One of the challenges when selecting a project candidate is knowing what a buyer will receive for their money. More than one enthusiast has parked a classic in their workshop, only to discover they have opened a particularly nasty can of worms as they delve into its inner workings. There appear to be no such problems with this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner because the seller has laid bare its rust issues for all the world to see. The buyer faces many hours of cutting and welding, but the good news is that the seller includes every piece of steel required to return this classic to a rust-free state. Bidding sits at a modest level, although with the reserve met, it is days away from heading to a new home.

The 1970 model year marked the final production year of the First Generation Road Runner. The muscle car segment was shrinking as insurance and emission standards became a factor, but the Road Runner badge would soldier on for the rest of the decade before the company permanently retired it in 1980. The first owner ordered our feature car in Rally Red, and it would have made a bold visual statement when it rolled off the lot. It still does so today but for an entirely different reason. The Plymouth is battered and bruised, and significant rust requires attention. It isn’t a matter of tackling the problem with a few well-crafted patches because only wholesale steel replacement will return the car to a structurally sound state. That sounds daunting and expensive, but it isn’t as bad as it might first appear. The seller splashed $5,500 on new panels from AMD, and with those forming part of the deal, that gives the winning bidder a flying start on the build. The collection is extensive and supplemented by good secondhand items like a passenger-side front fender, headlight buckets, and other components. There will undoubtedly be other pieces needed before the restoration ends, but the new owner can purchase these when the time is right. Critically, areas like the rails are rock-solid and require no attention.

This photo provides an overview of the new panels included in the sale and compensates for the lack of engine shots in the seller’s listing. They admit the car is no longer numbers-matching. However, the 383ci V8 under the hood is date-correct. They slotted an A-727 automatic transmission behind the V8, although they include the original four-speed manual transmission and the hardware required to reverse the change in the deal. The car runs and drives but isn’t roadworthy. The listing includes an embedded video of the 383 in action, and the lumpy idle suggests it features a pretty radical camshaft. It would probably churn out more than the 335hp and 425 ft/lbs of torque available when the Road Runner was shiny and new, and the engine shows no evidence of smoke or odd noises.

The list of areas requiring TLC grows as we focus on this Plymouth’s interior. A retrim is in order, but as with the exterior, the seller gives the winning bidder a running start. They include new seatcovers, door trims, and a headliner. There are additional seats and other components, so recapturing the car’s former glory looks achievable without spending a fortune at the local parts shop.

This 1970 Plymouth Road Runner requires plenty of love to recapture its youthful good looks, but like any good jigsaw puzzle, all the parts needed are there and ready to go. The seller listed this classic here on eBay in Schertz, Texas. Five bids have pushed the price to $3,050, which is above the reserve. If it stays close to that figure when the hammer falls, the replacement panels included in the deal make it appear to be a bargain buy. Are you tempted to join the bidding party to return this muscle car to its rightful place on our roads? If you succeed, I know we’d all welcome progress reports as you proceed along the restoration path.