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Looks Muscular! 1977 Plymouth Volare Road Runner

Sadly, the 1977 Plymouth Road Runner isn’t one of the models as fondly remembered as many of its predecessors, and to just the casual Mopar fan it may just barely be remembered at all, as fewer than 5,000 of them were reportedly manufactured.  The Road Runner was switched to the new F-Platform the previous year, but the Volare itself was plagued with build quality issues and recalls, and even though the bird soldiered on until 1980 the Road Runner had become mostly a graphics package more than anything else during its last years.  But as far as rarity goes, they’re not a common sighting these days and thus far have remained relatively affordable, and if you happen to be in the market for a decent example you may want to check out this 1977 Plymouth Volare Road Runner here on Facebook Marketplace.  The car is located in Rathdrum, Idaho, and comes with an asking price of $7,000.

Barn Finds would like to thank reader Lee for spotting this Road Runner and bringing it to our attention!  OK, now that we’ve gotten past the pitfalls of the final generation versus the early Runners, let’s focus on what this car is instead of what it isn’t.  We don’t get a whole lot of background or history about the car, but the seller claims it has only been driven 56,000 miles, and overall the paint and body appear to be in pretty nice shape.  Even the decals are looking good, although there’s no word on whether that finish is original or if it’s had a respray at some point.  In any event, the car does look like it’s been shown some love and has been well cared for.

Things inside appear to be in decent shape as well, and I love how the design team at Plymouth placed that Road Runner emblem front and center on the dash so you and your passengers would remember you’re not just inside a Volare!  In all fairness, that is a cool steering wheel, and the car does have bucket seats with a console plus T-Tops, so this is a nicely equipped example.

The standard engine for the Road Runner in 1977 was the 318, but optional was the 5.9-liter 360, the latter of which can be found under the hood here.  However, even the bigger choice barely got you over 150 horsepower, and the seller doesn’t say how well the motor runs or if it’s ever had a rebuild, he just mentions that the car has new dual exhaust and an upgraded steering box.  No word on the state of the automatic transmission either, but if the 56k mileage is accurate and the car has been serviced regularly maybe it does still have some good life left in it.  What are your thoughts on this 1977 Plymouth Volare Road Runner?

Comments

  1. Avatar Denny N. Member

    A Volare Road Runner? Really? The Volare/Aspen was the biggest POS Chrysler ever put out.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Will Fox

      Hardly. You forgot the k-cars. Absolute junk! and uglier than a mud fence.

      Like 16
      • Avatar Dave Suton

        I’d take either one of them over some fugly Lexota, Nisfinity, Hondcura or GenKia junk they are dumping here.

        Like 25
      • Avatar Bick Banter

        Yes they were ugly but the K car did not have any specific reliability issues like these did. Plus, that platform basically saved Chrysler Corporation. They sold well and servied as the platform for cars raging from the LeBaron, to the Daytona, to the first mini van.

        Like 22
      • Avatar Car Nut Tacoma

        I’ve never been a fan of the K cars. Particularly the early models. I’ve always found them uglier than s—.

        Like 1
      • Avatar Robin Tomlin

        I am restoring a 72 Plymouth Cricket……just sayin’!

        Like 7
      • Avatar $ where mouth is

        Too few know their history.. the K car is actually an awesome car, on a few levels.
        No, its not a drag car boys, but a great car, do a lil research ;)

        Like 9
      • Avatar Gary

        Say what you will but I worked on TONS of 100,000 mile + k cars years ago. Not very stylish but hey, it was the eighties, every companies cars were ugly. They ran a long time on little maintenance

        Like 0
    • Avatar $ where mouth is

      Whats sh*t about a US made, 2 door, t-top, 360ci, buckets and original paint ??
      Other than it being a rip off Chevy, i think its got it all. Now it just needs a real car guy to do the few easy upgrades to release its full power potential.
      Ill say again, the guys whos Dad bought them theyre car or theyre just posers, sure, its not powerful, for us that have skills, its just a weekend of good tunes, tools, and getting your hands dirty ;)

      Like 14
      • Avatar Frank

        I had a one with a transplanted 340 T/A motor that was pulled from a totalled T/A back in the seventies. A buddy had one with a 440 , two four barrel motor. Mine was good in a straight line and decent cornerd, his straightline only. They were decent cars, like most of the other companies offerings at the time

        Like 2
      • Avatar Connecticut mark

        Ugly up to the buyer, Superbirds we’re considered ugly, they could not even sell them years ago. K CARS were around a long time, saved Chrysler so now we can have 1000 hp Hellcats and huge Rams, and now 100 grand Cherokees. I think I wouldn’t mind a K car now.

        Like 3
    • Avatar Dale Sisk

      No worse than the Camaro or mustang.

      Like 1
  2. Avatar Mark_K Member

    It can only be a ‘real’ Road Runner if it has the Beep-Beep horn. Otherwise, it’s just a Volare.

    Like 11
  3. Avatar wallyum

    Grandpa said the best car he ever owned was his ’78 Volare. I would drive this in a heartbeat.

    Like 24
    • Avatar DON

      The 78-80 Volare /Aspens were miles better than the first two years, although they looked nearly the same . The rust issues had been addressed , and earlier bugs too. My father bought a new 4 door 78 Volare and as a salesman, drove it everywhere with no issues, other than a blown rear end that my cousin and I did trying to do hole shots- in a 225 car ! He sold it after it hit the 150k mark, only because he was worried something might happen with the high miles and he would get stranded. I bought a used 78 coupe later and put over 200k on it before it got to the point where I had to retire it, but by that time it was a 15 year old car that spent its entire life outside in New England . It was such a dependable car I felt like I was shooting Old Yeller as I drove it to the salvage yard.

      Like 16
  4. Avatar Tim

    Had build quality been better, as well as a suspension something other than a torsion bar set up. The Aspen/Volare twins with the 195 horsepower 360 V8, would have been a fast (for the time) car. It was a decent looking light weight car that may have been popular. I like it’s looks, but it is kind of all show and no go.

    Like 6
    • Avatar The Other Chris

      Nothing wrong with torsion bars. Though these FMJ body ones are harder to work on than the previous ABC body setups. It’s really challenging changing the sway bar bushings on these, and the rubber suspension isolators didn’t do handling any favors.

      Like 6
      • Avatar Kent

        This Volare’ Roadrunner is in great condition. It’s a 360 equipped model to boot. Doesn’t get much better than that in these cars. Well yes, it’s mostly a stripe package, but most so-called performance models were during this period. A year later, the quickest vehicle was a truck, but what a truck.

        I’m actually considering putting in a bid on this. It’ll piss my GM junk only Brother-in-Law.

        Like 1
    • Avatar Gary

      Torsion bar suspension is a very good set up, just as good as coil springs.

      Like 2
  5. Avatar ThunderRob

    The owner or previous owner glued the road runner script there…LOL. That is a day 2 custom job :P

    Like 13
  6. Avatar angliagt Member

    Would look better without those ugly orange stripes on the sides.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Gary

      I really like it just the way it is. I knew a guy that ordered a IROC Z, yellow with red interior and stripes. He had to put 1/2 down to get them to order it as they thought they would be stuck with it if he bailed on them. It was really was a beautiful looking car. I think it was a 350, not a 305, but I don’t remember

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Vin_in_NJ

    I worked at a gas station in the 80’s. These cars would come in, and since the gas cap was placed on the side of the car, there was no way you could avoid spilling it on the side of the car. You would always see Volare/Aspens with gas stains on the side

    Like 4
    • Avatar Melton Mooney

      At least it’s not behind the tag like on my 69 camaro with drop suspension. I pretty much have to sit on the ground to gas that one up.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Gary

        68-70 Chargers were the best, right on top of the quarters

        Like 0
    • Avatar bone

      Do you know how many cars had gas caps on the sides of the car back then ? I was pumping gas in ’76 , and if you knew what you were doing, you wouldn’t spill gas on the customers cars. The issue I had was the people that used wood screws to hold the plates onto their GM cars. More than one ,flipping the rear plate down I’d shred my hand going for the gas cap

      Like 14
  8. Avatar Stan

    With a bit of work… get a good running 360 dialed in, dual exhaust, 3.23 gear, a few cop car suspension items and you’d have a fun driver.

    Like 21
    • Avatar Steve Brown

      What I was thinking. Overall its a pretty nice car. Build up a 360 in the garage and swap it out. Then you would have some power to match the over the top (but period cool) looks.

      Like 6
  9. Avatar karl

    Black interiors are rare for these model cars , back then you could get green, red, tan, white and blue, and the majority seem to have had colors that matched the exterior paint. This one is super solid, I think raising it back to stock height and a nice set of wheels would really improve the looks .

    Like 10
  10. Avatar Car Nut Tacoma

    For some reason, I’ve never found the 1976-77 Plymouth Volare as attractive to look at as the 1976-77 Dodge Aspen.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Rick D Member

    There’s a muscle car just waiting to be born out of that cocoon. Forget vintage. . .someone take that 360 and make it right, remove the stripes, and strengthen the structure and tranny.

    Like 6
  12. Avatar TS

    You know the old saying about lipstick and the pig? Decals on a Volare do not a Road Runner make……

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Steve

    This is an insult to all the Road Runners that came before it.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Lothar... of the Hill People

    Will Fox –
    Dang, that’s critical of a car that helped keep Chrysler on the map. If you think they were ugly, fine but that’s subjective.
    In terms of reliability, comparing them to other basic, cheap, American cars of the same era, I think they were generally reliable, albeit simple cars.
    A friend had one and she liked it a lot. It always started and it was made in the US. We need more of that.

    Like 9
  15. Avatar FireAxeGXP

    The best handling Road Runner ever built. Too bad these F bodies couldn’t get the power of the earlier cars. But then again maybe the weight would ruin the handling. Whats with the hideous spare tire wheels? Nasty.

    Like 2
  16. Avatar James Martin

    If you are going to use the iconic name, atleast offer it with the 4 speed. You could get the 4 speed with the 225, but not with the 360. Why?

    Like 1
  17. Avatar pwtiger

    For some reason I don’t think this T-Top car would survive a built 360, there is not much strength in that uni-body without some mods underneath, a good launch and the doors might not open or close…

    Like 1
    • Avatar bone

      not true

      Like 3
  18. Avatar Nelson Cypher

    Good article, Mike. The steering wheel is called a Tuff wheel. Arguably one of the very best factory sport wheels ever. The owner put the Road Runner emblem the dash. Factory would never have stuck it there.

    These cars are much better than most give credit. I spun my 76 on an icy freeway and reversed square into a guard rail at about 40 mph. Crushed the rear end. Drove it home. Paid the deductible and cashed the insurance check to pay the loan. Drove the car another year. Basically a tank.

    Like 5
  19. Avatar Glenn Schwass Member

    Muscular and Volare can’t be in the same sentence. Everything was weak in those years.

    Like 1
  20. Avatar Ten50boy

    Comment all you want. I would take it in a heartbeat! Cool ride. Hard to find.

    Like 5
  21. Avatar PRA4SNW

    For 7K, I’m liking this. I would happily drive this.

    Like 3
  22. Avatar Greg Gustafson

    This car, sans the orange stripes and the T top roof line wouldn’t be a bad looking car. The orange stripes removal would be doable. The T top just permanently ruined the car.

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Steve Weiman

    At 14yo in 1977 had a paper route with a beautiful orange bone stock ‘69 Road Runner in driveway w/no garage. White interior w/4speed. Drooled over it everyday. And one day there it was: a brand new hideous decal laden thing trying to call itself Road Runner… ‘69 gone…… :(

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Marvin Goss

    Lic plate
    Says FSTBIRD ( FASTBIRD). Maybe it is!

    Like 0

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