Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/eBay seller millevoi
The 1971 model year was a notable release for the Road Runner family, mainly because of Plymouth's changes in the lineup.
One of them was Street Hemi. 1971 was its last year on the market, with Plymouth already preparing for the complete demise, so only 55 Road Runners eventually received it.
The second concerned the 440 Six Pack option. The carmaker was also paving the way for its retirement, focusing entirely on the other engines in the lineup, obviously not as frightening but a bit more interested in fuel economy.
The convertible waved goodbye to the Road Runner lineup in 1971, so the car could be had only as a two-door hardtop. The base unit was powered by a 383 four-barrel unit with 300 horsepower, while the optional choices were the 340 V8 with 275 horsepower, the 440 Six Barrel with 385 horsepower, and the almighty 426 Hemi with 425 horsepower.
Of the 14,218 Road Runners, more than 11,600 rolled off the assembly lines with a 383, with only 1,681 units fitted with a 340. The Hemi was unsurprisingly the rarest.
The 1971 Road Runner that made its way to eBay earlier this week was born with a 340 but eventually got converted to a 383 at some point in the '80s. Seller millevoi didn't share more specifics on the engine swap, but I believe the owner wanted to make the Road Runner easier to sell, as the 383 typically costs some 15 to 20 percent more than a 340 in restored condition. There's no reason to perform this engine swap otherwise, especially because a 340-powered Road Runner was much rarer in 1971 than a 383.
As a result, I believe this Road Runner's fate was to get a full restoration and then look for another home, but the project was somehow abandoned along the way. The car has been sitting ever since, with the seller claiming they pulled the Road Runner from storage after a few decades.
The listing is scarce and includes few specifics, but anyone can easily tell the vehicle exhibits a solid shape. The 383 still starts and runs with an alternate fuel source, so you'll probably have to clean or replace the gas tank and everything else to get the car up and running.
The Road Runner looks good, so it's no surprise that it receives so much attention on eBay. The car received 42 bids at the time of writing, with the top offer reaching $8,500. The digital fight will end in four days, and considering the owner didn't enable a reserve, the Road Runner will definitely leave for a new home later this week (unless the winner doesn't pay, but that's a completely different story).
The second concerned the 440 Six Pack option. The carmaker was also paving the way for its retirement, focusing entirely on the other engines in the lineup, obviously not as frightening but a bit more interested in fuel economy.
The convertible waved goodbye to the Road Runner lineup in 1971, so the car could be had only as a two-door hardtop. The base unit was powered by a 383 four-barrel unit with 300 horsepower, while the optional choices were the 340 V8 with 275 horsepower, the 440 Six Barrel with 385 horsepower, and the almighty 426 Hemi with 425 horsepower.
Of the 14,218 Road Runners, more than 11,600 rolled off the assembly lines with a 383, with only 1,681 units fitted with a 340. The Hemi was unsurprisingly the rarest.
The 1971 Road Runner that made its way to eBay earlier this week was born with a 340 but eventually got converted to a 383 at some point in the '80s. Seller millevoi didn't share more specifics on the engine swap, but I believe the owner wanted to make the Road Runner easier to sell, as the 383 typically costs some 15 to 20 percent more than a 340 in restored condition. There's no reason to perform this engine swap otherwise, especially because a 340-powered Road Runner was much rarer in 1971 than a 383.
As a result, I believe this Road Runner's fate was to get a full restoration and then look for another home, but the project was somehow abandoned along the way. The car has been sitting ever since, with the seller claiming they pulled the Road Runner from storage after a few decades.
The listing is scarce and includes few specifics, but anyone can easily tell the vehicle exhibits a solid shape. The 383 still starts and runs with an alternate fuel source, so you'll probably have to clean or replace the gas tank and everything else to get the car up and running.
The Road Runner looks good, so it's no surprise that it receives so much attention on eBay. The car received 42 bids at the time of writing, with the top offer reaching $8,500. The digital fight will end in four days, and considering the owner didn't enable a reserve, the Road Runner will definitely leave for a new home later this week (unless the winner doesn't pay, but that's a completely different story).
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