NASCAR threw Chrysler a curve ball when it outlawed those wing cars from racing for the 1971 season, a decision stemming from the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird causing such chaos on the tracks during the previous two years. But the Mopar powers that be were already moving forward and working on a new aerodynamic race body based on the redesigned ’71 cars before their fun was spoiled, and while production never materialized a report containing over 400 pages was generated regarding simulated wind tunnel testing results for the new style B-Bodies, and that’s all it took for Mopar enthusiasts Gary and Pam Beineke to craft a Daytona and a Superbird in what is believed to be very close to what the finished products would have looked like. They’re both headed to Indianapolis for auction this May and if you’d like to check out the Plymouth, it can be spotted here on the Mecum website.
The Road Runner was the second of the 2 cars the Beineke’s created, and it’s based on the 3/8 scale models that were discreetly being tested for smooth wind cutting in early 1970. This car actually started as a GTX with a 440 and a 4-Speed, and it’s noted for being the only true and accurate rendering ever built based on the testing reports and artist renderings for what would have been the 1971 Superbird. Two obvious carryovers from the previous design are the towering wing and the nose cone, but electrically operated headlight doors were incorporated this time, replacing the vacuum units from ’70. The finished product was painted Hemi Orange, which seems like a great choice for an endeavor such as this.
This one’s not all show either, as plenty of attention has been dedicated to the go department as well. Under the Air Grabber hood sits a 472 Mopar Performance Hemi V8 said to be churning out a whopping 570 horsepower. On top is a Tom Hoover-inspired Hemi 6-Barrel configuration, with shifting provided by an American Powertrain 5-Speed manual transmission plus the factory 3.54 Sure-Grip Dana 60 rear end out back. Power-assisted disc brakes are in place all the way around to ensure a quick stop should the need arise to slow all that torque down abruptly.
Inside, a black and orange Legendary interior is in place plus a pistol-grip shifter, and there’s even a sunroof overhead for nice days, and based on the condition of this creation I doubt it’s ever seen any non-sunny weather. If I had to compare this to any other Mopar, the idea reminds me a little of the 4-Door Barracuda concept our own Russ Dixon did such a fine job presenting here on Barn Finds back in October of last year This one’s hard to predict where the bidding will get to, but my guess is plenty of wing car fans will be in attendance trying to make it theirs. What’s your ballpark estimate on how much the Superbird that never was will exchange hands for?
How many kazillion will this bring?
85,000
With a Sunroof. Wow that’s rare I love a 4 speed Pistol Grip the short one not the long one.
How about the transmission tunnel mounted cassette recorder/player. That’s a nice touch. 👌 Just all around 😎.
Ain’t that the coolest thing?
Yes, it is.
The 1970 was my dream car. Saw 1 once on the street. I owned a 72 Road Runner but unfortunately lived in the rust belt. When I moved to LA people laughed at the rust and cancer in the fenders. I use to tell them the car was just getting faster.
I’d love to bid on this if I could get 100 year financing. The only way I could ever afford this beauty. My favorite color combination too. I missed out on a Road Runner this color and mine was Gun Metal Grey with black stripping. Maybe I was safer with a bit toned down color scheme. Didn’t draw as much police attention.
l o v e !
I’m lovin it!!
Fascinating! Looks to be very nicely executed, too. It would have been a complete disaster on the track, however. That pointed nose would direct just as much air under the car as over, resulting in major lift and instability. At NASCAR speeds, it would have flipped.
I don’t know about the flying comment. HRM has a story on their website on this and the other built car. Apparently Chrysler had done some windtunnel tests on various car designs to improve the design. This was before Nascar banned the winged cars from racing and the cars were dropped.
I have to say the body is not one of my favorites but it appears to have been designed and constructed very well.
I agree. I used to think only 68 thru 70 Roadrunners looked good but the 71-thru 74 aren’t too bad.
Wrong, NASCAR banned it for a reason and it wasn’t because it was ineffective.
But wasn’t it built based on the 3/8 scale wind tunnel models? I thought I read that it had been run around several tracks? any reports on it’s performance at speed?
The wing doesn’t quite go with the body lines.
That thing on the trunk/ quarter panels it too high for this body style. Who ever buys it has more money than they need.
There was a website.. 71wingcars.com .. it was a husband and wife set up. The site has been removed. They built this ride saying if Chrysler made them in 71. The what if factor.. This bird moved around a lot over the years. I was never a fan of the nose. The rest of the bird I liked. It should be interesting where the hammer will fall. It’s a true 1 of 1. Or 1 of none. There is a YouTube video on a 71 Charger they made into a Hemi Daytona. Good luck to the seller. 🐻🇺🇸
If it had the correct NASCAR rims and was lower, I might get this, but I don’t really see this on track. Here is a nice article about it.
https://cdn1.mecum.com/assets/images/media_group/lots/sc0523-553591/r108-r019-sc23-hot-rod_402375.pdf
great article …..3 cars built, is it just me or is the noses of the white and black cars more like the 69/70 cars ?
I think the rear end looks awesome. Better than the actual Super Birds, IMO. I’d be a player at $10,000. Heh.
Hemis came with dual quads. How does a 3 two barrel set up work…more or less power?
Is it just me? Or does this body work much better with that wing and nose? As opposed to the original, 69-70’s.
I like it. Don’t want it. But it just works in my opinion.
It’s not just you. That nosecone is smaller and much more proportionally correct for the body. It looks especially good in the side view. Doesn’t hang out so far as the original design. IMO this is much better looking than the Daytona or Superbird. The wing looks better on this body too IMO. Two thumbs up.
1.5 M
Kent
I’m with you, Kent! As rare and unusual a bird as this is, you know there are some folks with fat wallets who are currently wiping drool from their chins and contemplating where she’s going to sit in their already well-appointed garages… I’d just like to take her for a spin… oops, I missed some drool!
I viewed this very car many years ago at the Chrysler’s @ Carlisle show. It certainly was gorgeous then, and I’m sure it still is. The husband & wife team that undertook this build are nothing short of perfectionists. Two things I’d change for my own personal taste: I’d remove the rear window louvers, and change the quad exhaust tips to the single “machine gun” type also referred to as bazooka tips….would love to own, but this car is gonna’ bid way high…..
I saw a blurb on the fb, with a pic of a black wing car, with a placard in front proclaiming “the Bird that never was” ….I went down a rabbit hole trying to find the story associated with the pic, but the only thing I could find was pics of this orange car, evidently they made a pair and the black car was the other one. Hey if you got that much cash, I can imagine it was a fun build
Lotsa of press on these when they were built, and every ‘never was’ ‘71 B-body car the Beineke’s created (there was also a ‘71 GTX convert among others) could not be told from factory – I live in the same town and would see them in the flesh now and then. Absolutely stunning.
Nicely done, but the true and accurate rendering of the test model seems to be in conflict with its restomoddedness. I get the appeal of restomods, but given the effort to create something that could have been factory issued, my preference would be for something that looks like it was factory issued.
$350,000. / $400,000.
Given that it has a hemi in it and a 6 pack and the styling of the car I’d say it’s going to go for a $175,000
I could be wrong, but I think, rather than banning the winged cars, they limited them to 305 cubic inches, thereby rendering them ineffective/useless.
imagine if instead of hamstringing them, they had promoted aero competition from Ford and Chevy…………Ford and Chevy nose-coned and high winged supercars ……..
Gary and Pam Beineke are well known and respected in the Mopar builders community. The quality and imagination of their builds is astounding. They are more known for thier “what if” winged warrior cars like this one. But if you search around you’ll see They have built some other really cool ’71 and up B body cars.
Even without the 6 Barrel (Plymouth designation) sunroof, spiffy interior and world class build quality, this is a remarkable car. The fact that they built it off a Chrysler test study gives it provenance that you just don’t get wirh a typical Pro Street, retomod or tribute car.
I hope whatever collector buys this one has the gratitude to drive it, show it, and share it with the rest of the world. It’s too cool to be squirreled away in private collection the rest of it’s life!
Let’s be realistic people. It’s a custom build that anyone else can also build using a 71 Plymouth B-body. Thousands of 71 B bodies have been built. So as many more like this can be recreated in the same way or a bit different. It’s not a one of one which indicates a rare factory car. Not to take away from a beautiful car with a idea of what could have been from the factory. Hundreds of thousands of nice one of zero cars have been built that the factory didn’t build. That’s what many customs are. It’s worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it but won’t have any real historic value compared to a vehicle that actually was a prototype or factory concept which this one is neither besides being a custom 71 GTX with some superbird add ons.
it’s like owning a house that is built nothing like anything else. How do you put a value on it. You can’t, because there is nothing comparable. It’s only worth what someone else is willing to give for it. My guess it’ll be another Mopar collector who has to have it. So odds are; it’ll sit in another air controlled room never to see the light of day until it changes hands again.
I’m all about glitz, but this is nearing clown car status.
This conversion has of course been done to some “new” Challengers.
But I’d rather have this ’71, with a better view looking out.
Wow, I love the enthusiasm that built it, and I believe it’ll bring 95,000 to 125,000. More likely the upper end with rarity being the function if pocketbooks are attending. Either way, a showstopper, and an investment.
If this tracks like a lot of the other big name auctions, this thing will hit 200K easy.
So in what way is this a ‘Barn Find”? Time to change the name of your site.