Manufacturer Chrysler Corporation Model years 1965–1974 Layout FR layout | Production 1964–1974 Class Mid-size | |
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Assembly Highland Park, Michigan (Lynch Road Assembly) | ||
The Plymouth Satellite is an automobile that was introduced as a 1965 model year top trim model in Plymouth's mid-size Belvedere line and available only in two-door hardtop and convertible body designs. The Satellite remained the top of the line model until the 1967 model year, where it became the mid-price model with the GTX taking its place as the top model. The Fury name was moved to Plymouth's mid-size models for 1975, at which time the Satellite name was discontinued. The Satellite was built on Chrysler's mid-size "B" platform.
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First Generation (1965-1967)
When the new, larger Plymouth Fury was introduced for 1965 on Chrysler's full-size C platform, the Plymouth Belvedere name was moved to Plymouth's "new" mid-size line for 1965. The Belvedere Satellite was the top trim model in the series, above the Belvedere I and II. It was only available as a two-door hardtop or convertible. Bucket seats and center console were standard, as well as a V8 engine. For 1965, the standard engine was the 273 cu in (4.5 L) with optional 318 cu in (5.2 L), 361 cu in (5.9 L), as well as 383 cu in (6.3 L) and 426 cu in (7.0 L) Commando" engines. This 426 had the wedge combustion chamber design, and is not the 426 "Hemi" that was offered in 1966. The front end featured single headlights on each side, and a grille divided into four thin rectangles laid horizontally.
The 1965 Satellite two-door hardtop total production was 23,341 units. It weighed 3,220 lb (1,460 kg) with a base price of $2,612. Convertible production was 1,860 units. It weighed 3,325 lb (1,508 kg) and was priced at $2,827 in standard trim.
The 1966 redesigned Satellite was available with a "Street Hemi" engine with two 4-barrel carburetors and 10.25:1 compression. This engine was rated at 425 hp (317 kW) at 5,000 rpm and 490 lb·ft (664 N·m) of torque at 4,000 rpm. The other V8 engine options for 1966 remained the 180 hp (130 kW) 273, the 318 at 230 hp (170 kW), as well as the 265 hp (198 kW) Commando 361 and Commando 383 at 325 hp (242 kW), down from its 330 hp (250 kW) rating in 1965.
The 1967 Satellite was a carryover from 1966, but there were several trim changes. A new grille featured dual side-by-side headlights, a change in the rear trunk finish panel and taillights included multiple horizontal ribs. New horizontal aluminum trim at the lower body crease with lower silver paint gave all 1967 Satellites essentially a two-tone paint scheme. For 1966 and 1967, the interior vinyl seats and door panels were treated to a unique 'Western Scroll' design which mimicked tooled leather in appearance. This was the 'premium' interior shared with the GTX in 1967. For 1966 and 1967 the Satellite was again offered only in 2-door hardtop and convertible models and was powered by V8 engines. The 361 was discontinued for the 1967 models, but a 2-barrel 383 producing 270 hp (200 kW) was optional, as well as 4-barrel version rated at 325 hp (242 kW).
Production figures for 1966 were 35,399 hardtops and 2,759 convertibles.
Second Generation (1968-1970)
A restyled and higher trimmed Sport Satellite model with a standard 318 V8 was introduced in 1968, at which time the Belvedere name was relegated to the low-trim base models, Satellite being the mid level trim line. The 1968 model year was also the first time that the Satellite line was expanded beyond the 2-door hardtop and convertible, when a 4-door sedan and station wagon were offered.
The 1968 model year was also the introduction of the Plymouth Road Runner that shared the same body as the Satellite and Belvedere models.
The 1968 body continued through 1970, with a minor front and rear restyling for 1970, which was the last year for the Belvedere name.
Third Generation (1971-1974)
A new design was introduced for the 1971 model year. The Satellite adopted new "fuselage" styling - in line with the facelifts on the larger Chrysler C-Body models - on the two-door, four-door, and wagon models. Unlike previous years, 4-door sedans and 2-door coupes did not share sheet metal and each carried unique styling. Sedans were available in base, Custom, and Brougham trim, while two-doors were available in base trim (with rear windows that did not roll down), Sebring trim, and Sebring Plus trim. Station wagons were available in base, Custom, or wood-trimmed Regent models. Two-door models had a loop-type front bumper, and this body was the basis for the related GTX and Roadrunner models.
For the 1973 model year, the two-door models - including the Sebring - received more conventional front end and squared up sheet metal and rear side windows
Safety requirements for the 1974 model year included 5 mph (8.0 km/h) bumpers for the sedans and wagons. The Satellite name was dropped after 1974, after which Plymouth's intermediate offerings on the B-body chassis took the Plymouth Fury name. The Satellite Sebring was replaced by the Chrysler Cordoba (a car which was originally intended to be a Plymouth) and shared an all new body with the Dodge Charger.