1966 Dodge Coronet 500 HEMI

ESTIMATE: $70,000 to $90,000

Principal Use: Trailered Show Car

Conditional Grade: Excellent Plus

* 90%-96% of showroom condition. Exceptionally nice. May have slight wear on exterior and interior finishes but visible only under close inspection consistent with years of show detailing, climate controlled storage, enclosed transport, and indoor display. Most cars in this class are not driven more than a few miles per year.

Overall Originality: Restored as Factory Equipped

* Vehicle has usually been professionally restored to the current highest standard, using only refurbished original parts and new old stock (NOS) factory parts. Strict adherence to replicating factory fit, finishes, and marking details is paid. All bare metal and plated finishes must be as factory produced. Paint and body must approximate factory fit and finish.

SYA's 5 Keys to Investment Collectability:

* One of 204 HEMI Coronet 500 4-speed hardtops built in 1966, 3 of 30 built in the St. Louis plant accounted for in the Registry

* Documented by Original Certicard, Chrysler Registry Letter, and Professional Decode by Galen Govier

* Formerly of the Dave's Garage Car Collection

* Numbers Matching, Factory Solid Lifter 426 HEMI with Four Speed

* Desirably optioned, Bright Red Over White Bucket Seats Center Console Floor Shift, Power Brakes Dana 60 Rear End

The Coronet 500 HEMI featured here has been fully restored to original and shows only 41,891 miles on the clock. The engine and our speed transmission are coupled to a Dana 60 rear end to handle the pavement stomping 425 (official) horsepower. The creased and simple Coke Bottle body style that was favored by Mopar design in this era featured a light touch with the pen and sharp angles with frugal use of flourishes and fluff matching the all business mechanicals underneath. Finished in original Bright Red, with White interior and Magnum wheels, this Coronet is one of the finest and most well-presented examples available. She is documented by Original Certicard, Chrysler Registry Letter, and Professional Decode.

The interior retains its bucket seats with center console and floor shifter, with the optional tachometer mounted on the console. Condition and presentation are the highest levels in keeping with the rest of the car. Engine bay, undercarriage and trunk carry the restoration standards throughout. Paint finish is applied to as new or better, and the overall presentation and detail are executed to the highest level.

Model History:

Dodge resurrected the Coronet model for its mid-sized lineup in 1965 after leaving it dormant since 1959. The following year, the Coronet lineup was expanded and could be purchased with everything from the Slant Six drivetrain to the mighty 426 HEMI. Only 732 buyers took the HEMI option in their Coronet, and of those buyers, 204 chose the close ratio four-speed transmission option. The Coronet 500 HEMI models quickly proved to be a top contender in the muscle car wars with 0-60mph times in the 6-second range and top speed published at 143mph. Even though this was the slightly detuned 'Street HEMI', it still produced 425 hp with its dual four barrel fuel delivery.