Chrysler’s intermediates were redesigned for 1971, including the Road Runner and its upscale cousin, the GTX. The bodywork now had a more rounded “fuselage” look along the lines of other Chrysler styling trends of the day, which included a steeply raked windshield, hidden cowl, and deeply inset grille and headlights. These changes did not help sales and muscle car popularity had begun peaking anyway. This two-tone blue ’71 Road Runner is a roller with some sheet metal issues to resolve – and the engine and transmission have been pulled. The car is located in Everest, Kansas and available here on eBay where the reserve auction has reached just $1,222.
By 1971, the Road Runner had shed some of its austere trappings, as they could be ordered with 6-way power leather seats, thick deep-pile carpeting, and additional sound proofing. But the Road Runner still offered plenty of muscle, with 340, 383, 440 6-Pack, and Hemi engine choices. Some tinkering with engine output enabled many of the cars to receive a standard insurance rating without the costly muscle car premium upcharge. Aerodynamics were much improved with the ’71 redesign, which made the cars popular performers in NASCAR.
The seller’s Road Runner is going to be popular with your local body shop because there are lots of areas to be dealt with. The bad includes the driver’s side front frame rail and the torsion rail on the passenger side (the suspension sags on that side of the car). The rear frame rails aren’t as bad, but there is some swelling around factory holes. The quarters and fenders have all been chewed on. The front floorboards and front aprons will need attention. However, the rear floorboards, roof and cowl are said to be okay. To paraphrase the seller, “if you’re looking for a car that need no work to the frame, this one is not for you.”
Both the V8 engine and TorqueFlite automatic have been pulled from the Bird. We’re told that the car comes with a date matching 383 which suggests it’s not quite the original engine. Parts of it are in the trunk, but there is no mention of the whereabouts of the transmission. Out of 13,664 ’71 Road Runners assembled in the U.S. (some were built it Canada, too), 7,952 were equipped as the seller’s likely was.
This Road Runner looks to have been two-tone blue with a white and blue interior. Sadly, most of the interior will have to be pulled and redone from scratch. Seats, door panels, dashboard – all are victims of the passage of time and significant prior use. A 1971 Road Runner with a 383 is valued at $44,000 by Hagerty if in Concours condition, with Fair being $19,000. But a rusty roller with a questionable drivetrain and in need of major work should come at a fraction of that – or will it? Oh, don’t get your heart set on keeping those dog dish hubcaps – the seller is keeping those.
The dog dish hub caps are the best part of the car. If they don’t come with it then don’t include them in the picture. Oh, and don’t use all caps in your EBay Ad either…never mind, next.
Either the dog dish caps come with the deal….or, no deal.
Roll that project right over to the scrap yard.
Put a fork in her, she is done.
With the front frame not salvageable, and the rear frame having its own issues, I suspect this might be a good opportunity for a restomod project, as it would allow the installation of an Art Morrison or Roadster Shop chassis.
On the other hand, Detroit Speed built a 1969 Charger using its 1st Generation Camaro subframe and QUADRALink rear suspension package, so perhaps that approach might also work?
Haven’t seen the iconic rear spring shackles in a long time. Ahh, memories!
If this were one year older, it would be at 15K instead of 1500.
This is an identical car to one a buddy from HS band drove in the mid 1970s…same color, dog dish caps, etc. I remember him always braking with his left foot slamming onto the pedal to make me swing forward in the seat.