Did you ever wonder what vehicles were used to research highway traffic safety back in the day? Yup, it's the kind of thing no one really cares about, me included. But a while ago, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a muscle car played a crucial role in making public roads safer.
In 1970, the Wayne State University of Detroit, Michigan, purchased a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner for its then-new program developed to improve highway traffic safety. The car helped the university discover Armco barriers were dangerous on the highway. It's a car that may have saved your life.
Although it's often described as a crash test vehicle, this Road Runner wasn't actually smashed into barriers. They used it to pull uncrewed cars into traffic signs and guardrails. The university created an elaborate cable and stanchion system that enabled the Road Runner to pull test vehicles up to speeds of around 100 mph (161 kph).
As the Mopar accelerated to 50 mph (80 kph) away from the guardrail, the crash vehicles moved at twice the speed in the opposite direction. These tests not only helped phase out Armco barriers but also brought new safety measures into place. The university kept the car until 1978 when it was auctioned off.
Come 2023, the muscle car is pretty much an all-original and unrestored gem, which is downright fantastic for a vehicle that's more than 50 years old. It's been with the same owner since 1996 and still carries the original Wayne State University stickers on its doors. Moreover, the "50 mph speed restriction" sign is still on the glove box.
This Road Runner is also a low-mileage classic. The coupe left the university with only 14,000 miles (22,531 km) on the odo, which now shows just 26,000 miles (41,843 km). But that's not to say it's a garage queen. Even though it spends a lot of time in storage, the Road Runner is enjoying its retirement as a drag racer in the Factory Appearing Stock Tire (FAST) series.
The owner reportedly runs the quarter-mile in the low 12s thanks to a few upgrades under the hood. It's an unassuming sleeper that packs more punch than a HEMI Road Runner. And even though it may not be as scarce as the latter, the 440-6 under the hood makes it a rare classic.
Of the 36,861 Road Runners sold in 1970, only 1,815 were ordered with the six-barrel 440 powerplant. This one sports a coupe body style, which narrows it down to only 651 examples. If we also factor in the automatic gearbox, we're left with just 222 cars. It's basically rarer than a Plymouth Superbird with the same drivetrain configuration.
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
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News