Modern muscle cars announce their intentions with enormous wings, angry headlights, and exhaust systems loud enough to crack your ear drum, and this 1965 Plymouth Belvedere takes a considerably sneakier approach. Its silver body, simple chrome trim, and tidy proportions make it look like a respectable old sedan that could be carrying somebody’s grandparents to church. Under the hood, though, it's packing a 383-cubic-inch V8 connected to a TorqueFlite automatic transmission and dual exhaust. This Plymouth Belvedere Is A Big-Block Sleeper MecumThe Belvedere arrived before Detroit’s muscle-car styling became completely obsessed with stripes, scoops, spoilers, and cartoonishly aggressive names. Its design is clean and almost classy, but this particular example has the hardware to really shred some tires. The 383-cubic-inch V8 is backed by Chrysler’s famously tough 727 TorqueFlite automatic. Dual exhaust lets the big block breathe, while an aluminum radiator should help control temperatures when the driver becomes overly enthusiastic with the throttle.MecumThe Belvedere crosses the block at Mecum’s Nashville auction on Saturday, September 26. Mecum estimates it will sell for between $30,000 and $35,000, potentially making this a surprisingly affordable way into big-block Mopar ownership. The listing does not claim that this is the car’s original engine, so we would not treat it as a numbers-matching museum piece without additional documentation. Frankly, that may make it more appealing. A car this handsome deserves to be driven, not permanently imprisoned beneath fluorescent lights while its owner explains casting numbers to strangers. It Has The Right Upgrades Without Looking Ridiculous MecumThe upgrades remain pleasingly restrained. American Racing wheels give the Belvedere a tougher stance without making it look like it crashed through a modern accessories catalog.Inside, the bright red cabin provides a dramatic contrast to the silver exterior. A wood-rimmed steering wheel adds some vintage cool, while an AutoMeter tachometer gives the driver something useful to watch when the 383 begins making expensive noises. Power steering and power brakes should make it far easier to enjoy than a stripped-down drag car. It is still a large 1960s Plymouth, but parking it should not require forearms borrowed from a professional wrestler. The odometer currently shows 53,516 miles, although Mecum correctly notes that this figure only represents what is displayed and should not automatically be treated as verified lifetime mileage. You Could Own This Big-Block Mopar For $35,000 MecumMecum estimates the Belvedere will bring between $30,000 and $35,000. That is not pocket change, but it looks increasingly reasonable when new performance cars can sail beyond $60,000 before the options sheet has finished warming up. For the money, the buyer gets proper big-block power, rear-wheel drive, unmistakable 1960s styling, and a car unlikely to appear three more times at the local meet. It also comes from the Schroeder Family Collection, which adds another interesting detail to its auction story.There are faster classics, rarer Mopars, and considerably more expensive ways to frighten the rear tires. However, this Belvedere possesses something many six-figure collectibles have lost: approachability. It looks classy, sounds angry, and does not need a velvet rope around it. If bidding stays near the estimate, someone could leave Nashville with a big-block Plymouth for roughly the price of a new compact SUV.
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