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Fresh 440: 1974 Plymouth Road Runner

This 1974 Plymouth Road Runner is a project car that is just begging to be finished. It is a solid vehicle that comes with a nice array of parts to help the new owner down the road to completion. With the work that has been completed to date, this could be a great project to take on in a home workshop. The fact that it comes complete with a freshly rebuilt 440ci V8 is just the icing on the cake. Located in Winter Haven, Florida, you will find the Plymouth listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. The owner has set the price for the Road Runner at a very reasonable $17,500.

The owner commenced the restoration of the Road Runner in the mid-1990s, but as can so easily happen, circumstances caused the project to stall, and the owner now acknowledges that he won’t be able to see the restoration through to completion. The Road Runner is a California car, so rust isn’t an issue that the next owner will need to contend with. The vehicle is currently in primer, but if it has been like this since the 1990s and no rust has reared its ugly head by now, then that indicates that all is well below the paint. The vast majority of the trim and chrome is present, although the owner does acknowledge that the bumpers could benefit from a trip to the platers. Also included with the Plymouth is a shiny new set of Magnum 500 wheels, which will add a nice finishing touch to this restoration.

The Road Runner isn’t a numbers-matching car, but it does come with plenty of good news on the mechanical front. The owner has managed to source a 440ci V8 that previously saw service in a police car. This 440 has been sent off for a rebuild to original factory specifications, and it hasn’t even been fired-up since that process was completed. The Plymouth also features a 727 TorqueFlite transmission, a 3.55 Posi rear end, power steering, and power brakes. In addition, the buyer will score a set of Headman Headers and a shiny new exhaust, while the vehicle’s handling will have been improved by the addition of KYB shocks on all four corners.

The interior of the Road Runner will need restoration, but once again, the owner is giving the buyer a real head start in that department. An interior trim kit is supplied as part of the sale. This includes door trims, seat covers, carpet, a headliner and a parcel tray. The dash itself looks pretty dirty, but it looks like it would present really well if someone undertook a carefully detailed clean. Given the parts included and the information supplied by the owner, I don’t think that it’s going to be that hard to have the interior shining like a new penny once again.

I’m really impressed by not only how much promise this 1974 Road Runner shows, but what the owner is including in the sale. That freshly rebuilt 440 is a nice score, while the body looks to be both solid and straight. I firmly believe that this is the sort of project that could be completed reasonably easily by a competent person in a home workshop. With the popularity of the Road Runner remaining strong in the classics market, that makes this a project car that is well worth serious consideration.

Comments

  1. Avatar Superdessucke

    If it’s all metal that’s good and if it was a ’68-70 I’d say it’s a good deal. But how much is a ’74 worth fully restored? I think you’d end up blowing over the real value with a restoration unless you could get the price down a lot more.

    Like 6
  2. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    I wasn’t gonna put my miserable $.02 in but–unless I missed?? Pics? Primer makes everything look good. Stock spec 440 for 74 is anemic. Instead of showing pics of the carboard boxes, how bout the car? for the money, smog era RR, seems like a lot but if this was done in shop, I’m sure they have that much into it. Look it over good. Good luck.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 1
    • Avatar SMDA

      Yes, also, why not test the engine? Odd. Plus, what year 440? That makes a difference. Why do this much work just to dump it? Did they realize the project was going to be under water in the value department? If so, why start? Did they do it for love of the hobby or for profit? Does the present economic reality have anything to do with it? If people are dumping projects, that is good if it brings prices back down where they should be for enthusiasts, but buyer beware.

      Like 0
    • Avatar David G

      The Police engine is a 440 Magnum, and for ’74 had a 280 ish net horsepower rating, which is north of 340 horsepower under the old rating system used trough 1971. Torque will be over 360 net ft. lbs. Hardly what most would call anemic.

      Like 7
      • Avatar Superdessucke

        0-60 in 7 seconds and 1/4 in 15.2.

        https://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/plymouth/road_runner_2gen/road_runner_2_coupe/1974.html

        A few tenths quicker than that L69 1984 Z28 that was posted here yesterday.

        Like 1
      • Avatar Dave

        Problem is that the seller doesn’t give enough info about the motor. It could be out of a Blues Brothers-era smogmobile, or it could be from a 1971 model that was rated at 375 horses. Having owned a 1971 440 Fury cop car bought in Columbus, Ohio, my experience was that they’re not geared or cammed for drag racing. You need to know what heads and cam are on it. Even so, since it’s NOM your imagination and credit limits are what governs how you build it. Build it to 1971 specs and you’ll have a fun ride.

        Like 1
    • Avatar Moparman Member

      Bought a car in primer once….never again! I’d rather see original paint, dents and all. Poor repair work disguised by primer sucks!

      Like 3
  3. Avatar Weasel

    I like the objectivity the writers use when describing a car on their classifieds.

    BTW, that was sarcasm.

    Kick ass car.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar jerry z

    Rather have a ’71 or ’72. Never really cared for this body style.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar Dean

    I’m not sure but it looks to me as though the engine in this 74 Roadrunner has not been cleaned for a so-called rebuild the house’s don’t look like they have been off. Maybe just me but that how I see it. I had a 74 Roadrunner my self and with a 440 in it auto and it run very well. I’m not saying anything bad about the car but the person that gets the car needs to look it over very well

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Richard Martin Member

    If the engine was indeed rebuilt, why didn’t paint it at the same time. Seems suspicious to me.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Ez Blakemore

    I started the project, with intentions of completing it. Other
    more pressing projects and moving.around the country, interfered with my plans. At this time I just want to sell it to someone who wants to spend the time to complete it.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Troy s

    The kind of car folks used to warm over, sometimes a lot. Stock performance? Who cares, its a ’74, the potential for serious acceleration in a sporty Mopar is there.

    Like 0

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