Road Runner Nest

I just purchased my first Plymouth - a 1973 Satellite Sebring. It is virtually complete, but has been sitting for years and will require a full restoration. A friend had it parked in a field and after taking the windshield and a few other parts he sold it to me for $100.00. I could not pass it up!

My question is this: I prefer the front ends from the '71-'72 Satellite and was wondering if I could replace the whole front clip from my '73 with a '71 or '72? Bonus question: If the swap is possible will my '73 doors work with the earlier fenders, or will I need to take the doors and entire front clip from the '71-'72?

Any help on the matter would be appreciated!

my bet is that it would fit, but the body lines most likely would not match. the doors may be another issue...they possibly would work, but imo getting rid of the front parking lights and relocating them out of the grille, replacing the sidemarkers with 71-style, and maybe adding an airgrabber door to the bulge hood (idk if i'd like it) would look amazing and may end up being less work than switching front ends - if it's even possible to do it and make it look alright with lines matching-up

someone paid less than even i did for a 71-4 now good luck

You bring up a good point on the body lines that I had not thought of.

I guess its time to track down a '71-'72 fender and see what it looks like bolted up.

If I can make a suggestion... Find a 71-72, use the 73 for a parts car unless it's just too nice to part out, and if it's that nice, who knows, you may be able to trade it for a 71-2. If you start spending money on it, and it's not really what you want, sooner or later you're gonna have a pile of money in it, and THEN find the car you want. Problem then is going to be finding someone else who wants a 73 with an earlier front end. BUT.... Having said that, I'd say go for it, I betcha more of it will bolt up and line up than we think, especially if you have a whole car sitting there that you can take everything off off. I've seen several dodge/plymouth hybrids (Satellite with Coronet front or vice versa) , from the 1st generation cars, and I bet these aren't going to be too different.

Forgot.. a pretty easy way to find out if the fenders will align or not: Stick a piece of cardboard into the gap between the door and fender, draw a line along where the body meets the cardboard, trim the part off you stuck inside the gap, then hold that against the 71-2 door or fender, right where they meet. If the cut out matches, the body lines should match up

Thanks for the good idea on matching the body lines, I'll do that.

I agree with you that you should just build the car you want in the first place, but, as I got this car so cheaply, I figured it would be a good project to do with as I please. Now, had I paid say 2-3K for it, then I would just press forward with restoring it as it is. The car is in rough, but restorable condition, and given that its not very rare or as desirable as the other body types I figure it would be a good candidate for building as I imagined. Plus nothing I want to do is permanent, so if some day the market decides to look upon this model more favorably, everything can be undone with the turn of a wrench (and a bunch of money).

There is a very over priced junkyard near me that I am fairly certain has a few 71-72's kicking around. I'll measure the body lines and post back on what I find.

Thanks again for the information!

I don't think they will line up so you would have to do some metal work. Have you priced 71-2 fenders lately? You might be better off looking for a 71 or 72 body. I think it would look cool, the 71-2 front end is about the best looking front end. Maybe someone can do a photo chop.

I'd still like to see someone put a 72 RR front clip on a wagon! I know that I've heard of someone pondering it.....that'd make a sweet ride!

72 RR fan wrote:I'd still like to see someone put a 72 RR front clip on a wagon! I know that I've heard of someone pondering it.....that'd make a sweet ride!

Like this one?

Member on here "Capsule" could probably photoshop something for you to see how it might look.

God, that looks COOL Eric

I didn't do it...Capsule posted this and other photoshoped cars a year or so ago. Do a search in the General forum and you'll find them.

1972 Satellite Regent with photoshopped 1972 GTX front end and hood

A very quick render,

Credit to Capsule-COOL!

Wow, I like the look....I would so buy one for the family hauler!!!!

71-74 RR/Satellite doors are the same. You will have no problem with alignment using a 72 front clip on your 73. The body line that is different is the detail lines over the wheelwells. These are shaped different in 72 than the 73's and will not match the quarters. If the car needs quarters you may be able to install 72 quarters on your 73 and possibly set it up to use the 72 bumper as well.

I would reccomend using the 72 clip because you will not have to change the marker lights.

I hope this helps
Joe