1966 Dodge Coronet 440

Description

We've had a few of these pretty mid-60s Mopars recently, and this 1966 Dodge Coronet 440 hardtop might be one of the nicest yet. The handsome black paint shows off the angular body extremely well and with a strong-running 318 V8 under the hood, it more than lives up to the hype. Add in a few desirable factory options, a super-cool red interior, and you end up with a killer vintage Mopar that tops the cool charts.

According to the fender tag, this car was originally Code WW1 Dodge White, but given how non-committal the colors were back in 1966, the slick-black tuxedo it wears today is a big improvement. It's an attention-grabber, that's for sure, but the good news is that they seem to have gone the extra mile to make it tidy when it was repainted over a dozen years ago. You'll note that the detailing on the quarter panels is crisp, the crease along the top of the fender is sharp enough to give you a paper cut, and the smooth, flat areas are distortion-free. And as a full color change, you know it was completely disassembled, because there's just no trace of the original white paint anywhere. The finish shines up beautifully and the gloss is quite good for its age, and the black really sets off this car's more aggressive look that's often lost on the softer colors. Sure, it's not perfect, but the imperfections are certainly minor in anyone's book, but to be safe we'll call it a top driver-quality presentation with a great shine and awesome depth, further enhanced due to a recent ceramic coating application that's locked in all that terrific luster. We're glad they skipped the vinyl roof, too, because draping the dramatic roofline in vinyl softens the look too much, and the red pinstripe that runs from end-to-end at the top of the fenders and doors really pops and grabs the eye. The shiny chrome and brightwork do the same, in particular the laser-straight body molding, the ornate egg crate front grille, and the bright front and rear bumpers and their integrated bumper guards that look really tough.

The red interior looks pretty stock at first glance, and admittedly there's not much you can do to improve the original designers' work. However, up close you'll find reproduction seat covers that replicate the original look (including new cushions underneath the front bench), a newer dash pad, and a stunning, dual-ring steering wheel that's just downright gorgeous. The carpets were replaced at the same time as the seat covers many years ago but are still in excellent condition, and they do a great job insulating the cabin from the outside world, and most of the interior trim is original and in good condition. Factory gauges ahead of the driver are in great original shape too, although a trio of auxiliary units were stashed underneath to help keep a closer eye on the 318 under the hood. The super-clean dash houses a somewhat rare AM/FM radio still lives in the factory slot and unbelievably it still works, and there's factory A/C, too, which features a recently replaced compressor, R134a refrigerant and subsequent hardware, and neatly integrated vents in the dash. The headliner and door panels continue the uber-clean theme, as does the rear seat, and even the trunk is properly dressed with a reproduction plaid mat and a jack assembly stashed in the quarter panel, plus a spare tire tucked underneath.

This car was no slouch when it was new, since it came with a 318 V8 under the hood. OK, it's not a big block screamer, but there's plenty of torque at any speed and it certainly feels like there's a cam tucked in there to give it a little extra oomph. From the original air cleaner to the Hemi Orange paint on the block, it has a very OEM look under the hood, although those Mopar Performance valve covers at the flanks certainly get the heart racing. The A/C compressor dominates the top of the engine, but if you look closely you'll see newer and restored parts pretty much everywhere you look, including a new batter and cables, and a completely new X-pipe dual exhaust system was installed from the manifolds all the way back through upgraded Magnaflow mufflers. The A727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission snaps off gear changes without hesitating, and the original 8.75-inch rear end carries street-friendly gears. Underneath there's an independent front suspension, leaf springs and air shocks out back, and super-solid floor pans and components throughout. 15-inch Mag 500 wheels were recently fitted with 235/70/15 BFGoodrich white-letter radials that round out the list of street-ready features.

Surprisingly quick yet completely civil, this is the kind of Mopar muscle that built the legends. Best of all, it's still affordable and turn-key ready, so call today!