Restoring a classic car can be a rewarding experience, especially when the vehicle in question possesses performance levels that match its aggressive looks. That is the case with the 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. Not only do they look tough, but even the entry-level vehicle offers owners impressive levels of acceleration. This Road Runner will need restoring, but the buyer will be starting the process from a sound base. It is located in Monroe Center, Illinois, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $8,500 in what is a No Reserve auction.
The Blue Fire paint that the Plymouth wears has seen better days, and there is also some rust that will need to be addressed. The owner admits that the vehicle will need rear quarter panels and a trunk lid, but the rest of the car is restorable. The only rust of any note is a small hole in the floor. This hole is about the size of a golf ball, and a simple patch should see that right. The rest of the Plymouth is structurally sound, with clean floors, frame rails, and window surrounds. The chrome and trim appear to be in surprisingly good order when you consider how tired the rest of the exterior looks. The glass is also in excellent condition, with no significant flaws or issues.
Buyers were offered a couple of choices when it came to what powered their Road Runner in 1969. The hot ticket was the Hemi, but the 383ci V8 still provided a more than adequate 335hp. That is what we find lurking under the hood of this classic, and it is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. This combination should be enough to see the Road Runner storm through the ¼ mile in 14.5 seconds. It isn’t clear whether this Plymouth is a numbers-matching car, but we know it runs and drives. The owner doesn’t indicate whether the vehicle is roadworthy, but the engine sounds clean and strong. I have included a video clip at the bottom of this article, and if you check that out, you will see what I mean.
The Road Runner’s interior condition is a match for the exterior, and it will need a total refurbishment. There isn’t a lot that can be salvaged, so a full trim kit will be on the cards. At around $2,500, this is not a cheap proposition. However, if the car is to be returned to its former glory, it should be money well spent. Kits in that sort of price range will include all of the trim and hardware that the buyer will require, and they will also be finished in the correct color and material. A few separate items will need to be sourced, including a radio and a steering wheel.
The owner says that this 1969 Road Runner is better than it looks and that it is a solid vehicle. The photos that he supplies seem to support this claim and show a classic that will not need vast amounts of cutting and welding to get it back on the road to looking its very best. With 383-equipped Road Runners easily selling for $35,000 today, that is some incentive from a financial perspective. Of course, the ¼ mile performance isn’t going to make it any less desirable, so it will be interesting to see what the No Reserve beauty finally sells for.
Is that the hood with the optional cutaway ventiports?
It looks like the stock hood that’s missing the bolt on inserts.
Steve R
he must be very serious of his description of the car because he uses all capital letters and it’s the longest run on sentence in the history of the english language.
I’m not a Mopar guy, but always liked the 69 Road Runner. This one appears to be relatively rust free, compared to the majority of the Mopars featured here. It would be nice to know what extra parts he has, or at least a photo. Things like a radio and trim panel, heater core and heat/defrost controls, hood inserts… but as I mentioned, it appears to be relatively rust free. It will be interesting to see what this will ultimately bring.
First thing I look for under the hood is the purple horn and I’m not seeing it in there
“Voice Of The Road Runner”
I remember a road runner that looked just like this, rust and all in my neighborhood back in 1970
Anybody know where I can get a Hellephant engine? :)
An okay car surrounded by some really okay looking classics. It’s a Road Runner, plenty of power, good lines….and its blue. Nice Galaxie in the background by the way.
Great color blue, make it a daily driver and for what you spend on a new car in 5 years you can have a decent daily commuter car, with class.
Let’s see, had to be mid 70’s, I worked at a factory, and one of my co-workers had this exact car. It was a tired thing by then,( 6 years?) looked very similar to this. I drove it once, it was the only car you could keep your foot to the floor, pump the clutch, and row through the gears,,, time and time again. It wasn’t particularly fast, but gave plenty of thrills on a pump jockies salary. Again, like the one all twisted up before, they led a rough life. They did one thing well, go in a straight line, but fell short on just about every other aspect. It was a thin paneled, basic Satellite, with a big motor with little, if any value, and were trashed accordingly. Price clearly based on availability, not on what a nice car they were, not many survived.
That’s right, a cheap thrill ride no one ever thought would amount to anything fifty odd years later. Bought and used as intended, these things were destined for a hard (short) life of street racing, drag racing and all around abuse in general. Nobody, and I repeat nobody ever expected these types of cars to be a valuable collectors items, Novas, Dusters, Demons, especially Darts and Valiants heavily included. Just a cheap screamer with a great name, and a funny horn….that’s a Road Runner at its core.
impressive video…shows the car moving 30 feet. Let’s see it on the road going thru the gears. Looks like a good project missing some parts and needing some replaced. Not the usual rotted to death ’69-’70 Charger.