Introduction to 1963 Plymouth 426 Wedge
Dodge's one-year flirtation with downsizing ended for 1963, and its big models returned to the 119-inch wheelbase. Plymouth stuck with the 116-inch span, but both divisions cleaned up the styling. No sign of fickleness under the hood, however, where the devastating new 426-cid wedge awaited. Indeed, the 1963 Plymouth 426 Wedge was a mighty engine that could be found in a number of the automaker's muscle cars.
Muscle Car Image Gallery
©2007 Publicatioins International, Ltd.
Full-size Dodges and Plymouths lost some of their eccentric styling in 1963,
but Belvederes like this one had incredible engines under the hood. See more muscle car pictures.
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This was basically a bored 413, again called the Ram Charger at Dodge and the Super Stock at Plymouth. Dual Carter four-barrels and the upswept ram's-head exhaust headers were retained. But the 426 got a host of internal beef-ups to make 415 bhp on 11.0:1 compression or 425 bhp on 13.5:1. Stage III 425-bhp versions followed during the year with further modifications including larger-bore carbs, recast heads, and 12.5:1 compression.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
This 415-bbp version provided pure power.
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Preferred transmission was a heavy-duty TorqueFlite automatic, which again used pushbutton gear selection. The alternative was a floor-mounted three-speed manual; Chrysler didn't yet have a four-speed. Available axle ratios ranged from 2.93:1 to 4.89:1.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
The interior of this muscle car was without frills;
it featured a floor-shifted three-speed manual.
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This was serious ordnance, ill-suited for everyday use. Indeed, brochures warned that the 426 was "not a street machine" but was "designed to be run in supervised, sanctioned drag-strip competition ... Yet, it is stock in every sense of the word."
Plymouth offered the 426 Wedge in all full-size models, from the sleeper Savoy to the luxury Sport Fury, and even made available a race-ready aluminum front-end package that trimmed 150 pounds.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd.
The Plymouth 426 Wedge was offered in a wide range
of models, such as in this Belvedere.
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Mopar's most-popular street performer in '63 was the 330-bhp 383-cid V-8. But the 426 Wedge was there for the asking. Hot Rod fueled a 13.5:1-compression version with 102-octane and took it to the Pomona dragstrip. Running a TorqueFlite with a 4.56:1 gear, the magazine smoked a 12.69-second ET at 112 mph.
The 1963 Plymouth
Belvedere 426 Wedge
Specifications
Wheelbase, inches: 116.0
Weight, lbs: 3,400
Number built: NA
Base price: $3,000
Top Available Engine
Type: ohv V-8
Displacement, cid: 426
Fuel system: 2 x 4bbl.
Compression ratio: 13.5:1
Horsepower @ rpm: 425 @ 5600
Torque @ rpm: 480 @ 4400
Representative Performance
0-60 mph, sec: 6.5
1/4 mile, sec @ mph: 13.66 @ 107 |
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- Muscle cars wouldn't have much muscle without horsepower -- but what exactly is horsepower? How Horsepower Works answers that question.
- NASCAR race cars embody the muscle car philosophy of power. Read How NASCAR Race Cars Work to find out what makes these charged-up racers go.
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