This 1978 Plymouth Road Runner looks like it may have been caught by Wile E. Coyote, it’s a little rough. For any of you who are wondering what that means, in 1948 Chuck Jones created two cartoon characters, the Road Runner and his nemesis, Wile E. Coyote, who spends the next several decades trying to catch the Road Runner. Ok, now that you’re asleep, let’s get back to this car. The seller has this one listed here on eBay in Miami, Florida with a $1,500 asking price.
I’m a big fan of special editions and decal packages on vehicles. Whether they add horsepower or not, I just like unusual special editions, which the Road Runner basically was for Plymouth over the standard Volaré two-door coupe. The hood scoop isn’t something that should be there or would have normally be there from the factory but hey, what the heck, it’s your car, make it the way you want it.
In case you were wondering what this car would have looked like when it was new – here you go. I have to wonder if this example will ever look like that again, any thoughts on that? It looks pretty rough, to say the least. The F-body Road Runner was made from 1976 to 1980 and it was more of a trim package option than one with any real special or unusual performance features.
The interior would have been beautiful when it was new but this one has seen better days. The backseat looks like it could mostly be cleaned up but the two bucket seats in the front are worn and torn and there are cracks on the dash and other issues.
The engine is a 318 cubic-inch V8 which would have had 140 hp when new, and it’s backed up by a 727 automatic transmission with a column shift. The seller has owned it for eleven years and they haven’t had time to restore it so it’s now for sale. Are there any fans of these trim package Volaré-based Road Runners out there?
Such a shame! It looks as though the entire back quarter has terminal rust! This one had the sharp tri-color interior. The ad has been pulled from ebay.
Actually, there IS a cartoon of the Coyote finally getting the Road Runner. It’s by Seth MacFarlane, of Family Guy fame, who I think is a master of “observational humor”. It’s loaded with profanities, so I can’t post it, but you can look it up. It, like all MacFarlanes stuff, is hilarious.
The car? Even though it’s gone, it’s too far gone.
There is an actual WB cartoon in which Wile E. catches the RR, only problem is that due to movie magic the coyote has shrunk to about one inch tall.
Exasperated, he holds up a sign saying “OK wise guys, you always wanted me to catch him. Now what do I do?”
A challenge, yes. Too far gone, no. The wheels alone are worth $$$ in that condition.
$1400 for four 14 inch Rallye rims with no center caps or trim rings ? They arent everywhere, but not what I’d call rare.
This Volare body alone needs everything, and parts for these aren’t readily available . The 78 and 79 grilles are impossible to find ; they were weak when new . By the mid 1980s you couldn’t even buy a new one . The hardest interior color to find on these cars is black , and the Road Runners specific parts are unobtainium . The only real value here is the rear spoiler and rear louvers , at best this is a $500 parts car.
Rugged ? More like Ragged
Seems like a good bit of rust on the rear quarter panels, but if I remember right, they came from the factory that way.
I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure this would have had a 904 transmission , no need for a heavy duty transmission in a low horsepower poser
Hey Scotty – Your explanation of Wile E. Coyote for the younger generation, alone, is worth the price of admission. “Ok, now that you’re asleep…” I learned to drive on a ’78 Volare (wagon, wood grain, 318, 3sp manual with floor shifter!) so I have a soft spot for these much-maligned Plymouths. Thanks for giving this taped-up RR some love! Six comments already and no one has cussed out the Lean Burn System. 3, 2, 1…
Mopar guys are over swearing over the Lean Burn. We just replace it the way it should have been in the first place.
There’s a guy in southern Oklahoma has 2 of these cars…..both about this same condition and he thinks he’s sitting on GOLD!!!? lol..he’s not. I actually liked those when they were brand new tho. Sadly I had a cousin that was killed in an Orange Version back in the middle 80’s. He ran off the road into a concrete culvert and it’s transmission came up thru the floor.
The auction was ended early due to an error in the listing.