What’s before us here is a Mopar that’s probably as important to focus on what it is rather than what it isn’t. This one is certainly not a bonafide Plymouth Road Runner, although the visionary put some effort into creating what he believed the cartoon car should have looked like in 1978. I can’t say I necessarily disagree with his logic, as by this time the Road Runner was living on borrowed time, now just an optional and primarily trim package for the Plymouth Volare. However, what I’m envisioning here is more of a nicely preserved 1978 Dodge Monaco coupe, with some stripes and a few of the Warner Brothers-based bird images attached strategically to add to the fun factor.
In 1975, the one-year-only third-generation Road Runner was based on the restyled Plymouth Fury, and by 1978 the Dodge Monaco was wearing sheet metal that looked similar. The seller is adamant that the package should have remained on the B-Body instead of being moved to the F-Body, which it was beginning in ‘76. A rust-free, low-mileage 1978 Monaco coupe was sourced for the build, which was repainted in its original color and then received ‘75-era Road Runner striping. The original grille was swapped for a 1978 Fury component, along with emblems bearing the same name added to the front fenders.
The work didn’t stop on the outside, as the seller also removed the original 318 and gave it a rebuild, with the horsepower now estimated to be around 290. An intake manifold from a 340 is in place with an Edelbrock AVS2 carburetor on top, plus a Comp Cam 260 camshaft, and Speedmaster heads on the sides. Another fun detail under the hood can be spotted up front, as a Voice of Road Runner horn has been installed, so the driver can create the beep-beep sound whenever the opportunity arises. An automatic transmission takes care of shifting duties, but there’s no word on whether or not it’s received any recent attention.
The Road Runner theme continues inside, with an aftermarket steering wheel featuring the bird in the center, along with monikers on the door panels and above the glove box. The interior is in surprisingly good condition overall, with one small stress crack on the dashboard mentioned as a blunder, but the seller is also throwing in a matching color dash cap. Health issues are said to be forcing a sale, so if you’d like to be the next owner this one’s in Orange, Connecticut, and can be viewed here on eBay, with the opening bid of $8,500 yet to be placed. I’m eager to hear what our readers have to say about this 1978 Dodge Monaco turned Road Runner- did the creator hit their target here?
Weirdly..and probably heretic talk..it’s my fav gen of “Road Runner” i just always looked the style of malaise era Monaco’s..LOL
Beyond the obvious fact that road runners are Plymouths, this is just…no.
They won’t be easy to find, but I would try to source a Fury rear bumper and quarter panel caps to complete the conversion.
The lettering at the top of the grill looks like Plymouth and the front fender call out looks like Fury. How is this a Dodge Monaco? I lean towards Plymouth will the Road Runner stuff.
The taillights are Dodge.
I looked it up and that’s definitely a Plymouth grill as the Dodges had a totally different center split grill.
Reading the story will reveal that the owner made the changes up front. No harm or foul. The factory was capable of messing up the schedule and building different cars at each end.
Nice idea, wrong platform. I’d want a fictional ’78 Road Runner to be Horizon-based. Like the GTI that VW was already building in Europe but not bringing here yet, but with a layer of cartoon-themed whimsy.
I really liked these cars. Chrysler sure turned a corner from those early tin can Road Runners. These were the cars those punks that HAD those early Road Runners, grew up, some, got a decent job, or more like finally accepted the old mans offer as manager at the plant, and this is what they bought. While a novelty back then, I’d have to think a “meep-meep” might be more offensive today. General Lee Dixie horn, same thing. Chrysler turned another corner after these, some say for the worse. I will admit, these were some of the last really nice Chrysler products.
The seller is making a statement that they are hoping someone else with some $$ understands.
I started off not liking it- but it’s kinda fun. 👍🏻
Had a friend had a 1975 white brand new RR ordered with all the goodies with 360. His family owned the dealership. It had respectable performance and was a head turner.Enjoyed riding around with him.
He rebuilt engine and left on electronic spark control? Or whatever that is called.
Lean burn, very troublesome system.
I owned a 1976 Plymouth Fury Sport, with a 318. My ride was all show, no go, with a staggered set of Keystone Klassics, J.C. Penney Scat Trac tires, and air shocks.
SOLD for $8,500.