Finding just about any Chrysler equipped with a 440 and painted Moulin Rouge is enough to get most Mopar fans excited, and the star quality only increases when that vehicle happens to be a first-year Plymouth Road Runner. However, the question sometimes arises regarding how much value, if any, these factors add when the car wasn’t originally equipped that way, as is the case with this 1968 Plymouth Road Runner here on eBay. This B-Body is currently turning heads in Plainfield, Indiana, but this one’s sure to draw plenty of attention wherever it’s located. $34,900 can buy it today, but the seller is also open to considering the best offer. Curvette, thanks for sending in another fun tip here!
Chrysler paint code FM3 is one of the wildest colors ever to adorn a Mopar, or any other automobile, for that matter. Known as Moulin Rouge at Plymouth or Panther Pink for Dodge, it was one of the short-lived High Impact paint offerings, first available in early 1970. Obviously, there’s no way this ’68 Road Runner could have come from the factory looking like this, and the seller reports that the original color was red. The finish appears decent in some areas, but a close inspection reveals a few touched-up blemishes, plus a couple of areas where light rust is starting to show through as well.
The base engine for the Road Runner was a 383, which is how this one is said to have originally been equipped. The seller states that roughly ten years ago, it received a 1967-dated 440, which was rebuilt at the time and bored .030. A few aftermarket parts found their way inside, such as Keith Black pistons, Wolverine heads, and a Purple cam. Later, an aluminum intake was added with a 750 CFM Edelbrock carburetor on top, and while all of this sounds exhilarating, the original 4-speed manual transmission was swapped for an automatic.
Things inside have also been refreshed, with new components including the headliner, a floor-mounted shifter that replaced the original stick, and seats, which aren’t the correct bucket style. Thankfully, the underside appears to be in good condition, so hopefully, it will need little or no attention in the future. My biggest concern here would be having to explain to spectators over and over again that the pink paint isn’t the original color, and since it could use a redo anyway, I might even consider going back with the factory red presentation outside. What would you do with this 1968 Plymouth Road Runner?
Very nice RRunner!! Love the color. Not many in this color also>
There were zero in ’68.
Swapping the original 4 speed manual for an automatic was, IMHO, a sad mistake. It would be much more interesting, and valuable, with the 4 speed stick.
What does it say about the man who drives a pink car?
He’s Elvis?
That he’s secure in his manhood?
Damn right! I own a pink 1948 Plymouth coupe and a 1958 pink and white Rambler American Custom. And I don’t care what anyone thinks, because you’re right – I am secure in my manhood!
The guy who drives it says it’s his wives car, personally I really like it!
I’d be scared of rust, it looks like a fuse has been lit and it’s just a matter of time until it goes off. The color and many other modifications are subjective and won’t appeal to a lot of potential buyers. It would have been nice if it still had a 4spd, but that ship has sailed.
If someone is concerned about originality, this Road Runner is not for them. The price might work for someone looking for a flashy car they can drive and enjoy, as is. You could easily pay more for something that looks more original, but is hiding sub-par restoration work.
Steve R
Even my wife wouldn’t be seen in a pink car.
This looks like it’s been dipped into a vat of pink paint. Just to get it back to original red is going to require a total strip job which will run you around 15K. To get it back to its 4 speed roots will be at least another 5K, so you will be at least that much upside down. If you’re ok with this, good luck trying to explain the atrocities to your buddies at Cars N Coffee.
All first year 1968 Plymouth Road Runners had bench seats.
Too many mods.
I sure would not restore it to original red. Considering how the color change was done correctly under the hood like the original. If you want original change engine also. I think it’s a fun MOPAR TOY.
Since it’s at a dealer lot, bid half of the ask via email and see if they call you back. Good chance they will.
No thanks. Too many negatives for too much dinero.
This listing sold on Wed, Apr 8 at 7:57 AM
It’s a decent 30 footer, before you look inside & see the cobbled together interior. Removing the 4-speed was a big mistake & the Carslberg can is tacky.
seller found a fool.
The same time my mother flipped and totaled the 1967 Checker in October, my sister flipped and totaled her 1968 Road Runner in December, right before or right after Christmas, I can’t remember.
Hers was blue, blue interior with a bench seat, 4 on the floor, no vinyl top, no chrome between the taillights, originally dog dish hubcaps replaced with mag wheels.
When she flipped it there was not one square inch on that car that was not damaged. I think she rolled it several times whereas my mother’s Checker flipped on its roof and stayed there.
Also dont know if it was the 383 or 440. Knowing her boyfriend at the time I would guess 440. Although, being a basic stripper model it could have been a 383.
Your sister was a stripper?
Ha ha, Tom. It was suppose to say “basic strip model.”
I was the stripper in my 20s.
😉
I think it subtracts from the value, because it’s a high impact color on a year that never would have had that. It doesn’t look right. I hope whoever painted it that way wanted it and enjoyed it while they had it, because they’ll never get their money back from that, compared to if they’d just kept it an original, and appropriate-for-the-year color.
I would rather have a vehicle that I enjoy and can drive. I don’t want an original showpiece that you’re afraid to drive. I noticed most people comment on the color but nobody mentions the engine.
I couldn’t agree more with The Other Chris. High Impact paint on a car it doesn’t belong on…..