September 2002 Mopar of the Month

1965 Dodge Coronet Hemi

Bruce wrote:

I always wanted a Hemi.

Back in the 60's, I had a chance to drive 1964 Stage III Sport Fury convertible (415 HP, 11 to 1, 3.91 gears) for a couple of brothers who owned the car, but were afraid to race it. After owning a '66 Belvedere 2-door hardtop Super Stock clone (500 cubic inch wedge, 12.5 pistons, M-1 intake w/ Holley 850, 727TF w/ reverse shift, 3500 stall converter, 9 inch Detroit Locker, A-100 seats, roll-cage, no back seat) for a couple of years, I made the plunge and contacted Bob Mosher. After about 20 months, I received my dream car. A 1965 metallic teal (a real 1965 color) bodied 2-door Dodge Coronet Race Hemi.

Bob had performed a full-blown, ground-up, rotisserie rebuild on an original 383 4-speed California "driver." Everything is either rebuilt, brand new or re-finished. The body was completely stripped, bead blasted, mini-tubbed and frame connectors were installed. The grill was rebuilt into a Race Hemi two-headlight version. All the glass is new except the rear window which was selected for it's lack of wear & tear. In keeping with the Mosher Muscle car "attention to detail" restoration quality, Bob installed a driver's windshield wiper and placed a "button" in the hole for the passenger side wiper. All the trim was re-polished, re-bright worked or re-chromed. The Race Hemi interior includes Champagne upholstery, headliner, heater & radio delete dash inserts, and carpeting throughout plus A-100 seats on drilled rails and no back seat.

Baldwin Park California's Dale Reed built the 533 cubic inch engine starting with a brand new Mopar Max-Hemi block and added Stage V aluminum heads with polished valve covers, a 4.15 Mopar stoker crank, 8 quart Milodon pan, Crower roller solid lifter cam (of course!), pump gas friendly Ross 10.4 ratio pistons plus a period correct Race Hemi crossram intake and Holley 780's. MSD supplies the juice as well as the rev limiter. The drive train consists of an 18 spline Hemi 4-speed and Hurst shifter, Lakewood Bellhousing, a McLeod Industries dual friction, dual disc clutch assembly and a 3.73 Dana rear with Mosher axles. Anaheim's Doug's Headers fabricated a custom set of headers & exhaust system. Dale says this engine should be putting out between 650 and 700 horsepower.

1965 Dodge Coronet engine pass side view

Even though the overall tone of the car was to "go fast", Stainless Steel slotted disc brakes were installed upfront along with a powder coated K-member and suspension components. As a final period touch outside, Bob refinished the front wheels and re-fabricated the rears to handle 14" wide Mickey Thomson's. "Dog Dish" hubcaps were re-polished to 1965 showroom condition.

4 speed, Hemi, Mosher/Reed rotisserie rebuild... 'nuff said!

Gary H.

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