It’s no secret that we at MyStarCollectorCar are big fans of 1963 Plymouths.
In fact, we have owned one for the past 11 years and acquired it because of strong family links with these specific Mopar models.
MyStarCollectorCar was founded and currently run by twin brothers whose father owned a 1963 Plymouth Savoy when we were just kids, and it was a car that left a big impression on both of us.
Jim Sutherland
Few car guys spend much time in search of 4-door sedans, but we always kept our eyes open and finally found one in storage at a Red Deer, Alberta automotive shop. The ‘63 Plymouth Belvedere bore a striking resemblance to our dad’s sedan, but was not the same model.
Nevertheless, we got the car from Big Guy Automotive owner Terry McCrindle and built a road warrior that has been driven many thousands of miles over the past 11 years-and every mile is a trip down memory lane for us.
Last winter, another 1963 Plymouth was spotted in a nearby resort town, and somebody sent us a picture of the car because they thought it was our Plymouth since we drive our ‘63 on occasion during the winter months.
The other Plymouth was a red 4-door Savoy with a white roof, and we were confident we would run across the car at some point in the future. We discovered the 1963 Plymouth Savoy at a show this past spring and were able to interview its owner, Wally Terrey.
Wally is a licensed mechanic who discovered the car almost 3 years ago when its original owner passed away, and the Plymouth Savoy became a part of an estate sale. At the time, Wally and his wife Darlene had moved from Ontario Canada to Alberta and brought a 1964 Plymouth Valiant convertible with them.
Unfortunately, the little Mopar convertible had too many rust issues and would not pass an out-of-province vehicle inspection, so they sold the car. Wally was discouraged by the situation and believed he would not find a replacement vehicle in Alberta until Wally and Darlene discovered the 1963 Savoy.
The old Plymouth was in remarkable shape for its age because the car was stored inside and protected from the elements. Also, the car’s seats had plastic covers installed on them from the start, so they are still in excellent condition.
An interesting example of the Savoy’s pampered life is the rubber weatherstripping around its vent windows because the original material is still soft and pliable, thus providing solid protection against wind noise and rain.
The former owner was a frugal farmer who chose a Savoy because it was the barebones model for full-sized Plymouths in 1963, so Wally’s car is equipped with a Slant Six engine, three-on-the-tree manual transmission, and no radio.
Wally has not changed the Plymouth beyond improvements like installing a dual master cylinder and halogen headlights to provide more safety on the road.
Which brings us to the most important part of the equation: Wally and Darlene love to hit the road in their 1963 Plymouth Savoy and enjoy every minute of every ride.
We at MyStarCollectorCar can definitely relate to their car choice and game plan for it.
Jim Sutherland
