The Road Runner began as a budget-minded muscle car in 1968. It would go on to sell 84,000 copies at the peak (1969). But sales were down by 1971 (14,000) as the performance car market was both saturated and beset by rising insurance premiums. Wearing a new body, this 1971 edition is a one-owner, numbers-matching car sporting its original paint color of In Violet (aka Plum Crazy). A dealer is selling this beauty in Pompano Beach, Florida, and it’s available here on eBay for $59,000 OBO. A thumbs up goes to “Curvette” for the tip!
Chrysler did an overhaul of their B-body intermediates in 1971, bringing a whole new, fresh look to products like the Road Runner. The 383 cubic inch V8 was still standard in the Road Runner, but you could opt to go the small block route for the first time with the 340 motor. Chrysler’s Hi-Impact colors were in their last year, and the hues continued to be wild (especially when compared to today’s sea of grey, white, and black vehicles). In terms of purple, Plymouth offered In Violet, which was called Plum Crazy in the Dodge world (same color).
The seller’s car seems about as original as they come, though we wonder if the paint has ever been redone in the original FC7 color. It’s been garage-kept by its only owner for much of its 55 years, yet it looks practically new inside and out. Even the wraparound contrasting laser stripe presents well. Jump in behind the steering wheel, and you’ll find a Slap Stick shifter to grab hold of for the automatic transmission. Two build sheets have survived to validate the authenticity of the Mopar.
This Plymouth is not short on options, including factory air conditioning, cruise control, and power front disc brakes (newly refreshed). Also new are the rear springs, headliner, carpeting, and package tray. The floors underneath the original carpets were clean as a whistle. Just under 11,700 of these ’71 Road Runners were built with the 383 V8, which would be phased out in a couple of years. Nicest one left? You be the judge.
I’m glad the “Plum Crazy” is original to the car. I think it’s been done to death on clones and tributes. Mopar had other colors that were cool too. Someone is gonna get a nice car.
It’s nice. But with a 383, most definitely not the nicest one left.
The nicest one left would be a 426 Hemi, pistol grip 4 speed, white interior, Hemi Orange, or Tor Red for the die hard Mopar Fans. And a one owner. Chance of finding that would be like winning the Powerball.
Seller has over 100 vehicles listed. Sure could use a detail job.
When I see a seller like this, I run in the opposite direction. This is just “product” to a seller like this. He doesn’t know or care about the history of what he’s selling
The seller doesn’t say it is original paint, they state, “never had rust, original panels,” later in the ad the state “Original Factory FC7 Plum Crazy purple”. If it was original paint they would have said so, they were more than happy to use the word “original” for everything else in the ad. This is a restored car, it’s nice, but should be compared to other restored cars.
Steve R
I get it its a road runner but i was never a fan of this body style…
I LOVE the look of these, but for some strange reason, I have never owned one, and I have owned over 200 cars/pickups. Bad timing, I guess. At these prices, now I never will(unless one of those lottery tickets pay off).
I like these. Always have, but that may just be the ten year old me talking. The 383 automatic air combination seems like a great driver. Isn’t that the whole idea?
Must be making a lot of $$ profit . All that stuff on the wall cost BIG money.
A lot of it looks like reproduction or inexpensive kitsch with a few nice pieces thrown in.
Steve R
Not to be pedantic but as Russ correctly states, the FC7 color actually is called “In-Violet” on Plymouth cars. The ad incorrectly states the color is “Plumb Crazy” which applies only to Dodge cars of the era in FC7. Not a big detail, but it makes me wonder what else they got wrong.
Factory AC and Cruise are cool, but with a 383 and Auto not $60k cool….
The ’71 383 engine was only 8.7 compression, making it basically a boat mooring
1971 was also the 383, 440+6, and 426 hemi’s swan song. The 383 was replaced in ’72 by the 400, the others were simply discontinued.
I remember seeing 383 4 barrel carb versions with 335 hp according to their factory air cleaner stickers.
That’s decent power, same as Fords 390 ci with 4 barrel.
The 335 rating was for 68-70. The compression ration was lowered in 71.
No, you don’t remember seeing that on the air cleaner of any 383 ever, Eric in NC, you only think that you do. You have the correct horsepower number for the peak of the muscle car era in your memory, but it came from other sources. Chrysler put the displacement on the air cleaners of their high-performance engines, but never the horsepower ratings.
Not even close!
That car is not original. The stripe is in the wrong location, and the Road Runner grille in ’71 was black with Argent silver highlights. The solid argent silver grill is a satellite grille.