Mopar Histrionics
The '1st' 1966 Plymouth Belvedere Station Wagon '426 Street Hemi'
Ordered from;
Whitbeck Motors
2688 Sixth Avenue
Troy, New York
Date> February 3, 1966
Customer;
North Hudson Marina
Bolton's Landing, New York
Received> April 7, 1966
Details
North Shore Marina was the primary Chrysler Marine Dealer around the Lake George, New York area. They had 'some pull'' with the
Chrysler Factory.
They wanted a 'torque monster' to haul their customer's Racing Boats and Cabin Cruisers to the docks.
They 'special ordered' a 1966 Belvedere Station Wagon with a '426 Street Hemi' on February 3, 1966.
They never had plans to 'race' the Station Wagon, as it was to be used as a 'hauling vehicle only'.
The car was ordered through Whitbeck Motors, as they were the primary Plymouth Dealership in the area, and one that could procure 'specialty' vehicles from the factory.
Whitbeck Motors was also a 'player' in getting performance vehicles
and they sponsored F/X and Super/Stock Drag Racer 'Wild' Bill Rubin, a big name racer in the Capitol District.
Research states, that North Hudson Marina used the Station Wagon for Boat Towing purposes for about 5-Years, until 1971.
The 426 Hemi had suffered an engine problem {wiped Camshaft},
and they took it out-of-service.
They stored the Belvedere in one of their Boat Storage buildings.
The Belvedere sat for about 6-Years.
Around 1977, a guy by the name of Mike Bonner from West Glens Falls, New York heard about the Belvedere, and bought the car for $1400.
He had plans to re-do the car, and build it for a 'Street Performance Car'.
Mike took it home, but the Belvedere sat in his garage for nearly 3-Years.
In 1980, Mike got around to pulling the 426 Hemi Engine. But he
decided to sell it, and let it go for $700.
A short time later, he sold off the Torqueflite Transmission and
'special' Transmission Cooler for about $200.
Then he sold the Belvedere car {roller} itself for $125 in 1982.
'Poof, Gone'