Beep Beep: 1971 Plymouth Road Runner

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There is no mistaking a 1971 to 1974 Plymouth Road Runner as a muscle car. However, many would argue that this car’s best days are behind it due to the toll that rust has taken on the body. Located in Everest, Kansas, this gold 1971 Plymouth Road Runner is listed for sale here on eBay with only 1 days remaining in the auction. The car has reached a bid of $9,200 but has not met its reserve. The paperwork shows that this car was exported to Zurich, Switzerland under the Chrysler Military Sales program.

The white interior is dirty and looks a little moldy, too. The seller has the original manuals and lots of paperwork on the car to show that it was built with a 4 speed manual transmission and a 3.91:1 Sure Grip rear gear ratio. The car does not have a fender tag to back up the paperwork. The floorboards are rusted through and the car will need a full restoration. The seller believes the car was built without a center console but does have many original parts including the air cleaner.

The 383 cubic inch V8 engine is said to be the correct G code engine but it is not numbers matching. The seller states that the engine will most likely need a complete rebuild and offers no guarantees on its condition. In addition to the rusty floorboards, the doors, trunk and rear frame rails have experienced rot and will need repair or replacement. Surprisingly, the rocker panels are said to be in good shape but the torsion bars appear to be compromised.

The car rides on rally wheels and their is rust bubbling along the back edge of the trunk lid. This car represents the second generation of the Road Runner which entered production in 1971 and ended in 1974. Plymouth paid Warner Brothers $50,000 to use the Road Runner name and likeness. I hope this car is restored and enjoyed in the future.

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Comments

  1. CCFisher

    Warner Brothers basically gave away the rights to use the road runner character. When Chrysler approached W-B again for the use of the Tasmanian Devil character on the upcoming Duster, the fee was much higher, so the Duster wound up with a twister image that was supposed to look like Taz in motion.

    Like 12
  2. Stan StanMember

    Plenty of gear, 4 sp, big block 👍

    Like 5
  3. Big Bear 🇺🇸

    I see we have another Fred Flintstone ride here! What a shame it’s going take big bucks to make this right again. Parts are getting harder to get for Mopars. Good luck to the next owner.🐻🇺🇸

    Like 4
  4. WaltL

    Hmmm, Swiss cheese from Zurich. That’s quite a rot box.

    Like 3
  5. Ian Seth Carlton

    If it is indeed a “G” code in the VIN, then this baby left the factory with a 318. IIRC, the correct code for a 383 of this vintage would be an “N” code. I know we all tend to make way too much of a big deal out of these nitpicks, but when you look at the inflated prices these cars are selling for, it does become important. If you’re selling it as a nice old ride to cruise around in, that’s fine. If you’re selling it as a piece of automotive history, then these details become important. And as I always say, a vintage car is worth whatever the buyer is willing to offer and the seller is willing to accept.

    Like 1
  6. 1980flh1200

    Parts for Mopar are easy to get Go to YEAR. ONE OR AUTO METAL DIRECT every. Part is. Available right down to lightbulbs

    Like 5
    • Gary

      AMD has stopped having the Chinese make a lot of early B Body metal. Full floor pans are no longer available, for example and I need one.

      Like 1
      • Ralph

        Thanks for the heads up on parts Gary. You may have saved someone (not me) from an expensive and painful experience. Appreciate the info!

        Like 0
  7. Desert Rat

    I always liked this body style, would like to own this rr and I’m a die hard checy guy. Still that one shot of what looks concerns me, I doubt that is the only place that rust is that bad. I would want to give this a good looking over be for I would get mixed up with this project.

    Like 1
  8. Jay McCarthy

    I like this body style a lot more than the boxy 1970 and at least in 71 you could still get monster engines

    Like 3
  9. Howie

    It is nice that the seller points out it is used.

    Like 5
  10. douglas hunt

    It has taken a while, but the front ends on these have grown on me ……

    Like 1
  11. Howie

    Went to $12,100 reserve not met.

    Like 0
    • Howie

      Now it says Sold at that price.

      Like 0

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