Photo: a1carhaven/eBay
Introduced in 1968 as a more affordable alternative to the GTX, the Plymouth Road Runner soldiered on through 1980. Plymouth produced three generations until 1976, when the Road Runner became a trim and graphics package for the Volare. Naturally, the muscle car-era versions are now the most desirable iterations of the the nameplate.
The said variants were produced from 1968 to 1971. That was the final model year for Chrysler's high-compression V8 engines. The Road Runner was quite successful in this period, moving nearly 176,000 units. This 1970 version is part of that glorious era and it's looking for a new home after a whopping 44 years in storage.
It's unclear why this Mopar was parked for good in 1980, after only 10 years on the road, but it took more than four decades of storage like a champ. I guess it was lucky enough to get a roof over its head. Amazingly enough for a vehicle that sat for this long, the Road Runner is not a rust bucket. On the contrary, this Plymouth is a pretty solid rig that won't cost a fortune to restore.
And unlike many barn finds, this Road Runner still rocks its original paint. Sure, the Vitamin C coating is weathered in places, but this car could live on like an unrestored survivor for many years. The unusual black stripe on the doors is definitely an aftermarket addition, but other than that, everything appears to be factory correct. Moreover, the Road Runner is complete and all the chrome trim looks pretty good.
The interior also enjoys unrestored survivor status. The upholstery is cracked and worn out, but the door panels and the dashboard look like they could shine again with a proper cleanup. The seller removed the carpets to showcase the condition of the floors. They are a bit rusty and need work.
Unfortunately, this classic is not all good news. Someone removed the original engine back in the day and the car soldiered on as a rolling shell. The four-speed transmission is still with the vehicle, but it's been taken out. The engine bay further confirms that the Road Runner is still wearing its original paint.
Based on the VIN, the Mopar left the assembly line with the entry-level 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) big-block V8. The four-barrel mill came with 335 horsepower and 425 pound-feet (576 Nm) of torque on tap when new.
The 383 was the most common engine choice in 1970, finding its way into 34,894 of the 36,861 units sold that year. Yup, the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Six-Barrel and 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI versions are very rare. Exactly 14,011 units were also equipped with the four-speed manual, while the coupe body style narrows it down to 5,839 example. Granted, it's not exactly rare, but you won't find many in this condition nowadays.
I guess it would be much rarer if we could factor in the options and the Vitamin C color, but Chrysler didn't keep tabs for everything. But I don't need that all that information to think this Road Runner is worth restoring. Sure, it will probably cost more than its current market value, but hey, this Mopar will be a gorgeous sight. In fact, I'd be happy enough to see it back on the road as an unrestored survivor.
If you want to put this Road Runner back on the road, it's waiting for you in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The auction ends in a week and bidding is at $13,000 with the reserve still in place. How much is this thing worth?
It's unclear why this Mopar was parked for good in 1980, after only 10 years on the road, but it took more than four decades of storage like a champ. I guess it was lucky enough to get a roof over its head. Amazingly enough for a vehicle that sat for this long, the Road Runner is not a rust bucket. On the contrary, this Plymouth is a pretty solid rig that won't cost a fortune to restore.
And unlike many barn finds, this Road Runner still rocks its original paint. Sure, the Vitamin C coating is weathered in places, but this car could live on like an unrestored survivor for many years. The unusual black stripe on the doors is definitely an aftermarket addition, but other than that, everything appears to be factory correct. Moreover, the Road Runner is complete and all the chrome trim looks pretty good.
The interior also enjoys unrestored survivor status. The upholstery is cracked and worn out, but the door panels and the dashboard look like they could shine again with a proper cleanup. The seller removed the carpets to showcase the condition of the floors. They are a bit rusty and need work.
Unfortunately, this classic is not all good news. Someone removed the original engine back in the day and the car soldiered on as a rolling shell. The four-speed transmission is still with the vehicle, but it's been taken out. The engine bay further confirms that the Road Runner is still wearing its original paint.
Based on the VIN, the Mopar left the assembly line with the entry-level 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) big-block V8. The four-barrel mill came with 335 horsepower and 425 pound-feet (576 Nm) of torque on tap when new.
The 383 was the most common engine choice in 1970, finding its way into 34,894 of the 36,861 units sold that year. Yup, the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Six-Barrel and 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI versions are very rare. Exactly 14,011 units were also equipped with the four-speed manual, while the coupe body style narrows it down to 5,839 example. Granted, it's not exactly rare, but you won't find many in this condition nowadays.
I guess it would be much rarer if we could factor in the options and the Vitamin C color, but Chrysler didn't keep tabs for everything. But I don't need that all that information to think this Road Runner is worth restoring. Sure, it will probably cost more than its current market value, but hey, this Mopar will be a gorgeous sight. In fact, I'd be happy enough to see it back on the road as an unrestored survivor.
If you want to put this Road Runner back on the road, it's waiting for you in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The auction ends in a week and bidding is at $13,000 with the reserve still in place. How much is this thing worth?
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