Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/eBay seller muscovey
1973 witnessed the debut of a massive restyling for the Road Runner, as Plymouth tried to refresh the car to breathe new life into a model whose sales were dropping.
Unfortunately, the carmaker also made changes in the engine department. It started with the demise of the 426 Hemi in 1972, though Plymouth continued to offer the 440 with 280 horsepower. The engine was only available with a 727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission.
The base engine on the new Road Runner was the 318 with 170 horsepower, eventually becoming the most popular choice on this model year.
The Road Runner posted on eBay by seller muscovey rolled off the assembly lines with a 340 engine. The matching-numbers V8 is still in the car, though it no longer works. The owner says it turns over by hand, sporting new spark plugs, fresh coolant, and other new parts paving the way for a full overhaul. However, they didn't try to start the car, so find a good mechanic to inspect the engine and determine if you can still bring it back to life.
The Road Runner is almost complete, but it doesn't seem 100% original. You should still be able to bring it back to factory specifications with the correct parts, but turning this project into a restomod makes more sense from a restoration perspective.
The car looks rough, and despite no such information being available, I believe this Road Runner has been sitting for many years. The rust invaded the typical suspects, so you'll find the damage on the floors and in the trunk. I believe the floors don't require more than minor patches, so you could avoid full replacements. The metal is solid overall, so the restoration should focus mostly on the mechanical side and the missing parts.
It's unclear how much of this Road Runner is no longer there, so your best option is to inspect the car in person before committing to a purchase. The vehicle is parked in South Hill, Virginia, and you'll need a trailer to take it home.
The owner wants to get $3,500 for their Road Runner, and the price looks fair, especially considering its shape. No other offers are accepted. The engine is the biggest dilemma, as a matching-numbers unit that still starts and runs could make the restoration job substantially easier.
If the engine no longer starts, you can always go the restomod route and upgrade the Road Runner to the massive 440 big-block available on this model year. The car would eventually become an even more intriguing head-turner, though finding a correct 440 and a matching-numbers transmission could make the project even more challenging. The listing will expire in five days, so you must decide as soon as possible.
The base engine on the new Road Runner was the 318 with 170 horsepower, eventually becoming the most popular choice on this model year.
The Road Runner posted on eBay by seller muscovey rolled off the assembly lines with a 340 engine. The matching-numbers V8 is still in the car, though it no longer works. The owner says it turns over by hand, sporting new spark plugs, fresh coolant, and other new parts paving the way for a full overhaul. However, they didn't try to start the car, so find a good mechanic to inspect the engine and determine if you can still bring it back to life.
The Road Runner is almost complete, but it doesn't seem 100% original. You should still be able to bring it back to factory specifications with the correct parts, but turning this project into a restomod makes more sense from a restoration perspective.
The car looks rough, and despite no such information being available, I believe this Road Runner has been sitting for many years. The rust invaded the typical suspects, so you'll find the damage on the floors and in the trunk. I believe the floors don't require more than minor patches, so you could avoid full replacements. The metal is solid overall, so the restoration should focus mostly on the mechanical side and the missing parts.
It's unclear how much of this Road Runner is no longer there, so your best option is to inspect the car in person before committing to a purchase. The vehicle is parked in South Hill, Virginia, and you'll need a trailer to take it home.
The owner wants to get $3,500 for their Road Runner, and the price looks fair, especially considering its shape. No other offers are accepted. The engine is the biggest dilemma, as a matching-numbers unit that still starts and runs could make the restoration job substantially easier.
If the engine no longer starts, you can always go the restomod route and upgrade the Road Runner to the massive 440 big-block available on this model year. The car would eventually become an even more intriguing head-turner, though finding a correct 440 and a matching-numbers transmission could make the project even more challenging. The listing will expire in five days, so you must decide as soon as possible.
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