When Plymouth redesigned the Belvedere for the 1965 model year, it also introduced a top-of-the-line Satellite version. Restricted to the two-door body style and V8 engines, it was a slightly fancier, performance-oriented model. Two years later, Plymouth took it up a notch and launched the GTX, a more upscale-trimmed version with big-block power.
The GTX gave Plymouth a competitor for the Dodge Charger, but the division lacked an affordable muscle car to go against the upcoming Super Bee. That changed for the 1968 model with the arrival of the Road Runner.
Built with a more basic interior but available with Chrysler's most powerful V8 mills, the Road Runner became a huge success and moved more than 44,000 units in its first year on the market. The dark green example you see here is one of those cars, but it hides an unexpected surprise under the hood.
Plymouth offered only two engines in 1968. The Road Runner came standard with the ubiquitous 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) B-block, rated at 335 horsepower 425 pound-feet (576 Nm) of torque. The only option was the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI, which sent 425 horses 490 pound-feet (664 Nm) of twist to the rear wheels. The 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB, offered in both four- and six-barrel formats, didn't join the lineup until 1969.
Most 1968 Road Runners left the factory with the 383. Specifically, of the 44,303 units sold that year, only 1,009 were fitted with the 426 HEMI. This clean and unassuming Mopar rolled off the assembly line with the base unit, but it's somewhat of a sleeper now, thanks to a few upgrades.
Although it's unclear whether the V8 is a numbers-matching lump or not, it's now a big larger at 400 cubic inches (6.6 liters) and packs aftermarket goodies like a Holley carburetor, Holley Street Dominator intake manifold, and long tube headers. There's no word on how much oomph it delivers, but it should generate more than the stock 335 horsepower. Either way, it sounds fantastic when the pedal hits the floor.
All that oomph hits the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic mounted on the column. This setup, plus the coupe body style, makes it one of 14,431 Road Runners built like this in 1968. However, this Plymouth is finished in Forest Green Poly, a color that's not very common on these cars. It's not super-rare either, but it's definitely scarcer than the yellow, blue, and red hues you usually see on 1968 Road Runners.
If you're a fan of unassuming Mopars with mild color schemes and bench seats, this one's definitely for you. And at $45,995, it's not very expensive either. Check it out in the video below, and make sure you crank up the volume for V8 awesomeness at the 6:20-minute mark.
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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