This barn find is a make and model that has been covered here before but this one has a little bit of star power as the seller is none other than Mark Worman of “Graveyard Carz” fame, a Mopar restoration TV show (and shop as well) that is known for very correct, high-end restoration work. And the car in question is a 1970 Plymouth Super Bird, located in Springfield, Oregon and available here on eBay, a current bid of $60,100, reserve not met.
The Superbird was Plymouth’s one year only answer to the previous year’s one year only Dodge Daytona which was a homologation special for NASCAR’s Grand National series. It was also Chrysler Corporation’s last-ditch effort to get Richard petty back in their fold as their premier NASCAR driver. Petty switched from Plymouth to Ford at the end of 1968 because he refused to move over to Dodge and pilot one of the new Daytona’s as Chrysler requested. The Superbird was essentially a Road Runner version of the Dodge Charger Daytona and being a Plymouth, it was enough to lure Petty back.
Under the hood, we find the matching number, standard 440 CI mill, good for 375 HP. Optional motors included the 390 HP “six-pack” triple carburetor version of the 440 motor and finally, the 426 CI, 425 HP Hemi. Putting the power to the rear wheels is Chrysler’s excellent Torqueflite A727, three-speed automatic transmission – also a matching number component.
The interior of this bird is pretty stripped. The good news is that the floors are visible and strong; dash looks complete too. The seats however are another matter, they’ll need rebuilding and recovering. It also appears that the sail panels, headliner and package tray will need replacing.
From a structural perspective, this Plymouth appears to be very sound. The seller states that the floors and trunk need some work but the wording leads me to believe that he just doesn’t like the appearance. Mark Worman is known as a perfectionist so it may be more of an issue that this Superbird just isn’t up to his high standard.
In 1970, there were officially 1,920 Superbirds produced, though that number is debated. Not many, however, were finished in Alpine White. Now, there isn’t a lot of that original Alpine White visible but there is enough that you can get the general vibe. This Bird would have also had a black vinyl top cover too as all were produced with the cover to hide roof surgery. The missing cover gives you a better view of the roof surface, a place where rust frequently hides.
The Superbird was not an immediate sales success. The drooping aero nose and high, rear-mounted wing were polarizing, people either loved the visual impact or hated it. Some examples languished on dealer’s lots for a long time. I specifically remember a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer near my home that had more than one Superbird parked on a remote storage lot late into 1971.
There you have it, this is a solid project car with many original parts being sold by one of the preeminent Mopar experts. The listing states that full restoration service is available for this Superbird. While I find this and the Daytona to be fascinating production vehicles, they’re not my cup of tea – but how about you? Do you think this example would be a good start for an investment-grade vehicle?
Up to$70,100.00 now. It’s going to go for quite a bit more I’d say.
The plates on this car went out of production in the 80’s, so those could be original to the car. In the 80’s NJ switched to blue plates.
My guess is someone sent it to Worman and got in over their head, as can often happen. Worman is probably selling it as is to recoup his loss.
If you own a highly successful resto shop, why not restore it, and sell it for more?
Perhaps because he doesn’t want to put more of his own money into the car, and wants to recoup whatever he’s put into it so far.
There’s a big difference between getting money up front—as in, a customer paying for restoration services—and being entirely on the hook for the costs, with the hope of making it back sometime in the future. This is perhaps even more true when you are running a business where customer work needs to take precedence over shop projects.
Of course, I have no idea what the real story is. But this seems like a reasonable scenario.
He probably is looking to sell it to someone who will then have his shop restore it. Win – Win for Mark.
Agreed. A win win for all involved get r dun.
There might be some legalities in this, if it was left by a customer who ‘abandoned’ it after the project was started. If the shop took it over and fixed it up and then sold it for a profit, the prior owner might be able to sue, claiming ‘conversion’ (taking the property of another unjustly for one’s own benefit) and get the profit or even damages in addition. If the shop sells it as it is thus far to mitigate their losses, that’s a different situation legally and far less likely to be able to bite them.
Selling it to someone else in the latter situation and then resuming the restoration job is their best path by far.
If the shop does a lien sale according to Oregon law, they are free to do what they want to with the car after they have obtained title.
In Oregon, it is not required to notify anybody out of state of the proceedings, other than the address they used for the original work order.
if they did that, they are in the clear.
r s are you a lawyer or do you have a shop that your talking from experience??? I’m just wondering cause I have gone through some legal problems with an old car I bought without a title!!! It’s always good to know someone that’s knows the law!!!
https://barnfinds.com/superbird-1970-plymouth-road-runner/
Best ‘Birdfind ever – Too far gone; or was it?
Mr. Worman is rightly proud of his reputation to take on any and all (Mopar) comers – Wonder if he’d have taken that one on? Wonder what happened to it?
Mark also has a 73 Challenger on ebay, bidding is, north of $50,000.00 on that project.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-Dodge-Challenger/163915549096?hash=item262a20c9a8:g:VBEAAOSwAPpdkUcs
Don’t let Kevin Hart near it.
The man is paralyzed. Show some respect.
Petty left for Ford because he wanted to switch to the slippery dodge Daytona and Chrysler said he had to stay with Plymouth. They made the super bird to get him back.
I thought he left because HASCAR outlawed both the Superbird and the Daytona and the regular Mopars couldn’t run with the Fords and Chevys. He went to the wing”d cars because they were superior to the other makes.
If the floors still need work, why Is the bottom all fixed, painted and dolled up? Could be what you say, owner got in over his head, but it could also be lipstick on a pig. Rattle can engine rebuild. Buyer with big bucks beware. All my $.02 worth.
Cheers
GPC
I am leery of someone not restoring a high dollar car..
Theres the flippers just wanting to get to the next but this guy is the guy… is he unloading a problem?
I am just saying hire a mopar expert appraiser pro to dig deep if your a buyer… 😏. Not trying to be negative just saying high dollar 💵 exchanges require homework.
I know if it was me i’d pay a person that i know that goes to mopar nats yearly as their main judge for decades because he knows his mopars and uncovers every year items that their owners are saddened to hear 😔
I have a 6k original miles all numbers matching museum quality bird . No restoration needed for sale
Price ?
Don’t any of you bother to read the ads? I think not because you wouldn’t be posting nonsense. Many restorer’s like Worman put these up for sale to find a buyer sell them his services for restoration of the vehicle.
He clearly states in the ad that he offers these services. Do a little reading and spare us all the drama.
Don’t like the tone of your reply, Oil slick. We are a friendly, easy going bunch here. Cut it back a tad.
Don’t cry, I don’t care what you think.
Ok Oil slick- do us all a favor and go elsewhere. We don’t need your bs.
Grow up
Agreed. Graveyard Carz is the worst in a bad group of car reality shows. With all the fake drama and nonsense that they’re happy to provide for the cameras I can only imagine what it would be like trying to buy an actual car from them, not to mention engage in a complex restoration project. Hard pass.
I can’t even watch it anymore because of the bs.
“Fruit of my loins” to his daughter. Condescending a hole to his employees. It was the end of my viewing…
Me neither Pat & I agree with you.If it wasn’t for Marks sweet daughter the show probably would have been axed a long time ago!
I agree with you guys. I don’t watch any of the tv shows for this reason. First TV show like this I looked forward to was one of coddingtons shows; they were installing a disc brake kit on a straight axle ford that looked like the buick finned aluminum drum setup. I was looking at doing similar installation and wanted to see the process. He comes in and tells the guys to install the kit. Then one of them farts and clears the shop. When they came back they told Boyd that it didn’t fit the car, he looks at the parts and tells them they had the sides switch, Dumass award, end of show, zero information. No time for these @$$clowns. Sorry about the rant and off topic, but these show may be entertainment but IMHO they suck.
Cheers
GPC
If you can watch more than 4 1/2 minutes of that show without changing the channel or throwing something at the TV you have the patience of a saint……
I DVR it. That way I can fast forward over the drama and BS then continue till it happens again.
I happen to like the show, it’s a lot better than most of them.
Yes, the BS got overbearing, but the last couple of seasons have moved the dial towards getting cars restored.
Greetings All,
I, too, like the how.
Its refreshing to find someone who doe an authentic restoration on a marque such as MOPAR, tothe same degee Ferraris and Gullwings are done!
For those critical of the way he is “portrayed”, ask yourself…….if there were no conflicts,would it generate the ratings? Would any of these shows?
This isn’t “reality television” its “planned situational entertainment”.
How does one find what dealership this car was originally sold by? Or any Mopar?
I would not give mark wormwomen a crusty penny because the way she treats his family and employees. I can only hope he gets burned with both of these cobbled nopars.
When Mark Workman stood tall and showed the world how to hot wire a Mopar, I stopped watching!
I would ask to see the documentation and title on the car. A New Jersey car for sale in Oregon must have an interesting story.
If he has the New Jersey title, then maybe he got it from the owner.
If he has an Oregon title, then maybe he did a lien sale and is trying to recover his money.
I, too, wonder why he is not restoring it as he know the value of the car when it is done.
I liked the technical aspect of the TV show. Lots of knowledgeable information, however delivered by a (albeit skilled) clown. The nonsense drove me away.
Already over priced, at $70,000. Seen these go between $80 – $100,000 completed in show room condition. 440 six – pac or 426 Hemi is a different story. This car is in nice condition but a long way from finish. Many after market parts in the engine bay needs replacing as the entire interior and windows. Also did not see many options, which could add value. I see a $50,000 car here.
I agree with Terry
IMHO these were the ugliest cars ever produced just never appealed to me.
I like them in their own strange way. Lol. My deceased step father shared your thoughts completely. I remember being a kid and we went looking for a new car. Being honest I don’t remember if it was the Dodge or Plymouth version of one of these but I do remember the salesman trying to put my step dad in it. It was almost 2 model years old but still brand new in the showroom. They were practically giving the car away. Even as ‘thrifty’ as he was, my step dad wouldn’t touch that car with the proverbial 10 foot pole. LOL!
“[…] almost 2 model years old but still brand new in the showroom. They were practically giving the car away.”
I read someone’s post once (someplace) that as a kid walking home from school he saw where a dealer had put the nose for one of these out by the dumpster, they had converted the car to a regular Road Runner I suppose just so they could get it to sell.
I wonder if there’s not a Road Runner out there someplace that’s really a Superbird according to the VIN and nobody ever found it out. Someone may have a bunch of money with the wrong nameplate on it.
lets get a couple
of things straight here! #1 this car was built to do one thing win stock car races! which it did thank you very much! nascar tried to screw chrysler by making them sell 500 to the general public! knowing they never could! this car was never built for you to take you kids to the zoo in!and mopar didn’t care if you bought one! so thats the facts! ford and general mistake cried like babies because they were getting their tails whipped in 89 and 70 by these hemi cars and nascar caved and banned them! total b.s!
Everything you’re saying is true. As far as the buying public goes back then I think the younger set was more attracted to them as a personal car. A single guy (or girl) with maybe a girlfriend or boyfriend. I clearly remember a guy in his very early 20s, wealthy family and all that, got a brand new one and I was sad for the car. In the last 4 years I had seen him destroy a new 68 Chevelle SS with the 396. Then a new Road Runner after that. Then came the Superbird. Everyone knew what it’s fate was going to be the first time we saw it. Damn shame about the 3 very cool cars he destroyed over a 4 year period.
You need to drive this car on a long straight farm road in the middle of the night to appreciate it. Basically a boat that goes 150 mph plus on a smooth suspension.
Last year for those yellow plates was 1978 as new plates not 80’s!
Bad ride, the 440 will get you there, trouble free and reliable too. Just expect all the attention of a monkey in the zoo even driving just a few miles….towing it, anything. And for what these go for don’t take your eyes off it for too long.
It’s a race car really, only reason for its existence. Plymouth was forced to build 1500 for 1970, unlike Dodge who only needed 500 in ’69. Fast cars on the superspeedways, I wonder how the tires held up back then?
This is a beautiful car and it seems solid enough!!! I just can’t understand why a perfectionist in the automotive restoration business doesn’t restore the car and get top dollar!! It’s probably not a car that comes by once or twice in a life time to restore!!! He’s selling it half done!! It really makes no sense to me!! Great car way out of my budget anyway!!!
I just don’t get the draw for this body style its ugly sorry…..
It’s more a piece of automotive history you can drive (if you like). And while the wing and nose don’t particularly send me, the wing – big as it is – is a lot less silly and more functional than the erector-set wings I see attached to the back of little Japanese fart-cannon sedans.
Imagine, if you have one of these and gear it to do really good top speeds you can feel the same effect of the wing and nose that they had at Daytona. Useless for sure for anyone today, but what a cool thing to experience.
Remember they were Chargers and Roadrunners made to become NASCARS, then made into street cars, without the 750 HP. They were de-tuned to 426 HP for the street. They were not ugly, but were unusual for the times. The idea of the spoiler for down force for traction is still used today. It’s a proven system, less spin, the quicker to point A & B, better control at higher speeds and fewer tire changes, that add time to the clock. Class is over for today.
“[…] less spin, the quicker to point A & B, […]”
Big as it is I doubt the Superbird’s spoiler would have any such effect until the car is already at very significant speed. Or did Daytona cars actually have a problem with wheelspin while accelerating from 140 to 170? Maybe they did, I don’t know, but I’d not expect them to.
RS, I’m sure there was not an issue at 140 mph(the banks worked with that), reaching 160 – 200 mph the spoiler helped to keep the rear down onto the track. You are correct about many dealers removing the spoilers and nose cones and selling them as Roadrunners. Those will still have a smaller rear window than the stock ones. Not sure what the title may say, but I would believe it would state a Superbird, so it may be worth the investment to put it back together as one.
Superbirds also used Coronet front fenders.
now,back to mark worman…… nah….. i dont know how a show that i couldnt wait to see,turn into a total sh show so fast? sad.
Worman has a TV show and spouts a lot of facts but it hardly makes him an expert or perfectionist at concourse restoration. He’s never won a Mopar Platinum resto certification. His projects are pretty, but if you want it done right, you go to someone like Roger Gibson or a multitude of other Mopar only shops who have the awards and reputation to back up their work without the goofball, blow hard TV persona.