It has been raining B-bodies around here lately, and I couldn’t ask for anything more! Even in this dilapidated condition, this 1969 Road Runner has striking lines that ooze coolness. While coolness is likely not the only thing this car is oozing, with the price of late 1960s and early 1970s Mopars seemingly ever-climbing, and enthusiast is sure to snap this project up in hopes of getting his or her hands on their dream car. Find it here, suffering from the ill effects of rust, here on craigslist in Washington, D.C. with an asking price of $4,500. Thanks to Rocco B. for sending this one in!
The pictures provided in the ad aren’t of the highest quality, but they’re good enough to see the rust damage this car isn’t even trying to hide. The interior appears to be in decent shape, but unsurprisingly (for a rust belt Road Runner) the floor pan is gone. Based on another picture provided and my personal experience, I would suspect that the torsion bar cross member will need to be replaced as well. The front subframe rails are also shot, which would lead me to believe that the rear rails will also need to be replaced. Fortunately, each of these pieces is readily available from Auto Metal Direct.
The seller states that this car was last titled in 1983 and was last on the road around the same time. This car has been in the seller’s family since it was new. The engine is a 383 cubic inch Chrysler big block with a four-barrel carburetor. From the seller’s description, it sounds like this is the original engine for the car. Unfortunately, it is seized and will likely require a rebuild (if you’re hanging $6,000 of sheet metal on a car, wouldn’t you rebuild the engine anyway?).
This Plymouth has certainly seen better days, and the northeastern climate has certainly worked its terrible magic on the metal, but it is a real big block Road Runner with a few rare options including power disc brakes. The seller is also including the build sheet for this car. Though it would’ve been seen as junk back in the 1980s, with the Mopar market where it is today this Road Runner is surely worth a restoration. Whoever decides to tackle this project needs to be handy with a welder!
Nice options. It’s so rusty it might not be worth the effort to restore.
Steve R
#1 Check VIN and fender tag, driver’s door for option codes.
383 automatic, A/C, PDB, and PS, bench is a great cruiser.
I am a hardcore mopar guy, but even I would say uts on its way to the crusher or to be cool yard art.
Power brakes though!
A man / woman better be handy with a welder to even come close to breaking even on this car when restored. Even at today’s outrageous Mopar prices.
Knock the engine loose with a breaker bar, a few street signs for the floors covered by some carpet remnants and cruise around town. I bet you’d find a clown to pay you double what you bought it for.
Hey, I need that front seat……with rusted hardware of course!
Gosh golly gee I need me some rust and air conditioner floors damn it
We have all seen worse than this here!
Just think of it as a Porsche 356 in need of all new metal 😜
Price is decent,hope whoever gets it knows what he’s in for. potential here. Good luck to new owner!!!
Love the power front disc brakes ! Imagine the decision to make when ordering the car new…(?)
Hmmm….”should i go with the 440 on the lot that has 4 wheel drums or the 383 CID and disc brakes ?
F # IT ! I’m going to order the 426 Hemi, 8-TRACK and 4 wheel drums to manage cost’s lol…
Anyone ordering a street car by 1969 and was worried about the budget, wouldn’t have ordered the Hemi, if for no other reason, the insurance would be as much as the payment every month. (I had friends who found that out with the 440.6)
Even a used car! In 1969 I was interested in a 59 corvette , the price on the car was $2200.00. I thought I should check on the insurance before buying it. I was 21 years old at the time with only a couple of speeding tickets, and the cost of insurance was $1800.00. I guess you know that deal did not happen!
Why not? I had them in my 69 Road Runner, along with the bench seat, but she was also a 383 w 4spd go-getter. The only thing I didn’t have was that boat anchor of an A/C unit under the hood.
Buying off the lot….IF they wanted A/C…383 was only engine for Road Runner available with A/C, and was the standard equipment, so cheapest. Power front disc may have been a factory upgrade if car was built with A/C and automatic trans.
I KNOW THIS VERY CAR! It was [and probably still is] located right in the middle of Maryland, in Mt. Airy, about 10 miles from where my antique car restoration shop was located 20 years ago. I tried to buy it around 20 to 25 years ago, it looked a lot nicer than today, but I thought it was cool because of the way it was optioned; Along with the A/C, if it’s the same car, it even has an original AM/FM STEREO radio! If my memory still works, this was a 1-owner car at that time, and “never gonna be for sale”.
Not familiar with this car. Almost identical in shape to a 69 AMC Rambler Rebel hardtop. AMC ripped GM off on this shape.