So, what do we have here, a valuable second-gen 1971 Plymouth Road Runner project, or…more Mopar mania? No doubt, this one’s genuine, but it’s a project – there is apparent rust and the matching number engine is missing some of its components. But, it is mostly complete and there’s definitely something here with which to work. Located in Allen, Texas, this coyote foil is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $27,500. There is a make-an-offer option too.
The listing details are light but the images pretty well tell the story. This is claimed to have originally been a California car (it was assembled at ChryCo’s Los Angeles plant) and it has clearly seen a lot of outside time. The finish is identified as EV2, Tor Red for Plymouth – available at extra cost, or Hemi Orange over at Dodge. Besides its obvious condition, it’s a surprise to find it still wearing its born-with, untouched and not resprayed finish. Chrysler’s B-body cars, known for their Titanic-style rust capability under the right conditions, is always a matter to consider but this example’s CA and TX domicile has helped it to avoid, for the most part, that ignominy. There is a lot of body panel surface rust, and some may have perforated the body, but the damage isn’t too extensive. The underside shows lots of scale but still seems sound. Note the spoiler, it was optional but the images that I could find of the factory piece show one that is shaped differently; what do you think, is this one original to this car? Also, I question the originality of the slotted steel wheels, they are definitely Mopar pieces but I don’t recall ever seeing this generation of the Road Runner so adorned.
Under the hood is the final year iteration of Chrysler’s venerable 383 CI “B” block V8 engine – in this case in 300 gross HP trim; well it would be if it had a carburetor, ignition wires, hoses, a radiator, etc. so forth and so on. It would be nice to know if the rotating assembly is stuck or will turn over by hand. To me, a Road Runner is not a Road Runner (even though it really is) if it doesn’t have a four-speed manual transmission and that’s what we have here – always a nice discovery.
The vinyl-clad, bench seat interior is rough. Besides the obvious dust and dirt, both the upholstery and dashpad are split. The front seat is brown while the rest of the environment is black so something’s up there and the headliner is showing signs of a gravity challenge. But, that really cool pistol grip four-speed shifter is still in place so that’s an encouraging discovery. The destroyed and mostly missing carpet is helpful as it reveals the condition of the floors – they’re afflicted with some surface rust but nothing worse.
So, $27,500, or best offer for this somewhat worn 1971 Road Runner. What’s your thought on that matter, a fair project price or just more Mopar Mania?
Ridiculous old beater, abused and overpriced, ready for the scrapper. IMHO natch.
It belongs to him, he can ask whatever he wills. it doesn’t mean he will get it.
Texas car ????
With that much rust ???0
Another candidate for the “you’ve got to be kidding” award.
Too clapped out! Ready for a episode of “Road Kill”! Throw some off road tires on it and do some dirt racing!
Overpriced Mopar junk. I remember running stuff like this right through the press. The only worthwhile item was the transmission and shifter. 28k for a transmission is a bit steep……lol
I’ve been a Mopar guy all of my life, but there’s no way I’d pay that much for that rust bucket. Part it out for what you can and scrap the rest. Hurts me to say that, but the truth is the truth.
More of these dealers cars…….geezzzzz……
HaHaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Children, this is what happens when you smoke your underwear…….
If I had the time and money, I’d buy it. People have restored car’s in far worse condition than this RR. It’s a part of history that deserves to be saved.
6500 tops and that’s pushing it.
I’ve been a Mopar guy since high school day’s. This roadrunner has some desirable features on it if they are original to the fender tag and to its broadcast sheet.
$27K?? Someone’s been using too much of their product. For that much you can get a used 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger and still come out ahead! Someone would lose their rear end if they did a full blown rotisserie restoration on this car. It’s a shame it’s been neglected to this point
Somebody been in the Sun to long!!!! And I don’t mean the Runner! Almost $30,000 for a rust project? Give me a break! You will dump another $70,000 on this project and be $100,000 in the hole! For the money I can get a 2010 and up for a Nice Challenger with a Hemi and have AC etc in it. I know it’s getting harder to find cars like this to fix but $10,000 to $14,000 is more reliable… and does the motor turn over at the crank by hand? These dealers are to high! And if they don’t get the price it will just rust away ! What a shame.. 😔🇺🇸🐻
Out of his mind..the door panels are from a charger, rear.spoiler not original…I sold my pristine 71 Runner in 2007 for $20000 Canadian…this car needs about $30000 to restore providing the motor is not stuck. New rear quarters,trunk and probably front floor and full interior…
Big Bear, that is correct! You can get a 2010 plastic car with all the goodies, including AC, WHAT A DEAL! However, you do not have the real deal, and it will NEVER be the real deal, just a wannabe! However, wait on it…its coming..yes you will be able to get a EV, with a CD thrown in with the sound of a TRUE 60 or 70s muscle car exhaust! What you waiting for, hurry right down to your local dealer and purchase one, before they are all gone! Geez, what a nightmare!
You think today’s Challengers are plastic? Not sure you e driven one or gone up against one. I love the older cars, ok? But the economic argument these folks are making is solid – like the floor panels of a 2023 Challenger
The cars alright, a little pricey, but my issue is who would put a bench seat with a pistol grip
This car absolutely deserves to be saved that’s for sure especially with the 4 speed. Obviously the price is crazy and this is a tough one for anyone but a skilled mechanic/body man because even if you gave me this car I can’t imagine a restoration done right not costing 6 figures. So I just don’t see anyway you’re not completely underwater with this one no matter how you look at it. And yes get a bar on the engine and see if it turns or not…glwta
Graveyard Cars, if he is willing to pay the price!
Try to find a newer car with a CD player!
Good Lord! Is there one thing on this ‘car’ that isn’t beat to F?!?
Yup, it’s his car he can ask what he wants, but he’ll never get it. Any buyer that does pay his asking price, please contact me and tell me why you would pay that ridiculous amount. So many in very good shape for $40K around.
No
Author has his rose colored glasses on again. It’s an obvious respray, at least once. The overspray on the cowl vents, prior body work on the passenger quarter and the black engine bay show this. It’s got a junkyard block just to say it “has” an engine. The suspension is wonky with it sitting high for some reason. A pieced together interior that begs the question as to what it is really supposed to have( I guess that gives you a blank slate).
Given the value of a finished base Road Runner with no exceptional options, $10-12 k would be about what I think it’s worth.
If my rose-colored glasses were on, I would have effusively praised this Road Runner. Assuming that you read my entire post you should know that’s hardly the case.
JO
My thoughts exactly.
Notice the new bolt holding the tans to the engine. Someone probably pulled the motor at some point and the seller dropped a block in its place.
“California car”… at this point, what difference does that make?! Not even worth mentioning!
$27,500 for this? Yes, the seller can ask what he wants. It’s has two things going for it. The 383 and the 4-speed. The owner must be doing too much of the Fentynal that’s coming across the Southern Border.
I’ve seen cars in the salvage yard in better shape. If you can get it for about the value of the drive train parts, go for it. Should have an 8.75 inch rear axle, the 4-speed has some value as does the 383. The rest of this car is pretty much roached out.
Sorry, you’ve been watching too many auctions. The value just isn’t there, and I too am a Mopar fan. Not interested.
Cali cars don’t sell 4 speed with 4 barrel carbs ,who cares if it don’t turn over u need to rebuild it anyway.
Dana only came with a 440+6 or Hemi. Standard with a 4 speed or available as an option with an automatic. It couldn’t even be ordered with a 383.
I bought a 71 Roadrunner in 1970, but had a perforated stripe go up over the top near the rear window. I think the flat black paint around the base is also there to hide rust? I think it was the pistol grip that I liked about the car enough to buy it. I took it back to the dealership 2 days later and asked for my trade-in back (1968 AMX). Too late. Lots of problems with the car and sold it after entering the military in 71.
Wow. I just bought a low mileage W212 E63 AMG 1-owner southern car with a 550 HP twin turbo V-8 for about this same price. I guess I don’t have the nostalgia value, but not having rust to deal with and being able to run the quarter mile about 5 seconds faster is worth the tradeoff to me personally! GLWS.
Why do most of these mopar owners think they have gold? Yeah it could be a good project the only thing that will probably save this car is it has a 4spd. One can easily dump 30 to 50k into to have a run of the mill Road Runner. 5500 to 6500 max for what it is imo.
Scrap it yes, but save the pistol grip.
Is Eddie Hausner’s name scratched in the hood?
I could have bought a 71 440 4 gear in 1980 for a song that was sitting on Eddies moms carport. For 600.00 it could have been all mine. I remember it having a fiberglass, endura, elastomeric front bumper. It was body color orange like the car and had names scratched in it. The hood was black but maybe it had been painted.
The car had big meats in the rear and was really an original car as far as I could tell. The black interior had buckets and council with gauge package.
The RR after 70 became a big boat of a car and just did not have the looks of my 69. I passed on Eddies car but now wish I had it as not many 440 cars were made. Even with the plant being 10 miles away and getting what you wanted by just ordering, allot of one of cars were built at Fenton. And if they did not build it what you wanted was put in the trunk or on a delivery truck.
Those were the days my friend.