Plymouth Belvedere Max Wedge: Mopar Muscle at Its Purest

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The "Belvedere Beast": Remembering the 426 Max Wedge Mopar Legend

When it comes to pure, unadulterated American muscle, few cars command the same respect and awe as the Plymouth Belvedere 426 Max Wedge. This wasn't a "gentleman's muscle car" with luxury trimmings; it was a factory-built drag strip weapon, engineered by Mopar for one purpose: total NHRA Super Stock domination.

A Raw, Uncompromising Machine

Introduced in 1963, the Max Wedge (officially "Maximum Performance Wedge") was the ultimate evolution of Chrysler's big-block engine family. Plymouth and Dodge dealers offered these cars with minimal creature comforts, often featuring lightweight components like aluminum fenders and hoods, and stripped-down interiors to shed every possible pound. The result was a raw, no-nonsense machine with a singular focus on straight-line speed.

The Heart of a Champion: The 426 Max Wedge

Under the hood roared the legendary 426 cubic inch Max Wedge V8. Key features that made this engine a legend included:

• High-Rise Cross-Ram Intake Manifolds: An instantly recognizable design, these fed the engine a massive air-fuel charge at high RPM.
• Dual 4-Barrel Carburetors: Two Carter AFB four-barrel carburetors, mounted diagonally, ensured brutal performance.
• High-Flow Heads & Aggressive Cam: Race-bred components were used, resulting in factory ratings of up to 425 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, though actual output was widely believed to be much higher.
• Factory Exhaust Cutouts: These cars came with a special free-flowing exhaust system that included racetrack-style cutouts for an aggressive sound and maximum airflow.

The Legacy

The Belvedere Max Wedge cars, along with their Dodge counterparts, became a fearsome sight at local drag strips, laying down low-12-second quarter-mile times straight from the showroom floor. They were a dominant force in early 1960s drag racing, solidifying Plymouth's performance reputation and laying the groundwork for the iconic 426 HEMI that would follow in 1964.

For purists and collectors, the 426 Max Wedge remains one of the most exciting, rare, and sought-after Mopars ever produced. It's a true icon of the golden era of American muscle.

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