The mid-60s were good to Chrysler: horsepower was way up, their styling was distinctive, cutting-edge, and still sporty, and they were still some of the best riding and handling cars you could buy. Cars like this 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 were a great combination of looks, comfort, and fun, and that remains true today, with the added bonus that you can own a really nice one like this for not a lot of cash.The silver over black paint job on this Coronet gives it a dressed-up look that works extremely well on the cantilevered roofline. It looks to have been restored a few years ago and they did a good job with it, a fact that's doubly important on the slab-sided styling, especially in black. At this price, it's not going to be a trailer queen, but when you roll into the local cruise night, people are sure to admire this car. The silver roof seems to accentuate one of ChryCo's most notable styling details, giving the impression that it's almost floating over the bodywork. And even though it's a Dodge, there's plenty of bright trim to make it look dressed up. The simple grille up front is clean and smooth, the bumpers look great, and the long sweeping stainless spears running down the sides make it look long and low. In back, there's a bright stainless tail panel that's probably impossible to replace, as well as those neat little Chrysler taillight emblems that wrap around the tops of the rear fenders.The white interior is an awesome choice with the black bodywork, and it appears to be mostly nice original stuff. You'd think black upholstery would be more popular, but the white really dresses this car up, as if it's wearing a tuxedo, and the effect is really elegant. As original stuff, it's showing a bit of age, mostly light discoloration that's probably inevitable, but I don't think I would change anything. Buckets with a console are a great find, lending a sporting feel to the interior, and the woodgrained Grant steering wheel definitely warms things up. The original gauges are in good order, with an aftermarket tach nestled into the console where the original vacuum/economy gauge used to live and be sure to check out the shiny shifter knob! The original AM radio is still in the dash, but someone has neatly installed a Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the glovebox, so you don't have to go without your music yet it keeps its OEM look. The trunk is neatly tailored with a reproduction mat and cover for the full-sized spare, plus a correct jack assembly.The engine is probably the original 273 cubic inch V8, giving you a nice V8 burble from the exhaust but not the wallet-draining fuel economy of a big block. It's nicely dressed in Hemi Orange with sparkling chrome valve covers, and a correct 2-barrel carburetor lives under the original air cleaner. It doesn't deviate from the factory recipe beyond the dual glasspack-equipped exhaust system, but that also means that it's easy to live with and a pleasure too. You also get power steering, which is welcome find, and a TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission feeding an 8.75-inch rear end. Air shocks allow the rear end's attitude to be fine-tuned, and those 17-inch Torque Thrust wheels and 255/45/17 Kumho radials look awesome stuffed under the fenders.A cool entry-level Mopar with V8 power and an awesome look. There's definitely a lot to like here. Call today!
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