The Plymouth Road Runner was the budget muscle car sensation of the late 1960s. It was still popular in 1970 when this first-generation coupe was built, which now wears an older restoration that needs to be revisited. It has the popular 383 V8/4-speed combination, which found 5,839 buyers in ’70. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this “Bird” is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $23,100, but the reserve is still in play.
It was good to be a “20-something” in the 1960s and 1970s. All the car manufacturers had various cool products targeted at them because they thought we all just wanted to get behind the wheel of a hot car and go fast. The insurance companies studied the statistics and agreed, starting to raise premiums as too many autos like this one were getting involved in accidents. 1970 is often considered the pinnacle for the muscle car movement as sales began to go downhill after that.
As the story goes, this Plymouth has spent most of its life in the dry U.S. Southwest, principally New Mexico. As a result, it continues to be a rust-free automobile. We’re told that the party who owned the car in the 1990s treated it to a restoration, but then passed away. So, the Road Runner then spent some time outside which put a hurting on the paint and vinyl top. We’re told the car is purple and if you look at it just right, that’s true. I thought it was black at first. But it’s too deep a purple to be the Hi-Impact In-Violet that was available when the car was new (Dodge called that hue Plum Crazy, a cooler name).
We’re guessing the color on the Plymouth has been changed and – other than a dent when a motorcycle fell on the car – it shouldn’t take much to prep the car for a repaint and new vinyl. If the build sheet or cowl tag is still there, determining the actual color would be the way to go. The interior shouldn’t need any attention other than a few things like a horn ring. We’re told the 383 runs great and the VIN says that’s the correct displacement, though no mention is made if the motor is original to the car or if it was rebuilt as part of the ‘90s restoration. The “Pistol Grip” 4-speed manual is also said to be healthy.
Nice car to start with, I should have bought one back when i thought 20,000 was too much for a really nice one. Who knew?
Hard to go wrong w torquey 383 and a 4spd.
Even minus the H on the back, this Plymout is very cool.
Love this one! Sweet ’68 vert next to it.
Had a 70 hardtop in high school in FE5 with N96. 383 Torqueflite console. Black vinyl top. Black custom buckets. What a car. Very fast. Ate Sunoco 260 like Rosie ODonnell at a free buffet. Had to sell in 1974 when shipped off to the Army. Sold for $950 to a classmate. He smashed it up bad. Miss that car. At today’s prices, should have put it in the barn that still stands on our property. Oh well.