1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus 400-4BBL

[DixieSatellite]

Hi,

I am finishing up the restoration of my '72 SSP after many years. I have owned the car for over 20 years - I went to college, drove coast to coast (twice - 2nd time w/ my 8 mth pregnant wife) and spent bits and pieces when I could, deferring the major work due to other commitments. That baby is now in college (4th year Mech Engineering) and I am definitely showing 20-plus years of extra wear-and-tear (although Mrs. Dixie is remarkably well preserved - must be those Cherokee genes..... )

Anyway - all mechanical is done, original 400-4BBL (it's a matching numbers car) rebuilt, ported and polished w/ a 33% power bump / stainless twin-system / fully rebuilt Slap-Stik Auto / uprated cooling system / full braking system overhaul / steering box etc. and is just completing a full interior restoration (white) w/ all panels / rooflining / door pads / repaired seats and new interior kit. Here its is a year or 2 ago before the interior was done (I put 15 x 7 Magnums w/ caps on a few years ago in place of the 14 in Rallyes because I just prefer the look).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_X67-fp35Q

During it's 20 odd years I have owned it, I have mentally gone through every single configuration and color scheme possible - from a RR clone, to a one-of-none '72 Sport Satellite to a GTX clone. In the end, I decided to keep it an original SSP as it was an original all matching numbers car w. minimal rot and you just did not see them much anymore - and now you are now more likely to see a Roadrunner than a Satellite SSP. It's not a concours resto and restoring on a limited budget / work / college fees etc. limits the extent of work you can go to. I accepted many years ago that a frame-off resto was not going to be possible, but you work with what you have.

I am about to start the paintwork and cut out the little bit of rot the car has in the rear panels. The car will be white, as that is what is on the data plate (Ermine or Spinnaker – EW). The problem is, I have never really liked the paint scheme on this car. The ‘71~72 B bodies are such cool looking cars, but some colors definitely compliment the body more than others. I have never really liked the 2-tone paint w/ the Silver Argent, but it is part of the SSP package. I found this ’72 Satellite promotional pic and was considering whether it might not look better with this scheme, except w/ a full black roof to ‘lower’ the car. With the full white bucket interior it would look pretty good. One problem is the aluminum body trim – this stuff is pretty much unobtainable and I don’t know of anyone who is remaking this. My idea was to get the body shop doing the painting to paint on the aluminum body trim to break up the EW1 White.

I am undecided, but now need to make a decision – should I redo the SSP as per the pic below, or keep it all original SSP complete w/ Argent Silver cutouts?




Thanks for your feedback,

Ian B.

[Eric]

Just my opinion, but I would keep the original paint configuration and the white vinyl top. That car looks great the way it is.

[Eric]

For reference, here's what I believe you'd like to do...from the Plymouth promotional video for 72.

[DixieSatellite]

Thanks,

That's kind of what I was thinking about. The white can make the car look kind of big, I think.

ian B.

[jace]

Awesome project.
My personal preference for the 71-72 Satellites is single color, no vinyl top or side trim as i feel they take away from the clean body lines. I had a custom shop weld up the holes for the side trim on mine and the half vinyl top was already gone.
Though I'd be curious to see how your car would look with a matching white half vinyl top and white reflective Roadrunner strobe decal while still keeping it an SSP.

Good luck with whatever you finally decide and I hope to see pics after its painted.

[71440 gtx]

[

no Silver Argent,

[sdweatherman]

Sounds like you are keeping the car - so do it up like you want it. All white with a black top sounds fine. Vinyl is easy to change - and painting argent below the belt line is easy if you ever wanted to go back to complete original. Good luck! Scott.

[DixieSatellite]

Thanks for the pics and feedback. I will probably go ahead and give it a factory-new SSP paint job (w/ Argent Silver) to see how it looks all shiny. If I still don't like it will rethink. Either way will post pics.

Ian B.

[jace]

DixieSatellite, thanks for posting this topic, you gave me the incentive to research trim options that I've never considered before. It also game me an excuse to finally register on this forum. Thanks.

[jace]

Here is a combination I never considered but after seeing this pic, I like it.

[phatdak18]

nice car Dixie!

Im really diggin' that picture that jace just posted too! Man, that two tone paint with the strobes really set it off...and the wheels really help bring it all together.

[jace]

Wheels and tires can make or break any car.
if you didn't have to bend the rear fender-well lip up and out of the way, your tires aren't wide enough, in my opinion.

[sdweatherman]

The grayish colored wheels and the lower body argent paint look like they go well together. Nice combo.

[DixieSatellite]

Hi,

Thanks for all the great feedback. I will probably go ahead and finish it out with the original factory paint. In the meantime, I have had the new interior installed - all new seat covers, carpet vinyl, door cards etc. Very pleased with the results. As you can see the old door plastic panel was kind of crusty.

Ian B.

[sdweatherman]

Very nice! That interior looks minty fresh now! Scott.