The first is the best? It is in my mind when it comes to Plymouth’s fabulous first-gen Road Runner. The first time that I spied a 1968 model, such as today’s Littleton, Colorado resident, I was smitten (but I was young too). Regardless, as the years have rolled on, I’ve not lost my appreciation for Plymouth’s budget muscle car. This example, however, is a project, one of those “complete it yourself” kinds of undertakings so let’s see how daunting a task it may be. This Beep-Beep project is available, here on craigslist for $12,500. Thanks are due to Gunter K. for this tip!
The seller doesn’t provide the VIN but he attests to this car’s genuine Road Runner status. The seller states, “needs complete restoration has rusted floors and quarters, etc have new floor and quarters to be installed…“. No surprise really as rust is the bain of this era’s B-body cars. Having replacement quarters is great but it’s a pretty big project to replace them so the next owner is going to have to have either significant metal-working skills or know someone who does (which means $$$).
A 335 gross HP 383 CI V8 engine was standard ’68 Road Runner equipment and this car comes with just such an engine but it has been modified with a triple carburetor set-up. It’s not said if the engine is original to this car but the seller adds, “Have a fresh 383 rebuilt and comes with a 6pack set up 4-speed transmission but like I say it needs restoration“. So does he mean the car needs restoration or the engine and transmission? Search me fish. He later adds, “The motor has never been run yet” so I take that to mean that the engine is good to go – it certainly looks it. Nevertheless, I would suggest that an inquiry should be made for clarification and particulars.
The inside of this Plymouth is outside. And judging from that floor, it’s easy to understand why. If you cruise the listings images you can see pictures of various parts, including the seats but everything is scattered hither and yonder. The seller suggests, “Most parts are there” and therein lies the issue with you-assemble-it projects, it’s that word most, it can definitely be subject to interpretation.
As much as I like this generation of the Road Runner, I’d be reluctant to take this project on – especially for $12,500. I’ll admit it, I don’t have the necessary skills but there is just a mountain that needs to be climbed here. I think I’d shop for a better example, how about you?
Even with this or with that, she’s lookin’ pretty crispy.
For sale: Plymouth Road Runner
Price: Based on what it was, not what it is
Folks with more money than sense welcome!
For what it’s worth, the carburetors in the picture are not the stock type for a sixpack. These require a progressive mechanical linkage and wind up operating like a 6 barrel Holley ‘triple’ pumper. I’ve run them on a couple of 440s in b and e bodies, and they work pretty good with a manual trans and deep screws, but on a 383, and typical 3.23 roadrunner screws, they’re going to be a bit much if you stand on it below about 3500 rpm. Stock type sixpack air cleaners will still fit if you have 3 speed wipers, and they look awesome of course.
Craziest car run I ever experienced was in one of these. Driver was the local burnout king, and after a complete rebuild of the engine he forgot about being told that the throttle linkage was hooked up wrong. With me riding shotgun, Dave did his usual “pop the clutch and stomp on it” and the throttle locked wide open while the car just sat there spinning the rear wheels. Much screaming of profanities ensued when he went for the ignition only to realize that the screwdriver serving as key was no longer in place. At that point my 16 year old brain advised abandoning ship and I reached for the door handle just as Dave slammed it from first to second, still standing still. The rear wheels hooked up, it felt like the car left the ground, and I found out the passenger seat I was sitting on was not in fact bolted to the floor. My new view from the back seat was mostly headliner, but I was told our run down the street and through the big lefthand sweeper at its end was marred only by a local girl who, justifiably I think, assumed this was just the usual burnout and not the unfolding disaster it was. I heard it was a rather close pass on the left, but thankfully, Dave did know how to drive, and we made it through the corner without killing her. The engine finally gave up at that point and we coasted to a stop. Not sure if we simply ran out of gas or something else happened, but I never saw it move again under its own power. I stopped going for rides with Dave too.
I had a few similar experiences myself as a teenager. I guess I was too hard headed to make it only once…lol. Good job on story delivery…lol
Even if you have a shop and the skills to do the work yourself, the restoration of this car doesn’t make sense @$12,500. Add up what it will cost to replace the obviously needed parts and the total will certainly be large. You would be able to go out and buy a better one for that much. Maybe $5,000 would be more like it and then it might make sense to a young ambitious mechanic wanting to build a drag racing car.
Maybe the ’68 Chrysler Newport convertible for $6,200 with 99k miles only 3 or 4 miles from this Road Runner on CL would be a better deal.
My first encounter with a “B” body I was 11 years old. The neighbor down the road bought a new ’68 Super Bee. I loved that car and in 1974 at the tender age of 16 I purchased my first car, a ’69 Super Bee. Quite a feat for a lad of that age! To this day these “B” bodies are still my first crush!
What do you think about asking if he would take 6k for it.
Are you from Maryland? Married to Barbara?
Just another rotted out Mopar. Likely it was bought by a teenager about 1972 and beat to death. I did the same thing as a 17 year old in 1973. I paid $1,200 for a 1970 RR from the original owner. At least I was a visionary and kept my car 100 percent stock.
For the right individual, this could be a viable project. I’ve loved these cars since they were new.
The Road Runner was the fastest car one could buy for the money at that time. Making a factory hot rod from the base Plymouth Satellite was a great idea!
To Justpaul; That story had me in stiches! That was great!. I have to agree about the price, with all the work that needs to be done it going to pile up just doing the work yourself. The Time it takes to get this car back to a drive condition, is going to been enormous too. I also believe that one would be better to find one, in better shape for the asking price, to restore.
My personal favorite year of roadrunner is the 68. I like the grille, hood and talights better than the 69, but that’s just me. These B Body runners are expensive, but I don’t think once you’ve restored this car back to old glory, you would see much return. I’d say you’d be better to restore it, keep and drive it.