61 Plymouth /6

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Darnells Garage

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Hello all,new member here. Although I don't have a A body. I have a base 61 Plymouth that is about as close as gets to a A body. Originally a dept of the Navy car from Mare Island Naval weapons station in California. In 1961 they were building nuclear submarines there.
I got it from a retired Navy worker who got from the Navy when they retired it from service.
The only option is auto trans. It's heater,lighter,radio,armrest,reverse light,delete.
The 2nd owner added a stock radio later. The seat belts are navy issue with a nuclear symbol!
My first intension was to make a police 383 clone out of it. I'm keep it the way it is and paint it the navy battleship gray and keep the /6. It runs VERY well. It's nothing fancy,but it gets a lot of attention when drive it. I was going to drive it over to the base and take some pics with next to the submarine building,but I was too late they torn the building down last week!
 
GD, that's so ugly, its full circle cool! :)
There was a story about the 61's when the dealership got the models. All the salesmen went out and got drunk because they knew it was gonna be a slim year.
 
Super cool car!!!!

I'm surprised it has a PCV valve and not a draft tube. I still find a lot of early 60s cars with draft tubes so I wonder if this one was converted at a later time.


Thanks for sharing because that really is a cool looking car
 
That's a base model from a base lol, the words black sheep, ugly duckling come to mind, but I still love it.:thumbsup::)
 
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I've heard that before where the Plymouth dealers in 61 weren't very happy with Chrysler for the belvedere or the valiant!
The gas guage is pretty inaccurate so I don't go by too many gas without stopping,just to be safe.
I have say it moves pretty good for a six.
My favorite part on the car is hillbilly looking teeth on the heater delete panel
 
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Previous posts have nailed it. Like your teeth comment. Just a thought. Would it not be best to keep it the original colour than repaint it grey. Hear what you are saying but man it looks good the way it is.
 
I think the car is cool as hell...........
Thanks for sharing the story and the pics.
 
61 front would have made a cool rear. Oh, they already did one like that....
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View attachment 1715441096 View attachment 1715441097 View attachment 1715441099 View attachment 1715441100 View attachment 1715441101 View attachment 1715441102 View attachment 1715441103 View attachment 1715441104 Hello all,new member here. Although I don't have a A body. I have a base 61 Plymouth that is about as close as gets to a A body. Originally a dept of the Navy car from Mare Island Naval weapons station in California. In 1961 they were building nuclear submarines there.
I got it from a retired Navy worker who got from the Navy when they retired it from service.
The only option is auto trans. It's heater,lighter,radio,armrest,reverse light,delete.
The 2nd owner added a stock radio later. The seat belts are navy issue with a nuclear symbol!
My first intension was to make a police 383 clone out of it. I'm keep it the way it is and paint it the navy battleship gray and keep the /6. It runs VERY well. It's nothing fancy,but it gets a lot of attention when drive it. I was going to drive it over to the base and take some pics with next to the submarine building,but I was too late they torn the building down last week!
That thing is beautiful. Keep the slanty in there as long as you want. Love the pics.
 
I vote to keep it like it is!
Go over to C Bodies only, they would like it also.
Nice score, I like it.
 
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I found another navy base car at a wrecking close by.
You can't see it in the pics ,but there is a 1967 Mare island parking permit on the front bumper.
The yard owner said a kid who inherited the car from his father 35 years ago drove it straight to the junkyard because to embarrassed to be seen in it.

The petty blue paint on it now is not too bad,but is thick. I saved this 61 dodge truck army truck door and there is a Navy door on the other side which I have yet to remove. I will go with this style lettering and maybe this logo. There is a Navy museum on the base. Maybe with some luck I would be able to find a time period pic?

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My very 1st car a pale yellow 61 Plymouth belvedere 2dr hardtop 318 poly with a 2spd auto push button transmission no heater with add on air. A car from a much different era
 
My very 1st car a pale yellow 61 Plymouth belvedere 2dr hardtop 318 poly with a 2spd auto push button transmission no heater with add on air. A car from a much different era
TWO speed?, Didn't know Mopar ever made one....
 
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