Other than the Pontiac GTO, no muscle car may have drawn more attention than the Plymouth Road Runner. With its gimmicky play on the Warner Brothers cartoon characters, it was immediately popular. 1968 sales equaled 44,600 units, with 84,400 more copies in 1969, and 43,400 editions in 1970 (the last year in the production cycle). Next to the 426 Hemi, the rarest Road Runner was the 440 cubic inch V8 with triple 2-barrel carburetors (aka 6-Pack). This 6-Pack coupe saw a production of just 222 cars that year with an automatic transmission. Off the road for 40 years, this Mopar is in Alden, New York, and available here on eBay where $31,600 has yet to trigger the seller’s reserve.
The 1970 model year was perhaps the peak of the muscle car movement. Insurance companies were already raising their rates as the number of accidents with automobiles of this ilk was increasing. And the Federal government would soon step in and choke their performance by imposing greater levels of emissions controls. So, it’s no surprise that the Road Runner (and other hot cars) would see their best years at the end of the 1960s decade. The originally budget-minded Road Runner would soon begin to gain more amenities and it would even merge with the GTX in 1972 when buyers opted for pizzaz over power (though a non-GTX Road Runner was still produced).
Both of Chrysler’s hottest pair of engines would have their swan song in 1971, the 426 Hemi and the 440 V8 with the triple carburetor set-up. The 6-Pack was alive and well in 1970, although the number of takers was few. The seller’s car was fortunate to be equipped that way and had the optional N96 Shaker hood for cold air induction. When placed in a pillared Road Runner (fixed post, pop-open rear windows), the number of buyers averaged just 18 per month. The seller’s car is largely numbers-matching (the seller’s description is a bit hard to decipher, but it looks as though the engine block numbers do not match).
This Plymouth originated in Texas and was stored for quite some time and its black finish has begun to look a little tired. The sheet metal is said to all be good and the car has never been beset with rust or involved in an accident (reportable, anyway). The “bird” spent some time in racing circles as it was mini-tubbed for the street scene and the rear axle upgraded to a Dana 60, but everything is said to have remained stock. If you want to un-tub this machine, the seller is throwing in a 1970 Satellite parts car shell that you could harvest.
The engine and transmission are out of the Mopar awaiting a rebuild. We assume it’s up to the buyer to finish that work and put the hardware back into this Plymouth. The seller sounds like something of an authority on these cars and after years of looking, this is the only 440 6-Pack coupe he/she found with TX9 black paint and the N96 hood. He/she traded a 1968 Road Runner Hemi to get this car years ago but would now rather use the money to fund building a new shop for his/her other treasures.
‘aka’…. 6bbl for Plymouth, 6pack for Dodge.
…also ‘Air Grabber’ for RR N-96. ‘Shaker’ for e-bodies. Way different set-ups.
Non original block pulls back on rarity sadly.
Much denaro to be spent to put back .
Good luck with sale !
It will look great after restoration ..
Parked for 40 years and $31K offered? He’d be wise to take the money and run to the bank. While the car has a desirable set up, it will take a truckload of money to put this one back on the road again. Seller has been reading the Junk and Scrap dealers retail price guide. Buyer will be upside down before towing this one home.
So, a desirable , and rare 50 year old car isnt worth 31k to you, but the auction was ended early ; I’ll bet he was offered something very close to that amount or higher to end the auction
I wasn’t aware of a ” junk and scrap dealers price guide” , but some buyers aren’t worried about being “upside down” , some have the ability and resources to do the work themselves, or have the money to have someone repair it . If its something they want , it doesnt matter what they spend on it.
These cars rotted within several years. I bought an FE5 70 RR hardtop in 1973 for $1,200 from rhe original owner. It had N96, the best hood ever out of any car maker. It worked perfectly. When I entered the Army, dad made me sell it. I was sooo mad. Now I can’t afford a 70 RR. Oh, my car’s front fenders started bubbling rust in 1974. But then we drove muscle cars every day, even in the snow.
Royal Chrysler /Plymouth sold every make ,model of Roadrunners, Daytonas Super Bees ,late sixties early seventies.showroom new.Sales declined due too restrictions insurance premiums, emissions requirements, reduced speed limits.106 octane high grade,102 mid grade ethyal 100octane.32 per gallon
.which ever grade.Station practically on each ,as well as commerical dealership’s.103rd and Lafayette st.Chgo.Il.Dodge fans went Mr.Norm Grand Spalding Dodge. Street and strip dealer.