Back in the good old racing days when a NASCAR “win on Sunday sell on Monday” brought droves of eager buyers into dealer showrooms, Richard Petty must have been one of Chrysler’s best cash-cow friends in the early seventies, with the King winning 21 out of 47 races during the 1971 season in his Plymouth Road Runner. And more than 50 years down the road, up for grabs here on eBay is a ’71 Road Runner with some cool family ties, as the car was previously owned by the legend’s cousin, Marvin Petty. This excellent B-Body is located in O’Fallon, Missouri, with bidding already up to $28,599 and the reserve not met, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a Mopar fan doesn’t go ahead and drop the gavel right away by hitting the buy-it-now button for 65 grand.
Even if this one didn’t come with some not-too-distant King Petty pedigree, it’s a beauty and from what I can tell is still in survivor status, with that Tawney Gold Metallic paint claimed to be the original finish and described as stunning, and judging from the photos I have to agree it has held up exceptionally well over the years, as have the decals and trim. I’m really not spotting anything outside that needs attention, and the longer I stare at this color the more I’m liking it.
Things inside look just about as good, with the seller calling the interior’s condition impeccable, a term that makes me expect the very best and I’m certainly not disappointed! The seller mentions how those leather seats wrap around you like a glove, and they definitely still look inviting to have passed the five-decade mark. He also mentions some of the rare options this car is equipped with, such as speed control, but it’s also got the floor-mounted cassette recorder which I’m guessing may be one of the least common items to spot inside a 1971 Road Runner.
Based on the Petty association, I was a little surprised to find a 383 under the hood, not that it was a bad choice but this was the entry-level motor and I would have expected at least a 440 or maybe even the famed Hemi, which would have been the final year you could have gotten the latter. The 383 is paired with a 727 TorqueFlite, also surprising as I’d anticipate any Petty family member would require 3-pedals, but the good news is both are original factory components and the car also has the Track Pac rear-end. So while the drivetrain may not be the most desirable combo, this is one great-looking Road Runner and I’m sure the next owner will be thrilled with their new acquisition. What are your thoughts on this one?
Although this is a VERY good looking car, (I liked the 72 better) I wonder about 1. the “leather seats”, since the Road Runner was designated to be a “budget” car, I not sure that leather was every offered as an option. 2. The optional floor mounted cassette deck appears to be inoperative, the front screws are very rusty, and the cassette door is not closed, and appears to be missing. I would of thought that a Petty would have had a console mounted shifter, LOL!! GLWTA!! :-)
I never knew Roadrunners had a leather seat option. Did the GTX even offer leather? It was the luxury Roadrunner. 😉
I’m just curious what you would like better about the ’72 over the ’71? A couple minor lighting differences including the new-for-72 tacked on side markers, and of course the interiors were a little different. Otherwise, they’re largely similar. Not criticizing, just wondering what I’m overlooking. Unless you just don’t like the one-year-only ’71 side markers?
I liked the 72 tailight lenses & side marker lights better, that is all; also I drove a 72 model for a while and had friends that had 72’s as well. :-)
I had a 1972 with the 340 CI engine. If the 71 had a 340 it would have been the better engine. Smog controls started to creep into what they did to the engines in 72. I had electronic ignition, 850 carter thermoquad, clutch fan, four speed, Hurst pistol grip, real dual exhaust with a very noisy heat riser. Wish I still had it.
Back around 1985/1986 I actually purchased a 71 R/T 440 Charger from the original owner. Auto on column and bench seat, owner said he ordered it that way because he and his now wife was dating at the time…
Well, I’m sure the entire Petty family could get whatever they wanted as options, as lyas they were available on the rest of the b-bodies. That would be my guess.
Moparman – you’re correct, leather seats were not an option on 71 Road Runners (see attachment). In the Dodge and Plymouth b-body cars for 71, only the Charger SE could be had with leather.
71 Dodge Charger interior info.
My first new car was a 71 Roadrunner. Walnut with white interior. 383 4 speed. Some odd options. It was supposedly to be the sales manager’s demo but the wife nixed it because of the 4 speed. One of 2 cars I have owned I wish I still owned.
I agree with Moparman, no leather interior was offered in the Roadrunners at all, and the cassette player doesn’t have a microphone either.
Also the exhaust tips are missing, they they need the “machinegun” style with the louvered red insets. Is that the real mileage??
For $69,000 you should expect these items. (is it worth almost $40,000 more because it was Petty’s cousins car ??)
OMG, this car was actually owned by Marvin Petty! Can’t wait to tell that story to folks at the car corral, “who the hell is Marvin Petty”? I get it, it is part of the story but has zero value in the scheme of things. Using the five degrees of separation, I am sure every car I have owned has some connection to someone famous at the cousin level. Stop trying to create stories and align it with value (eg; the Detroit Hemi Challenger)
The ad does not even specify Marvin as the original owner. The letter form him is to small to read and includes a business card “Petty’s Mopars”.
So, this car was probably “owned” by Marvin for a short period of time – bought and sold through his used car business would be my guess.
Unless someone is a die hard Petty fan, they wouldn’t even know his famous cousin Maurice.
If I were to purchase this (for far less than the ask) I’d never mention Marvin Petty…
Maybe the leather is Corinthian leather! Bench seat column shifter auto no machine gun exhaust tips base engine nice clean example but not very exciting it is a nice body style and should have alot of interest
But is it “RICH” Corinthian leather as Ricardo used to say!
“Glove soft” Corinthian leather.
Are the seats really leather, or are they vinyl? I see so many descriptions where sellers call vinyl seats leather. Standard 383 engine but then you get the very rare cassette recorder and even factory cruise control. Bizarre options on this one.
Owning a 72 400 air grabber car in Basin Street blue opting for the full vinyl top bucket seat car with the slip stick Auto limited slip 3.54 gears.
I’m still searching for this particular car. Last seen in Springfield Or. In the mid 70’s
BEEP BEEP My A$$
Very clean Runner. As for the seats. It should be vinyl but somebody knew someone in Chrysler to have this special ordered. If we had the fender tag it would tell the story. So if the Petty was the original owner. They had the pull to get this done. The exhaust tip where turn downs. This one would not have the machine gun tips. They added the chrome extension. This is your basic 383 Road Runner w/o AC. Auto on the column. I think they added the cassette recorder when the car came in. The dealer could of install this. The Bin $65,000 is a lot. And it has 112,000 miles on it. There nothing really special about this Runner. Except the name Petty pop up. It’s a very clean stripper. The only surprise is the interior. $45,000 is a fair price.. Good luck to the next owner…🐻🇺🇸
As I recall all Roadrunners starting with 1971to 1974 had the machine-gun exhaust tips. My wife bought a brand new 1973 that had the machine-gun exhaust tips. The only time I saw a Roadrunner with turn down exhaust was my 1969 I bought back in 2008. It was built in the LA plant and all California B body’s had plain steel down tips 1968-1970 for “emission control”. Those tips on the car were aftermarket items.
It is special be ause its a Mopar and a runner in my opinion . It’s nice survivor not alot of money there but nice cR .
Marvin Petty, LOL!! That sounds like an Onion article. It could go right along side John Voight’s 1983 Chrysler LeBaron convertible at the National Mopar History Museum.
OMG, that’s funny. Makes me wonder it Marvin Petty is any relation to Marvin Berry, Chuck’s cousin.
Jon Voight the actor or the dentist ?
The dentist is John Voight.
Periodontist gentlemen, sheesh! Does anyone know what the legendary Marvin did for a living? He was probably an accountant.
A column shift and the base engine? Obviously, Marvin was the black sheep of the family.
I bought my 71 Road Runner at an auction where it was in an accident prior to being shipped to the dealer. I paid $1200, and spent another $1,100 for repairs. Evidently it was a really odd vehicle. It had the automatic on the column with a bench seat and “vinyl” seats, but the really odd thing was it had a factory installed 340 ci engine. I never saw another one. It was that beautiful blue that Plymouth had that year. I loved that car and sold it to a buddy with the caveat that when he was ready to sell it, he would offer it to me first. His fiancée totaled it!!!
The letter from Marvin Petty makes no claims as to the car’s originality. Petty indicates the car was missing its wheel-well trim and he replaced it. He also states he had the rear bumper rechromed.
The paint looks amazing for 112k miles on the odometer. The seller may be stretching the truth calling the paint original. It seems odd for a bumper needing to be rechromed when the ‘original’ paint looks so good. The missing trim may have been removed for a repaint. Regardless of the material, the upholstery has been redone. There is no way the driver’s seat has 112k miles of wear. It is highly likely the car was reconditioned/partially restored prior to Marvin Petty’s ownership. The car was originally sold in FL.
For a $65k BIN an image of the fender tag should be included. AFA the connection to King Richard, he and Marvin are third cousins. They share a set of great-great-grandparents.
Ah yes, the so super rare as to not exist leather bench seat. Nice Road Runner, but the Marvin Petty connection only adds maybe $0.50 to the value. Some unusual options on this bird such as the cruise control (nice to have if it’s working), and cassette deck (again, if its in working order, the tan case is VERY rare), but this is really only worth about half the BIN price.
No console and/or bucket seats for 65 large
i had a 1968 dodge dart with 340 super bee pkg (340 auto no power)a freind with a 383 4 speed couldnt figure out why he couldnt beet me