that a factory firewall must be used, so the old practice of moving the firewall, engine, and transmission rearward in an attempt to place more weight over the rear tires and, in effect, gain traction, was no longer legal. Chrysler then sprouted the idea to move the wheelbase of the vehicle to provide the same effect. The rear axle was moved forward approximately 15 inches, and the front wheels moved forward 10 inches. All of this shifting put an estimated 56% of the weight over the rear wheels, providing absurd amounts of traction for the day. Cars in factory trim would run low 10-second 01/4 mile times and some as low as middle 9-second territory! This particular example is powered by a Hilborn injected 528 cubic inch HEMI V8 engine churning enough power to drag this sled down the ¼ mile in a consistent 10.30s. The transmission is a 727 Torqueflite 3 speed automatic.

While all of this sounds very purpose-built, this is a fully legal street car, and was originally marketed as such. As an option on the vehicle, all of the fiberglass pieces, including the hood, front fenders, doors, and the front and rear bumpers, weighed in at only eighty pounds. That’s about half of what a typical driver would weigh. Inside, the red vinyl seats are the correct interior for what one would find in one of these very capable machines. A full exhaust system has been fabricated for this vehicle, and will be included with the sale for those daring enough to try to tame this monster on the streets. A race-ready rollbar with swing-out door bars keeps you legal at the drag strip.

This period correct factory racecar is a chance to own a staple in automotive history, and is sure to prove itself as a worthy investment. All but one of the original “Ramchargers” have signed the steel trunk lid on this vehicle. This 1965 Plymouth Belvedere is sure to strike up memories, emotions, and conversations with those fortunate enough to have lived through the golden age of motoring. Options include: Alloy Wheels, Radial Tires, Seats Belts, and Vinyl Interior. For more information on this piece of automotive history, visit our Chicago showroom or call (708) 444-4488. To see more HD photos and video of this vehicle, visit www.GatewayClassicCars.com.