1965 Plymouth Belvedere Super Stock Drag Racer

Here's a photo of my #2 dream car - a 1965 Hemi Belvedere. Like the later Hemi Barracudas and Darts, these were produced specifically for the purpose of dominating NHRA drag racing, in SS/B (manual transmission) and SS/BA (automatic transmission). The photo is of Ken Montgomery, from the cover of National Dragster (Oct 9, 1998) who runs the ¼ mile in 9.6 seconds @ nearly 140 MPH. Ken's car is an original, which is something quite rare and desirable. Not only that, Ken is the original owner - having purchased it new in January 1965!

Ken's car came originally equipped with with an automatic but "in 1973, after bombing the national record so bad that I'd never be competitive with an automatic again, switched over to a stickshift". He now uses a Jerico transmission.

MAKE:
Plymouth

MODEL:
1965 Belvedere Super Stock

ENGINE:
426 CID V8, dual 4-barrel Drag Race, Hemi Head rated at 500 horsepower.

TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH:
Manual: Chrysler A-833 synchro "Hemi" 4-speed (large input shaft, oilite bronze-bushed gears).
Automatic: Chrysler A-727 "Hemi" Torqueflite (4 pinion planetary gearsets, 5 clutch clutchpacks).

REAR AXLE:
Dana Spicer 60 9.75" w/ PowerLock differential

FRONT SUSPENSION:
Torsion bar

REAR SUSPENSION:
Chrysler "Super Stock" leaf springs

OTHER:
Front Clip: Acid-dipped fenders, doors, hood, and bumpers
Side & Rear Glass: Special-made thin glass produced by Corning... very rare these days!
Interior: Heater & radio not available