Chuck Bast was a 17-year-old kid when he bought a 1968 Plymouth Sport Satellite for fun and transportation.
The really fun part occurred decades later when Chuck transplanted a 6.1-liter Hemi from a 2007 Chrysler SRT-8 donor into his Sport Satellite.
Jim Sutherland
The 1968 Plymouth Sport Satellite was an upscale sibling of the legendary ‘68 Plymouth Road Runner, an affordable factory hot rod built by Mother Mopar. Essentially, the two cars looked the same, except the Sport Satellite had more bling than a garden variety Road Runner and was built for a buyer who wanted more luxury when he purchased a B-body (intermediate sized) Plymouth.
However, a used 1968 Plymouth Sport Satellite was simply a way for Chuck to get in the game when he was a teenager. His Sport Satellite was an affordable alternative to a genuine ‘68 Road Runner because it was not a Road Runner but carried the same cool style as the ‘Runner.
Chuck used his Sport Satellite as daily transportation for a while until he moved onto other vehicles that took the daily driver role in his life, but he kept his mid-sized Plymouth until Chuck figured out his game plan for the car.
As mentioned earlier, Chuck purchased the 2007 Chrysler SRT-8 because it offered a major upgrade from the ‘68 Plymouth Sport Satellite’s stock powertrain and gave it a 21st century makeover- mechanically speaking.
Chuck is very handy with wrenches, so the transplant process was easier for him. Additionally, the aftermarket world offered the correct adaptors for squeezing the 2007 Hemi into the 1968 Plymouth’s engine compartment.
The new age Hemi engine was bolted up to a NAG1 5-speed automatic transmission, also known as a W5A-580 in Mopar circles. The transmission was designed and built by Mercedes Benz and reflects an era when the two companies flew under the same Daimler banner.
The net result for Chuck was a modern powertrain that could provide performance and durability in one package for him because Chuck wanted to drive his Plymouth whenever and wherever he chose to hit the road.
Other add-on features include ABS braking, as well as front disc and rear drum brakes to help slow down Chuck’s resto mod Sports Satellite faster than a factory stopping system. Chuck also used an aftermarket air conditioning unit to keep him cool on summer road trips.
Chuck told MyStarCollectorCar his ‘68 Sports Satellite was originally a blue and white car, but he has a brother who is a licensed autobody man with his own shop, so Chuck did a major color change to his car.
The net result is a perfect dark maroon paint job with a metal flake in it that is also flawless.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Chuck only got serious about his resto mod project in 2025 and somehow was able to bring his 1968 Plymouth Sport Satellite back on the road in time for the 2026 summer car show season, including an event over two hours away from his home.
Congratulations to Chuck and his family for a job done quickly and well. Now it’s time for him to have fun with his stylish ‘68 Plymouth Sports Satellite resto mod.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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