The Plymouth Road Runner was something of a game changer in the muscle car market, once again putting big engines inside spartan cars. Under 30,000 Road Runner coupes were built for 1970 and this one was destined to become a race car from the start. Except for the long-gone motor, the rest of the car looks complete, from a racing perspective. It’s located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania and available here on craigslist for $9.000. Our thanks to Pat L. for bringing this one to light for us!
The first generation of the Road Runner (1968-70) reset the bar for muscle cars. They could be had with anything from a 383 to a 426 Hemi. The 2-door coupe would play second fiddle to the hardtop in 1970 when it came to orders, selling 28,114 with the 383, 1,302 with the 440, and just 148 units with the Hemi. We don’t know how this one came from the factory, but the seller says it has a Hemi suspension. So, could that mean this car might be one of the 148, of which only 30 came with an automatic? That would be wild if there is any merit to it. The seller doesn’t provide a VIN or anything else to check it out. Thanks, Beep2Beep, for the Road Runner intel!
The body on the Road Runner looks good and – if it’s been raced – surely it got crumpled and repainted at least once or twice. We don’t know. What we do know is that the seller tells us it was a race car from new, so the original owner apparently bought it for the purpose of it spending a lot of time on the track. Whatever the engine was, it’s gone now. But there’s still that Hemi suspension, a racing Torque-Flite automatic (drag strip?), a new exhaust system with cut outs, and a Dana rear end with 4:56 gears. The flat black hood is made of fiberglass and I’m betting the trunk lid is, too, in order to reduce weight.
If you were to buy this car, I suppose there are two options: drop another engine in it and go racing again, or convert it to a street car, which may require more work than restoring a stock one. A Road Runner that’s a fixer-upper can go for $20,000 and flawless examples can run $70,000 and higher. What’s your recommendation?
I think that this one is destined to live out the remainder of its’ life as a race car. Of course, deep pockets and desire could alter that path, but again. it would be cheaper to start with one not so purposely altered (IMO). GLWTS!! :-)
Why do you assume it’s been wrecked? I have many friends that have been racing their dedicated car since the 1960’s that have never wrecked. Drag cars Like this one rarely crash, it’s a misconception not rooted in reality.
There is no evidence provided this is actually a Road Runner. Without a VIN there is no telling what it started life as.
The car doesn’t make sense as a street car. It’s also expensive as an old race car, unless the potential buyer is specifically looking for an vintage Mopar to race.
Steve R
Got all the makings of a solid strip car, I’m guessing it was used as such not all that long ago. Aluminum door panels, dash(?),racing seats, and the stickers all over it are still very legible, lol. The hood scoop looks like a six pack RR type but I’m sure this thing has gone through several transformations over the decades. I’ll take a guess and say it had a built up 440 at least, Hemi not likely,, of course it may have various engines over the years. The real question is what will it have next? Very cool…..
Walk away
I’ve always had a hard time choosing which Road Runner year I like best 68/69 or 70. Having said that the main issue that would turn me off on this car is the glass or lack thereof. It’s all been replaced with plexiglass. This would cost a great deal of money to replace all the side window controls ,the glass and front and rear glass. no I’d rather replace rusted floor panels than do all this glass work.
The windows and any fiberglass parts are a non-issue if it stays a race car. That’s what this car is. It was not haphazardly pieced together by some idiot that wanted to go fast, whoever put it together knew what they were doing. It makes no sense to try and return it to the street. To make this car race ready again will cost significantly less than it would than either buying a restored Road Runner or a decent project that needed restoration.
Steve R
The wiring looks like something from Chef Boyardee!
Very interesting fact here: This is supposed to be a Pennsylvania car, so what’s it doing with Minnesota Collector plates?
they say it has a hemi suspension,but dont give a vin # hahahah dangle the old carrot,just another line of bull—-