Many enthusiasts believe that muscle cars reached the literal and metaphorical peak of their power in 1970. Like Superman and kryptonite, tighter emission regulations would eventually reduce these cars to shadows of their former selves, explaining why classics like this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner attract so much attention. It doesn’t just present beautifully, because lifting its hood reveals its mighty 440ci Six-Pack V8. It appears to need nothing, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting this potent Plymouth listed here on eBay in Celeste, Texas. Cars of this caliber are rarely cheap, with the seller setting their price at $89,500 for this magnificent Road Runner.
Plymouth launched the First Generation Road Runner in 1968, catching the crest of the muscle car wave with a vehicle considered an affordable option to the more expensive GTX and the Pontiac GTO. This generation remained on sale until 1970, with our feature car rolling off the line during that year. There is no way that we can describe it as a shrinking violet, because its Lemon Twist paint is about as bold as it gets in the automotive world. Its presentation is seemingly impossible to fault, with the paint shining beautifully, and the original factory panels as straight as an arrow. The seller’s image gallery includes several underside shots, and while the floors and rails aren’t as pristine as the exterior, they confirm the car’s rust-free status. This Road Runner features the desirable Air Grabber hood and rolls on wide steelies fitted with dog dish hubcaps and narrow whitewalls. The trim is spotless, and there are no visible issues with the glass.
Enthusiasts consider a Road Runner with a Hemi under the hood to be the most desirable, but there were excellent alternatives that cost considerably less. Decoding the VIN and reviewing the Broadcast Sheet confirms that the first owner ordered this 1970 example with the 440ci Six-Pack V8, a three-speed A-727 TorqueFlite transmission, and power steering. Plymouth’s 1970 Sales Brochure quotes power and torque figures of 390hp and 490 ft/lbs, which feed to the road via a Dana 60 rear end. That is a recipe for rapid motoring, allowing this Road Runner to convert its tires into smoke effortlessly. The seller confirms that although the vehicle doesn’t feature its number-matching V8, the 440 under the hood is date-correct. While not stated specifically, it appears this Plymouth is a turnkey proposition with no mechanical needs or shortcomings.
Surveying this classic’s interior confirms Plymouth’s focus on affordability with the Road Runner. It features a bench seat, no console, air conditioning, or power accessories. However, the dash houses a pushbutton radio, and the gauge cluster features a Tick-Tock-Tach. The overall presentation is impressive, with no wear or issues with the Black vinyl trim or carpet. The dash and pad are excellent, and there is no appreciable wheel wear. If I were to mark the interior harshly, I would identify the slightly odd fit of the headliner on the rear sail panels as a fault requiring attention. However, it appears to be an installation fault that the buyer could address in their garage without spending a dime.
While some readers may be disappointed that this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner isn’t numbers-matching, others won’t see that as an issue. They will view this classic as a genuine muscle car that would look right at home parked in their garage. The paint shade ensures it turns heads wherever it goes, because Lemon Twist owes nothing to subtlety. The seller’s price sits at the top end of the market, a key consideration given that values have softened during the past year. We can only speculate whether they will rebound, but if they do, landing this classic today could be a canny move. Is that a risk you would consider taking? Or, would you consider purchasing this Road Runner purely for the wonderful ownership experience it promises?
I’m not a fan of steelies and dog dish caps, so I’d have to slap a set of Magnums on this “Screaming Yellow Zonkers” Road Runner; the bench seat and column shift I could live with, I’d just let the Lemon Twist outside and the Six Pack under the hood do all the talking! GLWTA!! :-)
Yessir Moparman, except I love steel wheels.💁♂️ The 440 and Torq-flite are a great combo on the streets.🚥🏁
Love these cars. Look good from every angle to me. This one sounds great in the video. 👍
Be one heck of a taxi ride. I couldn’t find the number of “Lemon Twist” RoadRunners were made in 1970, I never saw one. One of the 10 “High Impact” colors for 1970. Certain colors just weren’t popular, yellow/taxi, black and white/police car, red/fire chief, but this person didn’t think that way, apparently. This was an awesome machine. Naturally, performance was it’s specialty. It could do 0-60 in 5.8 sec, and the 1/4 mile in just under 14 sec, and about 100mph,,,4 speed a tick faster, spinning the tires the whole way, I’m sure., well worth the price. This cars base price was right around $3grand, but the 440/6pack and automatic, closer to $4grand. Even still, this car was actually a bit faster than the hemi, and cheaper too. It’s a heck of a car, I just can’t get past the color. In a rare shift of opinions, I’d have to think this car would be more desirable WITH a 4 speed,,,that’s right, you read right, I’m not a total loss.
Oh, one more thing,,,no not the price, who cares, but 390hp? Maybe with 1 carb disconnected, these were well over 400 HP.
This is one fine car. AF Lt who worked for me had one identical to this one and it really cooked. Had the dog dish covers and all.
Really nice bird! Makes me want my 69 back 😫 numbers matching doesn’t matter to me. Honestly I guess it’s a big deal if your buying cars like this for investment but if your buying for fun, pride and the joy of cruising around and showing it off at cruise ins who really cares if it has original this or that. Two different types people look at these cars. Those of us who love and enjoy them and the people who buy them to sell. That car has obviously been previously loved! I hope it’s bought to love and enjoy. I want my 69 back 😫
The whitewalls are hideous.
Along with those YELLOW wheels.
I normally really like Yellow cars,but this is WAY too much Yellow.
Maybe a Black vinyl roof & some Magnum 500 wheels would really
help.
The Road runner may have been launched with affordability in mind but at nearly ninety grand my eyes are watering. I thought the 440 was GTX only territory? Splitting hairs, this is one fine automobile. Not sure about the yellow though, it would look better on a ‘Cuda.
440-6 became available in ‘69 with the A12 option on the roadrunner and superbee. In 70 it was an option on all the high performance mopars except the A body (darts and such).
It would look better on a cab.
At least you can find it in the parking lot.
Suddenly it’s 1970. My mouth is watering and it’s not just the lemon yellow 💛
This is a nice looking car. The problem is, it’s listed by the Texas dealer featured countless times on this site which has a history of listing worn out projects at eye watering prices. Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but I have a feeling there is something not right not visible in the pictures somewhere on this car.
Steve R
Like why the hose is disconnected from the distributor vacuum advance. Makes you wonder what else might not be up to par.
The timing may be fully advanced. No need for vacuum.
C16 code on the fender tag translates to a console, but the car is column shift w/bench? That seems like an odd inconsistency. Super nice Mopar though.
The good, it’s a Mopar and the 440 six barrel. The bad, auto on the column, bench seat, wheels,tires,and the color.
I may be wrong, but this shade of yellow seems too bright to be Lemon Twist.
Joe I couldn’t have said it any better I hate to sound negative, but that is one ugly car?not to mention the automatic on the column has to go there’s no way somebody’s getting $90,000 for that car?now, get rid of the white walls, and throw a set of cragars or something else on there it’s hideous
Id drive this one, when I was younger, I was a dealer at a very dealership, this old lady traded her deceased husband’s 68 Coronet with a 318,the side fenders said 440, that was a heck of a ride, until I got T Boned by a Bonneville while running from the LAW, I had just come to a 4way stop, can quite remember what the heck I was doing, I tapped the car in front of me, didn’t even put scratch on it, I panicked, and took off, STUPID THINGI DID
On Coronets of that era, ‘440’ indicated trim level, not engine size.
this dealer gets a lot of coverage.1 bright roadrunner.
Nobody will pay 90K for this. I had a 70 Road Runner in far better FE5 with factory N96, yeah 53 years ago. Bought from original owner for $1,200. Would love to find it. I still have the registration slip. Cop friend ran the VIN a few years ago. No luck.
Ok, first of all you have to say it…ninety thousand dollars…
Say it slowly and think about it. And please don’t try to compare it to a Pontiac GTO. There is absolutely no comparison in build quality and materials.
I can’t imagine how disappointed the next owner of this car will be after he lays out his hard earned money and takes possession of this one…
Dufus, The GTO and Roadrunner were aimed in the same class at one another. Build quality? Both on par with each other (Have owned both a 69 RR and 69 GTO as well as a 70 Olds 442)
The 440 was quicker than the hemi zero to sixty because it produced more torque at the lower rev range. Also, more suited to everyday street use than the hemi.