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Well, since every cars story has to start at the beginning with it's owner, that's
where I'll start with my 1966 Coronet 500.
PART ONE - THE BEGINNING
I purchased my car back in the summer of 1989 after I had sold my previous car which was a 1970 Charger R/T
at the end of the summer in 1988. I was actually looking for a 1965 Belvedere, or Satellite as my next project car,
but after looking around for awhile and finding only one 65 Belvedere for sale in my area that was a total mess and
had no title, I was a bit frustrated about finding one.
Then while my best friend and me were attending a local car show here in Phoenix in 1989, we were both checking out
a very nice 66 Coronet 500 at the show and I was mentioning to him that I really liked the 66-67 Coronets. We were
then approached by a gentleman who was also looking at this Coronet and he came over to me and asked if I might be
interested in purchasing a nicely optioned 66 Coronet 500 that he had for sale.
He had purchased this car as a restoration project but soon after buying this car, he came across a 66 Hemi 4 speed
Coronet, so as many would do, he decided to restore the Hemi car and sell his first car. A meeting was set for me and my
wife to drive up to his home in Northern Arizona and inspect the car.
The car was still very original with all of it's original rust free sheet metal, original 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission and
original 8.75 differential. While the car had a non original 383 big block engine in it, the cars original factory 361 big block short
block assembly was being included with the car.
As mentioned, all of the sheet metal was rust free and in very good condition with the exception of the front leading edge of the
passenger front fender which had a slight bit of damage and a more seriously damaged passenger side quarter panel which had
some collision damage caused by a large truck backing into the car as it was parked outside in front of the gentleman's home, so
those issues would have to be addressed.
The interior however, looked like a typical older vehicle that had spent it's entire life in Arizona, as it was in serious need of a
restoration. It was all original though as even the carpeting was factory original and had a manufacture date of late 1965 when I
took it out of the car! While the seats and carpeting were absolutely trashed and the dash pad had a few cracks in it, the factory
power window door panels were still in very good condition and the original headliner was faded, but was all in one piece and is still
in the car today as are the door panels.
The drive train was also in need of restoration, as the non original 383 had seen it's better days and the transmission was ok, but was
not up to the performance that I was looking for and the 8.75 had the factory installed 2.76 gear ratio with a non Sure-Grip set-up and
that just wasn't going to meet my performance needs either. The front and rear suspension, as well as the tires were also worn out and
on the loose side.
After speaking with the owner and looking the car over for a few hours and making an evaluation of what the car would need, I made the
owner an offer which he accepted and my journey with this fantastic Coronet had begun! My first experience with this car was during the
drive home from Northern Arizona down to my home in Phoeiix. Any of you DCR members who live in AZ and have driven those mountain
passes between Northern AZ and Phoenix know what I'm referring to about being rather exciting with an older car with lousy steering, tires
and suspension! Saying that drive was exciting is an understatement!
Here's a listing of my Coronet 500's factory options. (at least the ones that I can remember!)
(1) 361 single 2 barrel big block engine rated @265 hp
(2) Single exhaust system
(3) 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission
(4) 8.75 rear differential with 2.76 gear ratio and no Sure-Grip
(5) Power assisted drum brakes
(6) Power steering
(7) Max cooling package and fan shroud
(8) Heavy duty alternator
(9) Left hand side outside remote control mirror
(10) Inside Day/Night rear view mirror
(11) Tinted glass, all windows
(12) Power windows
(13) Air conditioning with heater
(14) Bucket seats (with premium vinyl)
(15) Center floor console
(16) Console mounter transmission shifter
(17) Seat lap belts, front and rear (shoulder belts were not an option in 1966)
(18) AM Music Master radio with single dash mounted speaker
(19) Light package, includes dash mounted parking brake warning light, ashtray
light, glove box light, trunk compartment light, and map and courtesy light.
(20) 3 speed / variable windshield wipers with electric washer system
(21) Front and rear bumper guards
(22) Cigar lighter
(23) Glove box and floor console locks
(24) Rear arm rest pad mounted ash trays
(25) Light Green Metallic exterior
(26) Black interior
Here are a few pictures of the car as it appeared shortly after I purchased it in 1989. At the time these pictures were taken,
I had already made the following changes.
(1) Removed the cars original mint condition hood for safe storage and added an equally nice steel hood from a donor 1967
Coronet along with an aftermarket fiberglass reproduction version of the 1967 WO23 Hemi Coronet style hood scoop. I then
painted the new hood and scoop flat black.
(2) Added a new set of American Racing 15x7 Champ 500 wheels front and rear.
(3) Added a new set of P235-60R-15 B. F. G. Radial T/A tires front and rear.
![[Image: 1966Coronetbeforerestoration-19902.jpg]](http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r248/thebankerstoy/My%201966%20Dodge%20Coronet%20500%202%20door%20hardtop/1966Coronetbeforerestoration-19902.jpg)
![[Image: 1966Coronet500-19891-1.jpg]](http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r248/thebankerstoy/My%201966%20Dodge%20Coronet%20500%202%20door%20hardtop/1966Coronet500-19891-1.jpg)
![[Image: 1966Coronet500-19893.jpg]](http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r248/thebankerstoy/My%201966%20Dodge%20Coronet%20500%202%20door%20hardtop/1966Coronet500-19893.jpg)
![[Image: 1966CoronetAmericanRacingChamp50-1.jpg]](http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r248/thebankerstoy/My%201966%20Dodge%20Coronet%20500%202%20door%20hardtop/1966CoronetAmericanRacingChamp50-1.jpg)
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