What is the difference?

[skyman51]

What is the difference between a 1966 Belvedere II and a Belvedere HP 2?
I have been told only 50 2 dr HT HP2 were built and only 1 of 1 in Turbine Bronze. Aren't both described cars 66 Belvedere's with 426/425 dual quad street Hemis?

 

[ilm65]

Belvedere II was the trim level (Satellite was top line trim level with bucket seat interior available in hardtop and convertible configuration--Belvedere II was the middle trim level with chrome ((mostly anodized aluminum)) accents and nicely appointed interior with bench seats available in 2 and 4 door sedan, station wagon, hardtop, and convertible configuration--and the Belvedere I was the low trim level available in 2 and 4 door sedan and station wagon). The HP2 was the early model designation for the hemi option and stood for "High Performance Plymouth". That early designation could be found on any of the above, but was replaced shortly into the '66 model year with the 426 designation on the lower front fender.

 

[696pack]

HP2 has nothing to do with the model number at all.
Hp2 stands for either horse power squared, horse power to the second level, high performance squared or high performance to the second level. Take your pick as it has been argued by the Hemi community for decades.
It was used as an emblem to identify an early 1966 Hemi powered Plymouth and then dropped, probably because no one really knew what it meant and was not good recognition for the intended Hemi power plant.

 

[skyman51]

Thank you guys for your expertise. If it is just an emblem change is it possible that only 50 Belvedere's were made with that emblem before the change. And if that is the case it means nothing special. Any ideas on only one being painted Turbine Bronze?

 

[696pack]

There are no factory supported figures on any of that so it would only be a guess.

Eveyone is so obssessed with the rarity of their cars. ALL Mopar performance cars from the 60s and 70s are rare compared to like type models of GM and Ford. Be happy with that.

 

[Meep-Meep]

From what I have read HP2 stands for hemi powered 2 dr. - just to add another definition to the mix. Perhaps a take from the 442 badging theory. It was removed in favor of the 426 HEMI badge (my avatar) because the HP2 was too obscure. The engine is the same. Think of the HP2 like the famous Skynyrd album cover where the guys are standing in the fire but the cover got pulled shortly after its release so finding the original one is nearly impossible.

The Belvedere I is a 2 dr post (sedan). Bel II is a hard top and Satellite is a hard top with more - as today's expression goes - bling. Belvederes are always bench seat while the Sat got buckets and or console. This may not be cast in iron but this is what I have observed.