I was starting to develop a complex, checking out auto listings and then discovering lots of missing parts, you know big things like engines and transmissions. In the case of Mopar, I thought I was going to have to suggest a name change to Nopar as that seemed to be the case with their listings in particular. And I was certain that I had found another in the form of this 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. Check under the hood and it’s another, “Look Ma, no engine!” Except that’s not exactly the case I’m happy to report. So with that thought, let’s take a closer look at this popular performance car, located in Stanwood, Washington and available here on eBay for a current bid of $10,000, reserve not yet met. There is also a BIN price option of $14,000.

Let’s face it, an engine is pretty much the major component in any car, no motor and there’s going to be no motoring. That’s one of the reasons that we always try to secure images of what’s in the engine room – it’s important. Well, this ’69 Roadrunner has lots of available real estate up front due to its missing motor. And in a go-fast variety car like a Roadrunner, the engine is Job Number One!

Well, it turns out the seller has the motor but it’s in pieces. It is the original 383 CI V8, 335 gross HP V8 that was present at the “born on” date but it’s out and disassembled. Apparently the motor encountered a spun-bearing back in 1987 and the engine was dismantled at that point. It seems peculiar that it has sat all this time with no attempt at reassembly. The seller does claim that all of the engine parts are present except for the carburetor, intake manifold and exhaust manifolds. In addition to the separated engine, there is a four-speed manual transmission that is included with the engine parts. Nice to see is the N96 Air Grabber option and its specific air cleaner assembly which is included.

The interior is pure base Roadrunner sedan the entire way. Horizontal speedometer? Check! Basic instrument panel? Check! Bench seat? Check! Standard steering wheel? Check! Rubber floor mat? probably, the floor covering has been removed but the floors look absent any perforation – surface rust only. The front seat fabric is split and the door cards look a bit wobbly but the interior is reasonable and shouldn’t require an enormous amount of effort to return to good nick.

The exterior of this Bird is worn but straight and intact. The seller advises that the trunk floor and rear quarters will need some steel replacement work. This Plymouth is still wearing its original Q5 finish, also known as “Sea Foam”, which the seller advises is rare with a 2 to 3% take rate. This Roadrunner is based on the Belvedere two-door sedan (“B” pillar coupe) which gives this Roadrunner a purposeful look as was intended at its ’68 introduction. The biggest concern observable is the underside. Some time back I was introduced to the concept of “non-invasive surface rust” Well, by definition, I would assume that surface rust isn’t invasive. But I think what the coiner of the term was trying to say is that as the surface rust progresses and progresses, it becomes invasive. And the underside of this Roadrunner looks like it’s headed that way. The seller claims, “Solid frame rails, solid floors” and that may be the case at this moment but it looks like its starting to turn and will need attention to arrest any further degradation.

Well, I’m relieved, all of the parts, the big ones that I thought were initially missing, are there, though I still think it odd that this Plymouth has sat so long with its prime-mover disassembled. This car needs work but it has potential. I’ve always been reluctant to get into an assemble-it-yourself project but I read about many who have no trepidation about undertaking such a project. How about you, worth taking the risk that you can find all of the parts, put it together and get this Roadrunner running?