If you were shopping for a Mopar muscle car in late 1971, you should have bought a leftover ’71 model because their performance ratings were higher. 1972 brought the demise of the 426 Hemi, and 440 6-Pac,k and the detuned 400 replaced the 383. Sales were down by half as a result, and the seller’s 1972 Road Runner with a 400 V8 and 4-speed was one of only 906 produced. Located in Rome, New York, this ‘Bird is available here on eBay for $25,000 OBO. “Curvette” strikes again in the tips department!
After a full redesign in 1971, the 1972 RR was virtually unchanged. Placement of the “strobe” stripes may help you tell the two model years apart. Along with detuning to run on lead-free fuels, the horsepower rating system had changed to SAE net, so the output of the 1972 engines seemed more anemic. The 400 V8 was standard, though you could swap for a 340 or a 440 (the latter with the new Road Runner GTX). 1972 would be the last year for the 4-speed with these engines. The aerodynamic look of the cars helped Richard Petty win the NASCAR Cup championship in both years.
Just 7,628 Road Runners left the assembly line in ’72, and about half of them had the 400 V8. A note provided by the seller indicates the 400 in this car is “new” and has several performance upgrades, such as the pistons and camshaft. And we assume whatever smog equipment was there to begin with is gone. Newer parts include the starter and water pump. So, we guess this is a turnkey Road Runner that’s ready to rock.
Otherwise, the details provided by the seller are minimal. The bucket seats and steering wheel have been changed out, and I would find some originals to replace them. They don’t match at all with the rest of the interior (I’d get some dark blue carpeting, too). The body and paint look fine and may have been redone, but the seller is light on those kinds of details. If you can’t find an original 1971 Road Runner with a 383 or Hemi, will this one fill the bill?
Wouldn’t think, wouldn’t blink-I’d grab this in a New York second if the vaguest opportunity presented itself. The underside is incredibly clean in the pictures from what you all tell me it’s like to drive back there, and the price is great IMO.
Curvette is the hardest working man at BarnFinds!!!
Like the car, hate the color. Was a Richard Petty fan, but this color, bye itself doesn’t work on such a large canvas.
Steve R
You can always add some red and put a big #43 on the doors and top. Of course, Richard’s early Mopars were solid Petty blue, including the Superbird. Now that’s a lot of blue.
I love the Petty blue for this one! Makes the car in my opinion. But to each his own…
Love the color
Yeah for a big car that’s a lot of blue. My Challenger has the same color (Plymouth= Basin Street Blue/Dodge=Super Blue) and the black vinyl roof and black tail panel beaks up the blue and adds nice contrast.
In your opinion. You’re definitely in the minority here, and I personally agree with the majority
Johan
Let’s see, this car for $25k or the Camaro Berlinetta above it for $25k. Hmmm. It’s a no-brainer for me. I’d take this Roadrunner all day long and twice on Sundays.
Looks like fun with that tall stick shift. 👍
Plymouths had the best graphics! I love this shade of blue.
i saw the pics but then saw the inside and was really let down and the same with under the hood. buyer has their work cut out for them after dropping 25k.
My favorite Road Runner body style. But something other than blue please. And yes I was unimpressed with the interior also.
Love these Roadrunners. Any big displacement, 4-speed car is worth a look. Where are those seats from? They resemble the ones from a GM S/T truck in the 80s or 90s.
I owned a ‘71 while in high school with the 383. Loved the Orange color which the official name escapes my old memory now. I’m surprised that I didn’t kill myself way back then. Drove the wheels off of it. I’ve been kicking my rear end ever since. At 66 years old, I still miss that car….
Go mango Omaha orange
Our 72 was basin street blue (petty blue) ours was also a 400 but with the Air grabber. Ours also had the full black vinyl roof with sunroof black leather/vinyl interior, tilt wheel cruise power drivers seat A/C & cassette 1 of 4 produced. I have searched the Northwest trying to find it to no avail. Our build date was September 1971
That would have been a very nice car