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Really Solid: 1973 Plymouth Road Runner

When it comes to nicely styled cars, I personally rate the 1973 Road Runner quite highly….and I have to say that I really like this one. It is a project car, but it is one that you could drive right now while you work through the restoration process. You will find it listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Caldwell, Idaho, it is offered with a clear title. Bidding has reached $1,025 at the time of writing, and it will hardly surprise you to learn that the reserve hasn’t been met.

The Plymouth doesn’t wear its original paint. It was the subject of a repaint in its original color many years ago. Rust problems with the Road Runner seem to be quite minor. There is this spot in the passenger side quarter panel, and there also looks to be a spot in the driver’s door. The trunk floor is solid, and there is an underside shot of the car that looks really promising. Address those couple of spots and the surface corrosion and she’d be ready for a re-paint. I also like the Rallye wheels on this car. They really help to make the car look tough.

The interior also looks good. Basically, it looks like a fresh set of carpet and a new cover on the passenger seat and it’s all good to go. The rear seat looks new, and the remaining trim and the dash look to be good and unmolested. Another aspect of this car that I really like is the look of the Rallye gauges and the floor console. There is an aftermarket radio/cassette player installed, but that is hanging under the dash. The speakers have been set into the rear shelf, but removing them and replacing the shelf material should be quite easy.

So far there has been no real bad news about any aspect of this Plymouth, and things under the hood continue this trend. The Road Runner features its numbers matching 318ci V8, which is backed by a 727 transmission. The engine has recently undergone a complete rebuild, so the original 170 horses should be raring to go. The Plymouth is also fitted with air conditioning for that touch of comfort.

I would be willing to bet that when this Road Runner was new, that it was a seriously nice looking car. Looking at it now, I don’t think that it is going to take a lot of effort to return it to that state. If you compare this car with some of the other project cars that you see in the market at present, this one seems to have a solid base to work from. As a bonus, it is a project car that you can drive and enjoy while you undertake the restoration work. That sounds okay to me.

Comments

  1. Avatar KawiVulc

    These are some really good looking cars with nice lines and proportions. Looks like the last pic was taken either when fairly new or shortly after the repaint. Currently at $4900 & reserve not yet met.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Steve R

      Last time the seller ran it through eBay it’s high bid was $9,300, which was still shy of reserve. Personally, I wouldn’t bid that high on a post 71-72 Road Runner with a 318 in anything close to this cars condition. It’s too new and the pedestrian drivetrain will limit its appeal and value. Better cars can be found for what someone will sink into this one before all is said and done.

      Steve R

      Like 18
  2. Avatar angliagt Member

    I like it,but wouldn’t buy it at that price.
    I’d rather have the Dakota Club Cab behind it.
    I’ve been looking for a really nice ’93 – ’96
    Dakota 4WD Club Cab,with a manual transmission,
    but seems that they’re really hard to find.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Michael Ridley

      I have to agree with you. If Dodge or ford would come out with a truck the size of the old 91-96 Dakota extended cab. ,don’t need to add the cost to make it 4 doors. just a good ,no frills v/6 5 speed or automatic cruise power windows and a/c at a decent price , they would be selling 100k of them and have 4 shifts working round the clock. Who wants a 40,000$ new ranger. its smaller but so loaded with all the crap they put on them that its almost the cost of a one year old full size truck.

      Like 1
  3. Avatar John m leyshon Member

    1971 is about the end of the line for me. After that, the cars were bloated and choked. This body style represented the end of a great era. Love all offerings of the “BIG 3” and the smaller one (AMC) prior to 1972. Javelin, Mustang, Charger/Sebring…ugh…More of a Ford guy, but appreciate GM staying true with Camaro/Firebird during a tough stretch through the ’70’s …

    Like 6
  4. Avatar TheCrustyAutoworker

    For me 1973 marked the end of an era, it was when the 5 mph bumper rule came into effect and ruined some nice looking cars. (Ford Torino and Chevy Nova always jump out at me for this) This Roadrunner just doesn’t come anywhere near the slick looks of it’s 71/72 predecessor for me at all.
    The “big bumper era” as I refer to this time was also the era of smog choked small V8 engines as big blocks would soon be all gone too, it was a horrible time to be a muscle car fan and wouldn’t get any better til the end of the decade.
    So like any 73 and later 70s ride it just isn’t worth any big investment in my books, money is much better spent on an earlier car.

    https://www.facebook.com/thecrustyautoworker/

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Scot Cantalupo

    Had a 74 Satellite Sebring Plus with the roadrunner hood and rally wheels in high school- loved that car. That 318 took many beatings for sure and never let me sit

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Mike Adams

    In ’73, the styling update from the ’71/’72 Roadrunners was meant to de-musculiarize them and make them look more “luxurious.”

    Sacrilege.

    Sacrilege with a 318, no less. ’72 was the absolute end of the line.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Del

    Not bad.

    Some rust to cut out.

    Be nice to replace 318 with a 340 steel cranker

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Del

    Not bad.

    Love the interior

    Like 2
  9. Avatar Davis

    To me, the ’73/’74 always look like just a different front clip attached to the ’71/’72 back end and the two just don’t go together well.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar PRA4SNW

    These never looked as good as the 71 / 72 models.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar George N Wallace Member

    I remember going to Grogan Chrysler Plymouth with my dad and helping him pick up a brand new roadrunner exactly like this one he traded in a 1969 cyclone 4 speed my mom said it was a too fast for a family car so she let him get the roadrunner with a front bench seat and automatic as a compromise
    I remember the row of cars included superbirds and all the rare mopars that we still enjoy to this day,
    Sorry for the trip down memory lane I guess it happens

    Like 2
  12. Avatar Dalton

    Needs to be red with a white stripe

    Like 0

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