Don’t let the tired exterior fool you because this 1969 Road Runner has many factors in its favor. Its rust appears to be limited to one small spot, and it has a freshly rebuilt V8 under the hood. Its needs appear to be cosmetic, making it a great project to tackle during the winter months. With that thought in mind, you will find the Plymouth in Jacksonville, Florida, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $25,100, and with the reserve now met, a new home is just around the corner for this classic.

There can be no arguing that the Barracuda Orange paint on the Plymouth is looking tired. It appears that someone has commenced some form of exterior restoration, but this hasn’t proceeded very far. The owner identifies a small spot of rust in front of the rear wheel opening on the driver’s side as the only issue. I admit that the rest of the panels look clean, but I can’t help but wonder what might be hiding under the primer in evidence around the vehicle. That might demand a closer inspection by potential buyers. He says that the floors and frame are sound, and the photos of the inside of the trunk would seem to support this claim. The hood has some rust on the underside, but a replacement is included in the sale. The owner has purchased all new weather-stripping, and this is also included. The trim and glass appear to be in good condition, while the original wheels appear perfect.

Apart from the column-mounted Sun Tach and an oil pressure gauge, the Road Runner interior appears to be original. The front seat has several splits, but a new cover is on order. Its delivery has been delayed due to Covid-19, but the seller has undertaken to forward this to the buyer at his own expense when it arrives. The carpet looks like it might be slightly faded, but the rest of the trim, the headliner, and the dash, all seem to be in good order. A few painted surfaces would benefit from a refresh, but the owner could complete this task at the same time that the exterior repaint is undertaken.

Lifting the hood of the Road Runner provides one almighty surprise. I’d be willing to bet that you weren’t expecting an engine bay that looks this nice when you looked at the rest of the car. Nestling in there is the original 383ci V8, which is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. This is a car that should be capable of some pretty respectable performance. The dash down the ¼ mile should take 14.5 seconds, and if it is given enough room, the Plymouth should haul all the way to 132mph. Those figures aren’t too shabby. The spotless presentation is courtesy of the fact that the engine has been freshly rebuilt. I suspect that the engine bay was painted and detailed while the 383 was away, which was a smart move. The owner claims that the Plymouth runs and drives well and needs nothing more than some minor tuning to have it spot-on. Included with the Road Runner is the original Owner’s Manual, Purchase Contract, Fender Tag, Broadcast Sheet, and Window Sticker.

The Plymouth Road Runner is a classic that continues to increase in value, and early examples are highly sought. This one shows a lot of promise, and returning it to its former glory should not be a difficult task. Once this process is complete, there is no reason why the new owner couldn’t find themselves with a classic that would fetch something north of $35,000 if offered for sale. Of course, money isn’t everything, because that same person would also own a car that would be a blast to own and drive. Fun. Isn’t that what owning a classic car is supposed to be all about?