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World's Rarest Factory Produced 426-Hemi Car | |
Photo Gallery |
07/20/09 |
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1966 Dodge Coronet 440 Deluxe 4-door Hemi Car.
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This car resides in the collection of William DiGilio. Over many years of collecting automobiles, William has sought out and purchased some of the rarest factory produced high performance American muscle cars in the world. The automobile William is most proud of owning is this unique 426-hemi car. Between 1964-1971, approximately 11,000 cars were factory produced with the 426-hemi option. All of those cars, whatever year, make or model, were two door cars (including the less than 200 convertibles), except for five cars. This is one of those cars, a 4-door hemi car. Three were made for American customers and two others were exported (1 to Canada [DiGilio also owns the Canadian car], 1 to Finland [a 1967 Plymouth Belvedere]). This is one of the cars ordered by an American customer, another American ordered 4-door hemi car resides in Don Garlits' museum, the third resides with a man named Scott in Minnesota. WHY WOULD ANYONE ORDER A 4-DOOR HEMI CAR? In 1966, Floyd Cline went to Spencers Dodge in Wichita, Kansas and told salesman Hub Rainbolt he wanted the most powerful engine option available, at the time a 426-hemi; and he wanted it in a 4-door car. Floyd requested a 4-door car because his 79-year old father rode in the back seat of the family car most of the time when traveling with Floyd and his wife, and rather than having Floyd's father fuss with climbing over a pulled forward front seatback of a 2-door car in order to get into the back seat, Floyd wanted his father to have easy access to the back seat through his own rear doors. Salesman Hub Rainbolt ordered the car, and Chrysler delivered.
Never could Floyd have expected his car to hold such historical significance.
The documentation for this car includes its broadcast sheet, window sticker, certicard, fender tag, original title and the envelope it was mailed (postmarked 1966), and the original receipts for title and registration fees paid in 1966.
If you would like to find out more about this automobile, feel free to contact William DiGilio by email at hemi4door@yahoo.com or williamdigilio@yahoo.com.
View of the Front Passenger's Side
View of the Engine Compartment
View of the Rear Driver's Side
Steering Wheel and Instrumentation Panel
Odometer
Factory Broadcast Sheet
Original Certicard
On Display at the Rand/Workman Auction in 2005
Below is the Official Auction Catalog page from the 2005 Rand/Workman Auction
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Below are pictures of some of the cars William has purchased and held in his collection over the years. ________________________________
1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 Convertible Restored by Anthony Abraham and Charles "Woody" Woods
1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda 1 of 108 Built
1969 Dodge Hemi Charger R/T w/4 speed 1 of 496 Built
1970 Plymouth Superbird Judged the Best Restored Superbird in the World in 1993
Front and Back of Superbird
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Restored by Cuda Connection 1 of 652 Built
One Run Down the Quarter Mile with the '70 Hemi Cuda in Las Vegas
1967 Dodge Coronet Super Stock (Factory Race Car) Judged the Best Unrestored Super Stock Car in the World 1 of 55 Built
1970 Dodge Challenger RT/SE 440 Six Pack 1 of 296 Built
1970 Chevelle SS454
1969 Dodge Charger RT/SE
1968 Chevrolet Camaro Restored by Charles "Woody" Woods
1966 Plymouth Belvedere II Hemi Convertible Restored by Jon Delli Priscoli 1 of 10 Built
1968 Plymouth Roadrunner
1968 Plymouth Hemi Roadrunner Restored to Perfection by Phil Ohlert 1 of 1019 Built Was Partnered in Ownership w/Phil Ohlert
1966 Dodge Coronet 4-door Hemi Car 1 of 5 Built Canadian Export Car Currently Under Restoration
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