273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated!

Posted By: hemidart1

273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/22/13 04:51 PM

A few years back at the BJ auction, I saw a Plymouth B body with what was claimed to be a 273 Commando from the factory. Could this have been true? Could they have slipped a few in the b body?

thanks

Posted By: Rhinodart

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/22/13 05:06 PM

Never say never with Chrysler, but in a word, NO!

Posted By: hemidart1

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/22/13 05:16 PM

But remember-the car was at BJ so it must have been real.......

Posted By: elmor353

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/22/13 07:46 PM

Not sure if they used the Commando version in B-bodies, but I do know they put 273's in them. I had a 65 Coronet with one from the factory.

Posted By: 6PakBee

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/23/13 02:22 AM

Pretty common. I have a 273 in a '67 Belvedere, three-speed. The two barrel version, of course.

Posted By: hemidart1

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/23/13 02:37 AM

here is the car in question....
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=989&aid=48

Posted By: Bumbalawski

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/23/13 02:44 AM

If I recall correctly, in an 1967 A-body, the "D" code was a 273 2bbl. and the "E" code was a 273 HP 4 bbl. The 1967 B body BJ car in question is a "D" code.

Posted By: hemidart1

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/23/13 03:07 AM

I remember looking over the car and being surprised at the Commando engine. The description said it was a rare special factory order.
I wish I had a pic of it.

Posted By: gdonovan

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/23/13 10:25 AM

Quote:

I remember looking over the car and being surprised at the Commando engine. The description said it was a rare special factory order.
I wish I had a pic of it.

I have owned several Darts and Barracudas with factory 273-4 bbl engines, never have I seen a b-body with one. Doesn't make much sense to build one that way when you have a huge engine bay and a big car to drop a cheap 383 in.

Possible of course but the VIN does indicate a 2bbl.

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/23/13 03:34 PM

No way. Not with the "D" in the VIN and no documentation to back it up...

Posted By: Rhinodart

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 07/23/13 03:59 PM

Quote:

No way. Not with the "D" in the VIN and no documentation to back it up...

What was the code for "Special Order V8" in 1967. It was "M" in 1968, so I would say if it is a real 273 Commando then it would have that code.

Posted By: moparsquid

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/23/13 05:04 PM

I have had several 2 and 4 barrel 273 1 in a 67 bel and a freind had a 2bbl 68 bel also but mostley in the barracudas 4bbl

Posted By: hemidart1

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/23/13 05:17 PM

they're everywhere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DfbClcg5Yo

http://gatewayclassiccars.com/saint-louis/1967/plymouth/belvedere-ii-S4238.html#.Ue6sw5DNiM8

Posted By: gdonovan

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/23/13 05:34 PM

Quote:

they're everywhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DfbClcg5Yo

http://gatewayclassiccars.com/saint-louis/1967/plymouth/belvedere-ii-S4238.html#.Ue6sw5DNiM8

Thanks for the morning chuckle, car at second link has rare 904 four speed transmission.

Throwing BS flag.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/23/13 05:36 PM

Quote:

they're everywhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DfbClcg5Yo

http://gatewayclassiccars.com/saint-louis/1967/plymouth/belvedere-ii-S4238.html#.Ue6sw5DNiM8

Kinda hard to tell from the pix, but I believe it has 72-later 340 exhaust manifolds on it. From that and the claim that it has TRW 10:1 pistons and a Torker II intake, I'm thinking that's probably not a 273 - despite the Commando 273 air cleaner - as I don't think there are any off-the-shelf 10:1 pistons available for a 273, and the Torker intake runners would be a serious mismatch with the ports in 273 heads. Of course, the seller also claims it has a 904 4-speed automatic trans, so who knows what the deal really is.

Whatever it is, it's not a factory Commando 273. Barring some kind of one-off super special order by someone with more money than sense, I agree with everyone above that says Commando 273's were never put in B bodies.

Posted By: hemidart1

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/23/13 07:56 PM

unlike the X-files....let's leave this case open....

at least until the BJ car surfaces

Posted By: jcc

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/24/13 03:03 AM

FWIW, I have a B body with a non OEM slightly warmed over 273, It's a lot more lively on the street then I would have ever imagined, and likely because of a not well set-up stock avenger Holley, gets sub par mileage.

Posted By: 6PakBee

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/24/13 12:11 PM

The B-J listing says it has the build sheet. That should answer it. If it does have some kind of weird engine option, I would think it would be listed on the bottom under 'Remarks'.

Posted By: denfireguy

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 07/24/13 01:47 PM

Quote:

Quote:

they're everywhere
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DfbClcg5Yo

http://gatewayclassiccars.com/saint-louis/1967/plymouth/belvedere-ii-S4238.html#.Ue6sw5DNiM8

Thanks for the morning chuckle, car at second link has rare 904 four speed transmission.

Throwing BS flag.

Four speeds: three forward and one reverse.....oh wait, six, forgot neutral and park......
Craig

Posted By: hemidart1

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 03/08/14 10:38 PM

here is mine-coming together nicely

Posted By: jcc

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 03/09/14 01:48 AM

If mine looked that clean, I wouldn't drive it.

Posted By: Rhinodart

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory?-updated! - 03/09/14 01:56 AM

Here is one I am parting out now, 67 Dart GT convertible with the Charger 273. Too bad it is so rusty, but I did start the engine last week after sitting for the last 10 years.

Attached picture 8066854-IMG_20140217_143454861.jpg

Posted By: 71birdJ68

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 03/09/14 02:15 AM

They even put /6s in B bodies.

Posted By: hemidart1

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 03/09/14 02:08 PM

of course mine is a "what if" combo. But I got the idea from Koffel's 1965 RO car he ran with a 273 commando

Posted By: Commando1

Re: 273 Commando in a B body?- from the factory? - 03/09/14 02:17 PM

Between these two sources, I'm 100% convinced.

Quote:

but in a word, NO!