1966 · Plymouth · United States
The Street Hemi Reaches Showrooms
The 426 Street Hemi reached showrooms in the Belvedere and Satellite, and 1,546 were built into Plymouth intermediates.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
In 1966 Chrysler offered the Street Hemi to the general public in its Dodge and Plymouth intermediates for the first time, rated 425 hp at 5,000 rpm and 490 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm on dual Carter four-barrels and 10.25:1 compression, priced at $1,105. The Satellite's own production came to 35,399 hardtops and 2,759 convertibles for a stated 38,158 model total, and a separate note puts total Plymouth intermediate Street Hemi production at 1,546 across six distinct body rows within the Belvedere and Satellite lines.1
Those six rows split 817 Satellite hardtops and 27 Satellite convertibles, 531 Belvedere II hardtops, 156 Belvedere I two-door sedans, 10 Belvedere convertibles, and 5 Belvedere station wagons, together adding to the 1,546 total. The fact sheet separately states that Chrysler built 3,629 Street and race Hemis company-wide for the year, a Chrysler-wide figure covering every Dodge and Plymouth model rather than a rival count for the 1,546 Plymouth-intermediate figure, so the two numbers are not in conflict with each other despite both describing 1966 Hemi production.1
The Belvedere-specific Hemi count is disputed, however: Over-Drive's own six body rows for Belvedere models (excluding Satellite) sum to 702, while UltimateMuscleCar's separately compiled list gives 677 Belvedere Hemis for the year, a 25-unit gap that neither source explains, since neither names the underlying factory record it drew from. The two sources agree exactly on the Satellite side, 844 Hemi Satellites by both counts (817 hardtops plus 27 convertibles), so the disagreement sits specifically with the Belvedere body styles rather than with the Satellite or the combined intermediate total.1,2
Beyond the Hemi, a 273 V8 came standard at 180 hp and 260 lb-ft, and a 383 Commando four-barrel offered 325 hp and 425 lb-ft as a $150 option. A separate "426 Race Hemi" option is listed at $1,800, distinct from the $1,105 Street Hemi, though this file's own options list does not state what availability restriction, if any, applied to that Race Hemi for 1966. The four-speed manual, available with the 361, 383, and 426, ran $188, and TorqueFlite cost $211 with any V8 besides the 273. Among the smaller options, a Satellite-specific tachometer cost $49, heavy-duty suspension ran $22, and heavy-duty shock absorbers alone cost just $4, the shocks priced well below the full suspension package that presumably included them.1
The Hemi's own standard axle ratio split by transmission, 3.54:1 with the four-speed and 3.23:1 with automatic, a wider spread than a single carryover ratio would suggest and one specific to that one engine in the specifications consulted. Shipping weight ran 3,255 lb for the Satellite hardtop and 3,320 lb for the convertible, on a shared 116.0-inch wheelbase and 200.5-inch overall length for most bodies. Series and body numbers ran BR2-P for the Satellite series, with RP23 for the hardtop and RP27 for the convertible, and sixteen exterior colors were charted, from Charcoal and Light Mauve through Citron Gold/Spice Gold. No interior trim or performance figures survive in the sources consulted for the year, and no separate specifications page gives a standard, non-Hemi axle ratio, so the 3.54:1 and 3.23:1 figures above are the only rear-gear ratios this record can document for 1966.1
Fact sheet · 1966 · United States
The numbers
1966 Plymouth Satellite and Street Hemi — The 426 Street Hemi reached showrooms in the Belvedere and Satellite, and 1,546 were built into Plymouth intermediates.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite 2-door hardtop (RP23)1 Satellite · 2-door hardtop · not stated | 35,399 | not stated (production table), model-year | Reported |
| Satellite convertible (RP27)1 Satellite · convertible · not stated | 2,759 | not stated (production table), model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite model total1 Satellite · not stated | 38,158 | not stated (production table), model-year | Reported |
| Plymouth intermediate Street Hemi total1 Belvedere and Satellite · 426 Street Hemi · not stated The note lists six body rows that sum to this total. | 1,546 | not stated (production table note), model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street Hemi, Satellite hardtop1 Satellite · 2-door hardtop · 426 Street Hemi · not stated | 817 | not stated (production table note), model-year | Reported |
| Street Hemi, Satellite convertible1 Satellite · convertible · 426 Street Hemi · not stated | 27 | not stated (production table note), model-year | Reported |
| Street Hemi, Belvedere II hardtop1 Belvedere II · 2-door hardtop · 426 Street Hemi · not stated | 531 | not stated (production table note), model-year | Reported |
| Street Hemi, Belvedere I 2-door sedan1 Belvedere I · 2-door sedan · 426 Street Hemi · not stated | 156 | not stated (production table note), model-year | Reported |
| Street Hemi, Belvedere convertible1 Belvedere · convertible · 426 Street Hemi · not stated | 10 | not stated (production table note), model-year | Reported |
| Street Hemi, Belvedere station wagon1 Belvedere · station wagon · 426 Street Hemi · not stated | 5 | not stated (production table note), model-year | Reported |
The fact-sheet text separately gives 3,629 Street and race Hemis company-wide; that is a different (Chrysler-wide) scope and is not a conflict with the 1,546 Plymouth intermediate figure.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite 2-door hardtop1 | $2,695 | factory price (list, per production table), 1966 model year |
| Satellite convertible1 | $2,910 | factory price (list, per production table), 1966 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 273 V-81 273 cu in · 2-barrel | 180 hp @ 4,200, 260 lb-ft @ 1,600 (SAE gross) | standard in Satellite | Not yet sourced |
| 383 Commando1 383 cu in · 4-barrel | 325 hp @ 4,800, 425 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross) | optional, $150 | Not yet sourced |
| 426 Street Hemi1 426 cu in · two 4-barrels | 425 hp @ 5,000, 490 lb-ft @ 4,000 (SAE gross) | optional in Satellite and Belvedere II, $1,105 | 1,5461 Reported |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Four-speed manual1 | optional with 361, 383 and 426, $188 | Not yet sourced |
| TorqueFlite automatic1 | optional, $211 with V-8s other than the 273 | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
426 Street Hemi V-81 | $1,105 | Not yet sourced |
|
426 Race Hemi V-81 | $1,800 | Not yet sourced |
|
383 Commando V-81 | $150 | Not yet sourced |
|
Sure-Grip positive traction1 | $39 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tachometer (Satellite)1 | $49 | Not yet sourced |
|
Heavy-duty suspension1 | $22 | Not yet sourced |
|
4-speed manual floor shift with 361 and 383 V-8s1 | $188 | Not yet sourced |
|
Automatic transmission with V-8 other than 2731 | $211 | Not yet sourced |
|
Air conditioning1 | $355 | Not yet sourced |
|
Buffed paint1 | $21 | Not yet sourced |
|
Electric clock1 | $15 | Not yet sourced |
|
Front and rear bumper guards1 | $31 | Not yet sourced |
|
Heavy-duty shock absorbers1 | $4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power brakes1 | $42 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power steering1 | $90 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power windows, two-door1 | $100 | Not yet sourced |
|
Road wheels1 | $77 | Not yet sourced |
|
AM radio1 | $57 | Not yet sourced |
|
AM/FM radio1 | $127 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted glass, all windows1 | $40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted glass, windshield only1 | $21 | Not yet sourced |
|
Two-tone paint, except convertible1 | $22 | Not yet sourced |
|
Variable-speed wipers1 | $5 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl roof, except convertible1 | $75 | Not yet sourced |
|
14 inch sport wheel covers1 | $18 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
2 |
Charcoal1 | Not yet sourced |
6 |
Light Mauve1 | Not yet sourced |
A |
Silver1 | Not yet sourced |
B |
Black1 | Not yet sourced |
C |
Light Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
D |
Medium Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
E |
Dark Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
G |
Dark Green1 | Not yet sourced |
K |
Light Turquoise1 | Not yet sourced |
L |
Dark Turquoise1 | Not yet sourced |
P |
Bright Red1 | Not yet sourced |
Q |
Dark Red1 | Not yet sourced |
R |
Yellow1 | Not yet sourced |
S |
Soft Yellow1 | Not yet sourced |
W |
White1 | Not yet sourced |
X |
Beige1 | Not yet sourced |
Y |
Saddle Bronze1 | Not yet sourced |
Z |
Citron Gold / Spice Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 116 in | sedans and hardtops |
| Overall length1 | 200.5 in | most bodies |
| Standard axle ratio, Hemi with four-speed1 | 3.54 :1 | 426 Hemi |
| Standard axle ratio, Hemi with automatic1 | 3.23 :1 | 426 Hemi |
| Shipping weight, Satellite hardtop1 | 3,255 lb | RP23 |
| Shipping weight, Satellite convertible1 | 3,320 lb | RP27 |
Identification
- Series and body numbers
- Satellite series BR2-P; body RP23 = hardtop, RP27 = convertible.1
Where the sources disagree
1966 Belvedere Street Hemi installations
- 702 (Over-Drive body rows: Belvedere II hardtop 531, Belvedere I sedan 156, convertible 10, wagon 5)1
- 677 Belvedere (and 844 Satellite, matching Over-Drive's 817 + 27)2
Both are shown. The Satellite figures agree; the Belvedere figures differ by 25 and neither source names its record. The Over-Drive row sum (702) is an addition of its own rows, shown only for comparison.
Identification
Read a 1966 Plymouth VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1966
- Buick Riviera A longer, heavier new body on the same X-frame; 5,718 of 45,348 carried the GS option, and the dual-quad Super Wildcat went from dealer add-on to factory MZ engine in March 1966.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The Gran Sport became its own Skylark series (44600) on the restyled body, still with the 401 at 325 hp; 13,816 are tabulated.
- Buick Wildcat The one-year Wildcat Gran Sport: 1,244 built, 242 convertibles, 22 Super Wildcats.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The first full year of the SS 396 as its own series, with a 396 V8 in every car: 66,843 sport coupes and 5,429 convertibles.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova The source engine table lists the 327 L79 at 350 gross hp. Enthusiast-compiled production: 172,485 cars; Super Sport 20,986.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS No factory Super Sport El Camino is documented for this year; the record carries the host El Camino production as context.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Impala SS falls to 119,314 as the 427 arrives; 3,247 full-size Chevrolets got the 390-hp L36.
- Dodge Charger Dodge's first Charger, a fastback on the Coronet platform introduced on 1 January 1966, built 37,344 times, 468 of them with the new Street Hemi.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The first year the 426 Hemi was sold as a street engine; in the Coronet it was an option on ordinary sedans, hardtops and convertibles, before any R/T package existed.
- Ford Fairlane A new, wider Fairlane could take the 390 big-block for the first time, bringing the Fairlane 500 GT and GTA, and a small run of R-code 427 hardtops was built for Super Stock racing.
- Ford Galaxie The 428 became the big-car performance engine and gave its name to the Galaxie 500 7-Litre hardtop and convertible, with the 427 still available.
- Ford Thunderbird A 345-hp 428 became a $64.77 option, and the Town Landau outsold every other body combined.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Comet moved to the larger Fairlane-based body, and the Cyclone GT brought the 335-hp 390 with twin hood scoops, bucket seats and a heavy-duty suspension.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The S-55 returned as its own line, a hardtop and convertible with the 345 hp 428 'Super Marauder' V8.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 package gained the L69 three-two-barrel 'Tri-Carb' option at 360 hp, and a handful of factory W-30 forced-air cars were built for drag racing.
- Oldsmobile Starfire The last Starfire of the 1960s: coupe only, moved downmarket, 13,019 sold.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The last glassback-era year: one fastback body, the 273 Commando as the top engine, and production that fell to 38,029.
- Pontiac Catalina 2+2 and Super Duty The 2+2 was listed as its own model for the only time, and production fell to 6,383.
- Pontiac GTO The GTO becomes its own Pontiac series and has its biggest year: 96,946 built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix Production fell to 36,757 as the GTO and 2+2 drew performance buyers.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans Pontiac's overhead-cam six and the Sprint package arrive beside the 326 HO.
- Rambler and AMC Marlin The Marlin's second year: production fell to 4,547, less than half the 1965 figure.