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1964 Plymouth Belvedere - Auction - Indianapolis, IN - *Restoration featured on TV show “Americarna”*Raced by country music legend Marty Robbins
*Restoration done by Ray Evernham
The Model:
The Belvedere moniker was around as a trim package before it became Plymouth's full-size offering in 1954. Like the rest, the Belvedere changed aesthetically over the next ten years, from its original shoebox style, through the big tailfin era, and finally a downsizing in 1962.
While the new smaller car’s sales were down, so was their weight. And when Mopar debuted their new engine in 1964, the 426 Hemi, they picked the little Belvedere to showcase the power plant. The new powerful, lightweight package hit the race tracks with unmatched success. At the 1964 Daytona 500, Plymouth Belvederes came in with the trifecta, finishing 1-2-3.
The Belvedere became renowned for its racing prowess at tracks across the country, so when the country music legend, Marty Robbins, was choosing a platform for his Sportsman Modified, the Belvedere was the only logical choice.
The Car:
With a history as rich as the gobs of purple paint that covered “Marty’s Car”, this old time racer was snatched from the graveyard in just the nick of time, by just the right guy, legendary NASCAR crew chief, Ray Evernham.
Like most racetrack machines, “Marty’s Car” was left for dead after its racing days were over until Evernham rescued the car from its retirement home just miles from the Nashville track where it had run so many years before. Under his supervision, the car was given a painstaking restoration that focused on saving as much of the original car’s parts as possible. And there were plenty. The frame and roll cage were saved, as well as the seat, the steering wheel and gas pedal. Evernham’s laser focus on putting the car back the way Robbins drove it even included bringing back the original artist to hand-letter the car.
As a racer, Evernham chose the most successful race trim Robbins ran the car in. Now the car sports the larger, lighter 440 CI engine that propelled the car to its best finishes. The full restoration process was documented on the national television show “Americarna”. The car remains ready to race, and if it doesn’t take the checkers it is sure to draw attention in any collection.
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