satellite sport history lesson

[68Satsport]

I am new to the forum and I am putting together an original paint, numbers matching 68 satellite sport that hasn't been on the road since '79. I drove it the other day for the first time and besides the complete lack of suspension it drove pretty good.

My question is, what exactly is the sport model? I have heard it is kind of like a higher trim road runner with the base road runner 383. My original engine was in pieces but it did have the HP style exhaust manifolds, flat top pistons, 4bbl etc. This car was pulled out of the original owners house so I am fairly confident these pieces/parts are original to the car. The numbers on the engine and transmission match, the date coding for the cast/assembly date on the engine makes sense with the certicard that I have for the car. The car was built late 67 so there are not vin numbers stamped into the block yet.

Can anybody fill me in on what I have? There is not an HP stamped into the block, but it has factory flat tops (seized in the bore so I know they go there!) There isn't a whole lot of info on the net about the satellite sport model.

 

[MCODECUDA]

It's more like a GTX with a smaller motor.

 

[68Satsport]

I guess that makes more sense since the GTX is based on the higher trim satellite as opposed to the belvedere. I am seeing a couple conflicting answers about what 383's were available for 68. Mine was a factory 4bbl, 10:1 compression car with the hp style exhaust manifolds but no HP stamped into the block.

Was there a 330hp and a 335hp 383 available that year? The HP being the 335hp? This stuff isn't real important to me but I am interested to figure it out.

 

[Pistol Pete]

I guess that makes more sense since the GTX is based on the higher trim satellite as opposed to the belvedere. I am seeing a couple conflicting answers about what 383's were available for 68. Mine was a factory 4bbl, 10:1 compression car with the hp style exhaust manifolds but no HP stamped into the block.

Was there a 330hp and a 335hp 383 available that year? The HP being the 335hp? This stuff isn't real important to me but I am interested to figure it out.

That is correct.

 

[Basket case]

beautiful car!

 

[440+6]

Very nice car you have there, I've been keeping tabs on a 1970 Sport Satty Convertible for a while now, just waiting for the owner to die I guess lol.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Very nice car!
Keep it original...

 

[DaneBisel]

Why are the sport satellites worth so little (even 383 cars)given the fact that there was only 14k made on 69? Roadrunners are worth 3 times as much and 48k of them were produced. Same engine, same drivetrain, different suspension.... Stumps me

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

what was different on the suspension? Leaf springs?
I think it has to do with the nostalgia of the Roadrunner name. It's a great branding. Plus, a lot of roadrunners, if not most, were stripped down to save weight, right?

Funny too, cuz when you look at the '65-'67 regular Satellites, those pull big money (not as much as the GTX's of the same year usually, but still way more than the '68-'70 Satellites or Sport Satellites), but there were no Roadrunners then. I'm glad, cuz it allowed me to buy a running small block dent free California Black Plate Sport Satellite for under $6K and turn it into a stock looking restomod with all the bolt on goodie upgrades of my choosing. I could never afford, nor would want to do that to a real RR or GTX.

 

[monaco66coupe]

They are worth a bunch. a sport satellite 383 four barrel is a 330hp car. They share the same suspension with the roadrunner. They both have the "H" code in the dash, and only the roadrunner had the HP.Which really means little. Same 10:0,1 copmpression, same dual exhaust, manifolds. The engine doesn't have a windage tray or higher cam lift, but is still a strong engine. You have a nice car.

 

[DaneBisel]

Sway bar is heavier I believe... I love my car and agree with you 68 sport satellite. I love the body style, not the name!

 

[monaco66coupe]

The H code Sport Satellite 383 four Barrel has the same sway bar, and is the same car except as stated earlier. Same brakes, leaf springs, as the Roadrunner, but the transmissions were different, and differential ratios were available. . Some also have just 10"brakes, but so did some Roadrunners,esspecially in 1969. I did a brake job on a 69' Daytona in 2000, and it had 10" brakes on the rear, original equipment.

 

[YY1]

If the fender tag is present, it will tell you if your car came with some of the options discussed above.

Dealer data books will tell you the factory standard equipment on the Sport Satellite package.
Try the Hamtramck historical site,

...and in case you weren't aware, that Roadrunner hood has been added, and that means the car has also been repainted.

 

[DaneBisel]

Yes. I am aware of the hood and repaint. I was just curious and figured a lot had to fo with the nostalgia and the name. I have the fender tag and build sheet for my 69 and have broken it down. Neat to see what it used to be. I wish it was never turned into a rr!

 

[68Satsport]

Thanks for all the information. The hood is not original to the car, the original was tweaked too badly which you can see the grill has taken an impact. The color of the hood is not the same though it is hard to see from the pictures. Pretty close though.

The car is original paint, I am 100% certain.

Thanks for all the info, My car also has a 742 case 8 3/4" rear with 3.23 gears though I do not believe a sure grip.

 

[mcmlvii]

I could be wrong but I'd think '68 Sport Satellites had a 318 as standard equipment, with your 383/330 being an option (?), and a '68 RR would have the HP-stamped 383/335 as standard.

 

[mr. b]

good find looks good to me

 

[tallhair]

You really got a score there. What is the paint code ... PP1?

 

[68Satsport]

Yeah I really did luck out. The car is remarkably solid. No patchwork or body repair done and the only real crusty areas are very slightly around the rear wheel lips and the trunk drip rail. Besides that its solid as a rock. The car sat in a garage since 1979 and still wears the plate. Somebody had the foresight to take the carpet out for storage so the floors are perfect.

Yes, the PP1 is the paint code.