Introduced in 1968, the Plymouth Road Runner arrived a bit late to the midsize muscle car party. But it opened the door with a bang, tearing it down with the roar of the 426-cubic-inch Hemi and 440-cubic-inch (7.0- and 7.2-liter) V8 engines.
But as the new emission regulations hit the car market in 1972, power ratings went down and quarter-mile times went up. The 426 Hemi also went into the history books that year. This 1972 Road Runner comes from that unfortunate era, but it hides a monstrous Indy Hemi engine under the hood.
Well, "hides" might not be the best word here since that high-mounted blower is a solid hint as to what's under the hood, but the appearance of this Road Runner is misleading. That's because this Mopar isn't supercharged. Don't let the blower fool you, the Hemi that motivates this muscle car is of the all-motor variety. And it cranks up a whopping 1,100 horsepower.
How is that possible without forced induction, you ask? Well, you know how they say that there's no replacement for displacement? This car is the perfect proof. That Indy block started life with 572 cubic inches (9.3 liters) and was stroked to 605 cubic inches (9.9 liters). Coupled with a series of race-spec upgrades, the Hemi has what it takes to deliver more than 1,000 naturally aspirated horses. Hot diggity dog!
And this build is of the old-school variety. There's no computer and nothing high-tech under the shell.
It rides, however, on a radically modified rear end with a modern suspension. Something to help the engine lay all that power to the ground and keep it running in a straight line down the quarter-mile.
Yes, this Road Runner is still road legal and retains the production interior (plus a roll cage), but it also spends a lot of time at the drag strip. And it's safe to say that it smokes the quarter-mile in less than nine seconds.
The 1972 Road Runner is not the best-looking Plymouth if you ask me (I'm a fan of the 1970 version), but this Mopar looks the part. With the nose pointed to the ground and the rear end up in the air, it almost looks like a Hot Wheels model. And I love that. And man, just look at them fat rear tires.
It's the kind of car that comes with a "Mopar or no car" caption. In bold script. Check it out in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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