With rubber floor mats and minimal trim, Plymouth’s Road Runner appealed to the no-nonsense buyer who just wanted to twist the key and burn some rubber. This 1968 Plymouth Road Runner in Everest, Kansas has seen better days, but it may go for cheap during a time when every rusty Mopar seems to bring at least $15,000. A later 400 cid V8 and automatic transmission have replaced the original engine (fake VIN listed so probably a 383) and four-speed. That and the rust may drop serious collectors from the mix, making it a project for someone who always wanted a Road Runner but couldn’t afford one. At least 18 bidders think so, and the listing here on eBay has stretched beyond $6500 in the waning hours of the auction.
The 400 (6.2L) V8 replaced the storied 383 in 1972. This one turns over when keyed but has not been started. Despite being a bored-out 383, the 400’s reputation suffered due to its introduction with 8.2:1 compression and emissions equipment. It also suffered unfairly due to the change in horsepower ratings that year from Gross to Net. The compression drop did diminish the engine’s actual power, but some of the rated decrease is only on paper. The 400 makes a fine foundation for a high-powered rebuild, and looks visually correct in a ’68 Road Runner.
We can assume the car left the factory in green. Is that a clutch pedal under the automatic brake pedal? Floor pans and a perfect interior await, only a phone call or some mouse clicks away.
Classic Cragar S/S wheels bring just about the only bling to the party, as the yellow paint appears to have been applied with a roller. All joking aside the buyer of this car will not have dollar signs of a future resale in mind, but it’s hard to put a price on what might become a parent-child project or a full-custom restomod build. How would you rework this dirty yellow Mopar?
The rubber of the brake pedal has slipped of place…
Todd Fitch wrote: “How would you rework this dirty yellow Mopar?”
I would give this Road Runner the restomod treatment, preferably with an Art Morrison or Roadster Shop chassis to facilitate the installation of the Hellcrate Redeye engine that Mopar recently came out with.
The front grill and hood say 69. The rear end says 68. Different front clip? Maybe Road Runner clone made from a Satellite?
I was thinking exactly the same thing about the front grill.
It’s definitely a ’69 front clip on a ’68 body. The side markers (at least the one in the right fender in the photo), while painted over, are ’69, too.
The emblem above the glove compartment appears to be correct for a Road Runner, so the car did likely start out as a ’68 Road Runner.
The seats aren’t original to the car, obviously, and may not even be Chrysler seats.
In the interior shot, that brake pedal pad appears to be nearly new and the transmission tunnel appears wide, both items possibly indicating that this was originally a three or four speed manual car.
YAh…the article states that.
No beep beep horn deal breaker for me
lmao!
It’s a post car, hardtops had a very thin piece of chrome.
Personally, I consider the replacement steering wheel and the shifter two of the UGLIEST designs ever!
needs a lot of work. But sold for $7100, someone got a decent deal if they have a parts stash or parts car. 100% better deal than 99% of the rusted to death ’68-’70 Chargers on here.
Rubber floor mats ? Find me a factory picture of that as I’ve owned a few and they all had carpet including my low mileage 1968 J code car.
Hello stillrunners. I didn’t find a picture but here is a discussion of the topic. https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1326535/68-road-runner-floor-rubber.html and another https://www.oldride.com/library/1968_plymouth_road_runner.html