Plymouth’s Road Runner took the muscle car scene by storm in 1968, but they were only available as coupes and hardtops (a convertible would come later). No 4-door sedans. Those were family cars right, not for the audience that Plymouth had targeted, right? Well, if Plymouth had decided to build a grocery-getter version of the car, this 1970 Satellite looks like an awfully good clone! It started as the top-line Plymouth intermediate with a 318 V8 and now has a 440 big-block along with Road Runner graphics. Located in Blanchard, Oklahoma, this one-of-a-kind car is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $13,900. But the reserve is somewhat north of that.
The seller has owned this car for about three years and takes it mainly to shows. We don’t know if the transformation to a 4-door “Road Runner” came before or after he bought the car, but the guy is certainly a fan of Mopars. A couple of photos provided show an evolution of the auto, starting with what was probably its original beige paint but with aftermarket wheels. Next, we see the car refinished in what appears to be Burn Orange Metallic with the same wheels. And, finally – as what appears to be the case today – the burnt orange but with a black vinyl top added, rear spoiler, and steel wheels with dog dish bub caps instead.
A car like this might be perfect for the family man who wants to get into car shows. There’s enough room for five in the Satellite without anyone having to climb over one another. The body on the Plymouth looks sound and we’re told all the sheet metal is original and rust-free. I must admit I like the color choice and the black vinyl top adds a bit of badness to the whole package. The interior has also been restored with bucket seats up front and Road Runner badging in several places.
The 440 V8 isn’t period-correct in that the carburetor has been jettisoned in favor of fuel injection. With 276 open rear gears, the car is still reasonably economical to drive at 20 mpg with the TorqueFlite automatic. We don’t know if that’s the one that came with the 318 or with the 440 later. It even has factory air conditioning which has been updated with modern hardware (brrr!).
We’re told the seller has too many cars and this one must go. A ’65 Barracuda seems to be part of his collection. While he’d rather have cash, he won’t rule out a trade for another Chrysler product, but I’m betting it will have to be unusual. What kind of price can you put on a car that was never really built? In the case of this 1970 Road Runner 4-door, the answer will be “exactly what someone is willing to pay for it”!
Looks like it even has the “Voice Of The Road Runner” beep-beep horn under the hood. Nice ride, and I like the color combo too.
It was just fine the way it was.
True enough, but almost all of those are now long gone.
It’s nice to see one in this shape, bastardized or not.
sweeeet … beep beep.
The electronic fuel injection is going to improve horsepower, drivability and fuel mileage. Hiding under that dual snorkel air cleaner will fool most of the people. There are no negatives to having it.
Except too many doors……
Sure there are those who swear their family only owned 4-speed big block convertibles with A/C way back when. But I bet you & most of the folks who run down these 4-doors from yesteryear drive something with at least that many today
This car has been for sale at several different venues of late. Seems the guy’s been asking in the 20 grand range, and it hasn’t sold.
Which doesn’t surprise me. It’s nice, and cool, and I’d stop and look at it at a show, but I can think of lots of things I’d rather own for that kind of cash.
As, apparently, can the seller. It’s interesting that he’s selling it because he has too many cars… but he’d consider a trade.
The answer to the question nobody asked.
very cool
Get rid of the spoiler and install ’68 GTX/Rallye type wheels that are period correct. Nice looking car for the most part.
I actually like the car with the exception of the rear spoiler. IMO this one looks like someone went to JC Whitney to get a spoiler for the car and stuck it on. I know it’s supposed to be a RR spoiler, but most just impose their presence on the car which this one does.
IMO if the seller got rid of the spoiler it would improve the chances of a sale.
I agree. Get rid of that park bench of a spoiler! Otherwise the car is sweet!
I agree, that spoiler has got to go! I’ve been working on a model kit of a ’71 GTX that has that same spoiler on it. I filed down the area where it’s supposed to be glued on and I painted over that section of the trunk! I cut the ends off and used it as a front spoiler on another model kit!
The Mopar small block trans will not
bolt up to the big block.
Embarrassing!
I like it much better as a sleeper, not an obvious wannabe.
Back in the day, they made these but with the 383. The 440 was reserved for C bodies after 1970. Ohio Highway Patrol ran 383s (VIN code H) in their 1970 Furies but ran U-code 440s until they switched to 454 Chevies for 1974.
A real cop car will have a “K” as the second letter in the VIN.
Even so, this car looks well done. EFI fixes a lot of ills and improves mileage and emissions to boot!
Dare to be different they say! Lose the spoiler.
The negative comments, I think, for the most part are sad guys who have no imagination or a zest for fun. They cannot think outside the box….I wonder what kind of cars they each drive/own and consider it “cool” ? I personally really like this “one of none” 4 – door creation Road Runner…GREAT JOB !!!
I agree. GREAT JOB making it your own and doing a nice job. A lot of haters up in here. Apparently there are a few BF readers who are not car lovers. There are probably a lot of young kids who read BF and are wanting to break into the scene. We need these kids because when we’re gone, if our kids don’t love our cars, the future doesn’t look good for our cars. The next generation of car lovers are going to have to start with 4 doors like this because let’s face it, a 15-16 year old kid won’t be able to afford a 2 door Roadrunner unless they have a trust fund. As these young builders gain experience and make some money, they will get better cars. I know I did. As a car lover myself, if after I had taken my first car out of my dad’s junkyard, spent three years from ages 12-15 doing the best I could to build it with no money, I heard some snooty patooty dogging it out I would have been devastated. It was a 65 Impala convertible and a cool car but a rust bucket and there were some questionable repairs that I did myself that showed my lack of experience and money and obviously learned as I went. Still all I experienced was support for doing SOMETHING instead of sitting on the couch waiting for Ed McMahon to show up so I could buy a finished car.
Excellent post, agreed. I’m calling it a “Family Runner”
There’s always been these cars around. Sounds like you believe in participation awards. A little criticism is ok. My first car was a 66 satellite 4 door. I left it stock and bought a sweet 69 2 door a few years later that looked good. If someone is so fragile they would be turned away from building a car that fit into what was cool in the muscle car era they should buy a tuner.
I don’t believe everyone should get a trophy but I also don’t believe there is value in also telling them, “BTW I just got say, that spoiler looks stupid!” The way you treat others is contagious, whether good or bad.
R. Sparks = Thanks for your reply…..you are the Man !! R.G.
Well put, Ray!
He really screwed the pooch on this build. With bucket seats and 440 engine this should be a GTX 4 door clone, not a Road Runner.
With this color and vinyl top, and the buckets and powertrain it would make more sense as a GTX tribute. For that matter a 4-door GTX would’ve made some sense as a production model, certainly more than a 2-door post would’ve.
1 Adam 12,1 Adam 12,See the man,at barnfinds,he has your squad car
Looks like folks down the middle with this one. Put me in the “oh, for cryin’ out loud” group. A 4 door Road Runner, not sure where to start, it just screams incorrectness. The Road Runner was a tinny, cheap, 2 door Satellite with a big motor. GTX tribute? Same thing, like a 4 door Cougar wagon. I think it’s a nice car, something that was used for a donor motor for that Dodge Dart, like the Nova, but to go ape with a car like this shows some people probably shouldn’t do this. Maybe a cop car tribute, but a 4 door Road Runner? Good grief.
I don’t care how much imagination this guy has. A 4door isn’t a tribute to Road Runner, it’s an insult.
Hey, they have 4 dr chargers today!
Thats today. It’s an incorrect version of an iconic era.
Anyone owner or fan from that era would respect the sleeper, and shake their head at the “tribute”.
Thanks for allowing the rest of us to exist in your world of superior classic car wisdom Mr. Ray lol. You’re a legend in your own mind sir.
We have 4 dr Chargers today, why not 4dr Roadrunner!
Finally, a nice clean Hi-Po B body that even I can afford! Plus, I can put my groceries in the back real easy. I think its a great idea and a great build.
In 1977, I had a 1969 Satellite. Wonderful car took out the 318 and put in a 340 6-pack. Sweet interior, two door. I would’ve never thought to make it a tribute or try to change the nameplate. To take a four-door, and copy a different model and ad a spoiler? The last picture where it’s shown as a sleeper is perfect. That would’ve had some respect. The tribute thing makes it silly.
To all my fellow car enthusiasts here who just have to make snarky comments about this guys cool ’70 Road Runner 4-door, a creation of his own, I present to you my 1973 Plymouth Fury Suburban “Load Runner” of MY creation. Found at a local used car lot, bought it non running for $200, I got it running at the lot in February ’21. Since then, got the 400-4 barrel running GREAT, new brakes, smoothed the paint, added vintage 15″A/R Daisy wheels, dual FlowMasters, lowered 3″, etc. I really dont care if you would not like it, that’s ok, I probably would not like your car either. But I’m having lots of fun with this BIG C-body Fuselage Mopar wagon…just thinking outside the box, having fun doing it and getting lots of compliments !! Thank you !
The 1973 Plymouth “Load Runner”.
Because I believe you should have fun with cars, I created this 1969 Dodge Coronet 4-door “Super-Wanna-Bee” from a parts car, and extra real SuperBee parts from my real 1969 Super Bee. Pumped up 440, manual valve body 727, 3.91 SureGrip, 4 wheel disc brakes, it’s a hoot delivering a best of 12.34 in the 1/4 mile. Again, I dont care if you dont like my car…..make whatever floats your boat !!
So this is my matching numbers 1969 Dodge Super Bee. The previous picture of my gold 1969 Coronet was the misc. parts car. Why waste a 4-door Mopar, let’s have some fun with it. Would you rather tell your buddies you beat a old 4-door Mopar…or tell your buddies you got beat up by an old Mopar 4-door “Super-Wanna-Bee” ?? Ha !
I like it,its cool and I’m sure it’s hauls ass,I had a 73 satellite 4-door,318 2-barrel that would at least screech the tires,by the way Ray if this is an insult to the roadrunner,then the volare was an abomination…lol.