B. Body Production numbers. How many are left?

[Mr Belvedere 30144]

It is raining today so I went to a book store and was reading about different Mopar B body cars mostly. I read about the Belvedere and specifically the 1965 year model. There were 933 Belvedere 4 speed cars manufactured in 1965. My car is one of 541 4 speed 383 cars produced in 1965.
The numbers are like this;
383 4 speed, 541 manufactured in 1965,
Max wedge 4 speed, 380 manufactured in 1965,
426 Hemi 4 speed, 12 manufactured in 1965, 90 automatic cars, total 102 Hemi cars. I have never owned as rare a car as this. I wonder out of 541 cars how many could be left? I wonder about this in many different models cars. I read that of the 4 speed Hemi 65 Belvederes there are 3 documented known to exist. I realize just because a car has low production numbers that alone does not make it valuable but still its interesting to think about this. It would really be weird to have one of those really rare special Hemi 4 speed 65 Belveders. I mean you wouldn't even want to chance driving it I don't think.
Just something to think about on a rainy day.

 

[Nick2317]

Good luck finding out how many are left with rebodies and crap .......youll never know the true number

 

[Bruzilla]

There was a song that Dr. Demento used to play about a guy who was the 142nd fastest gun in the west. One line went "141 could draw faster than he, and he was out looking for 143!" It's cool to be the fastest gun in the west, but being the 142nd? Not so much. I've looked at production numbers the same way.

Mopar guys seem to have gotten progressively more enamored with production numbers over the decades. Unlike Chevy or Ford owners who had cars that were one of multiple tens of thousands produced, we Mopar guys were always much lower down on that scale. Sadly, instead of owners becoming more unified by that fact, it had the opposite effect of lots of owners not being content to be one of only say 5,000 built. They saw themselves as being better than Brand X owners because they were 1 of 5,000 vice 1 of 70,000 built, but they also wanted to differentiate themselves from other Mopar members by breaking numbers down by drivetrain at first and later by color, interior, seats, radio, dealer-installed air fresheners, etc. Options that were considered a rip off or a waste of money 40-50 years ago are now seen as manna from Heaven if they can get a guy from having a 1 of 20 car to a 1 of 5. I've met so many guys who think I am supposed to be impressed because they own one of only two 1969 Plymouth Road Runners that were 440-4-spd, Petty Blue, blue bucket interior, white vinyl roof, AM/FM stereo, optional floor mat, with an inspection mark on the driver's quarter panel that was made by Herman "The Stinkman" Yabromowitz that are known to exist. Sorry, but you lost me after 1969 Road Runner with a 440.

As for rarity, I consider cars where there were fewer than 25 or so made to be rare. Hemi E-body convertibles are rare, 1970 Hemi Coronet Convertibles are rare. Cars made in the hundreds are uncommon, but I don't think rare, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Richard Cranium]

 

[Mr Belvedere 30144]

I remember seeing Jay Leno talking about this steam car he has and how there were 2 I think actually running like his. That was pretty cool. Then there are the WWII aircraft like the Japanese Zero and the B-17. I rode in a B-17 from the EAA called Aluminum Overcast. What an experience! I just find it very interesting to think about this kind of thing.

 

[egynther]

Some good info, my intention is not to disprove anyone or anything here, so here is my question are the numbers given specifically for the belvedere I or II? I have a 65 Belvedere II factory 4spd with 426 street wedge, which after some research there were about 380 produced,
Any further info to clarify is much appreciated.

 

[Mr Belvedere 30144]

The numbers are total Belvedere

 

[Bruzilla]

I remember seeing Jay Leno talking about this steam car he has and how there were 2 I think actually running like his. That was pretty cool. Then there are the WWII aircraft like the Japanese Zero and the B-17. I rode in a B-17 from the EAA called Aluminum Overcast. What an experience! I just find it very interesting to think about this kind of thing.

My Mom and Dad flew on Aluminum Overcast when it was in Ocala, FL.

 

[Mr Belvedere 30144]

I bet they loved it like I did!

 

[streetwedg]

How an you trust in them #s ? There were a total of 0 1965 max wedge cars built. Yet your list has 380 built???

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I think it was just a slip, thinking he meant there were 380 street wedges built... As most know max wedges weren't produced in 65.

 

[Mr Gorsky]

There are 47 houses on my street.

Here, only Mr Gorsky possesses conveyances emblazoned with a pentastar motif.

In my little corner of the planet, my cars are all one of one.

 

[YY1]

The problem with anyone that thinks they know how many are left is that thatey would have to be able to account for every single one of them.

Not terribly difficult for say one of 16 built, but even at only 1500 or so, it gets exponentially more difficult.

You would need proof of existence or destruction of 1500 cars.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Damn this post was from way back in 2014!