Satellite With Style

By Cliff Gromer
Photos by TheBruntBros
5/11/05

Several years ago, Joe Murnan brought a beautifully restored Daytona to the Mopar Nationals. The car hardly got a second look. Then, Joe brought something else to the Nats.

...This.

Satellite took a little over a year to restore by Tony's Hard-Core Neon & Interiors, formerly located in Staten Island, NY. Owner insisted on a no-expense-spared, concours quality job.

It all started when Joe planned to restore his '69 Plymouth Satellite. The body had some rust, and the interior needed freshening. But, the 383 cube, TorqueFlite drivetrain was righteous.

First stop was Tony's Hard-Core Neon & Interiors, in Staten Island, NY (since relocated to Murfreesboro, Tenn.) The deal went something like this:

Joe pulls into Tony's shop. Tony comes over wearing the white coat, carrying the clipboard, the whole nine yards.

"Hey, Goombah, what you need? Neon license plate frame? Maybe you want some undercar lights, you should look like the Starship Enterprise going down the highway. Hey, I got a special on the latest deal—black neon inside the car. It makes you glow. You look like Casper the Friendly Ghost behind the wheel. Even lights up your teeth. Freaks everybody out.

"Goo- who?"

"Goombah. G-O-O-O-M-B-A-A-H!"

"Look, Tony, forget the neon lights. Forget the goombah stuff. I'm restoring this Satellite and I need the interior fixed up."

"Interior, huh? No problem. But what about the rust in those quarters and those pitted bumpers?"

"Why, you do bodywork too?"

"Sure. I do interiors, but I always wanted to try exteriors."

"I don't know, Tony."

"Listen, goom..., I mean Joe, baby. Give me a shot. I'll do the body so rust will never ever show, and you'll never have to wax the finish again—ever, and you can kiss bumper pitting goodbye, too."

"Gee, I don't know..."

"Joe, Goombah, trust me. I'm Tony. Look, you sure you don't want the neon? I can make the whole car look like the mother ship in 'Close Encounters.' Freaks everybody out."

"No lights. I want to go through concours judging at the Mopar Nats."