Despite an all-new design in 1971, Plymouth Road Runner sales continued a decline that had started the year before. Reduced demand in 1970 could be attributed to it being a three-year-old design with light sheet metal changes, but the 1971 B-bodies were new from the ground up. The reality was that muscle car demand was fading due to market saturation and rising insurance premiums on performance cars. The seller offers a nice-looking ’71 Road Runner, but it has its share of problems that the next owner will need to address.
Plymouth built 43,000 Road Runners in 1970, which was down from the 1969 peak of 84,000. But the company probably wasn’t expecting to sell only 13,600 copies in 1971. The 383 cubic inch V8 was still the most often-selected motor, and the 340 small block was now available in the Road Runner for the first time. The 440 6-pack and 426 Hemi were still offered but had few takers. The seller’s car decodes as having a 383 when it left the factory 53 years ago. That powerplant has been rebuilt but now has an oil blowby issue.
This Mopar is finished in Curious Yellow paint which looks more like green in some photos. But it’s not perfect and the right front fender was damaged when a tire exploded as it was being pulled out of the garage (freaky). The rubber donuts have since been replaced at all four corners with new Coker tires having no miles on them. The seller bought this car 20 years ago from a seller in Canada, but a string of complications with the Ohio DMV prevented the seller from getting a title in his/her name. So, it will be sold with a bill of sale. Interested parties should read through the seller’s description of those hassles.
The interior presents well, but some work may be needed, and parts and pieces will come with the car. This Plymouth comes with the desirable N96 Grabber hood. If you like this era of Plymouth muscle cars and don’t mind an unfinished project, could this Road Runner be in your future? It’s in Ravenna, Ohio, and is available here on eBay where just one bid a penny shy of $20,000 has been cast.
Now that’s a sad story and certainly one of the reasons buying from eBay, especially from another country, is problematic. That the government makes YOU pay for the legwork to prove to THEM that a vehicle isn’t stolen makes one question what we pay taxes for. Gotta love this guy’s honesty in telling his story and it makes me feel for him. What a waste. Nice car but I question whether the title hassles would be worth the money.
In WV a car without a title is toast especially from Ohio where evrything but your peg leg has to be notorized.
I live in Pittsburgh, so I know what a challenge it can be to work with the DMV. My first classic plate application for my 1968 Mustang was rejected because the car had radial tires. I re-applied and included documentation from the 1968 Mustang brochure that proved radial tires were an option, and the DMV approved.
It seems odd that PA would balk at the N96 hood, because they’re a common sight on Mopars at local shows and cruises. Even so, it seems like the easiest path to a valid title would have been to temporarily replace the Air Grabber with a flat hood.
Always loved these cars. The HIP color and tank tracks across the roof showed Chrysler’s commitment to nonconformity. If you can straighten out the paperwork and the blow by problem you have a great looking car to cruise.
Bureaucrats trying to justify their existence.
I was never a muscle car fan in high school, but the parking lot at my school was full of first gen Roadrunners (and Camaros, 442s, etc). I thought the original body style was the best- it had an aggressive look, but simple. Purpose built to go fast with no frills. A popular look was to jack up the back and install really wide tires (great for after school burn outs). After the first two years, they got watered down and resulted in this, which to me (paint color aside) looks like any other car of this era.
My personal Eleanor. Twice I’ve tried to buy ’71 roadrunners over the years, a sassy grass 383 car and a triple black 440-6. Didn’t get the deal done on either one. Of course now I know I could’ve doubled my offers and come out waaaay ahead.
I live in Ohjo and can tell you firsthand our DMVs can be a real pain to deal with. I was denied a title transfer twice after waiting an hour or so each time, at my local DMV, because the seller, (former co-worker of mine a gal I’d known for ten plus years), didn’t fill out the paperwork correctly. She lived in Union County while I live in Franklin County. I was given a form and told that “She needs to fill this out”. She was moving to Texas and my time was running out. I drove out to her place, picked her up and went to the Union Co DMV. I showed the clerk the blank form and she said “I don’t need that” I’m like “so the rules are different between Franklin Co and Union Co?” She said “Yep”. I was in and out in ten minutes.
I find PennDOT’s rejection of the Air Grabber quite curious. Back in 1971 they had no problem with them. The only factory option that Pennsylvania had an issue with back in that era was rear window louvers, and even that wouldn’t keep a car from being titled; it would just fail state inspection until they were removed.
The only thing that I find curious (no pun intended, given the color on this car) is the chromed bumper on the front but a body colored bumper on the rear. My memory may not be what it was fifty-three years ago and I could certainly be wrong, but my recollection is that elastomeric bumpers were an all-or-nothing proposition, not an option at each end of the car.
Seller states: “Back bumper came painted which I’m not crazy about but figured the decals would be an improvement. “
I have imported two vehicles from Canada, Canada only has registrations for vehicles, no titles. There are 4 forms to fill out with most items “not applicable” for vehicles over 25 years old. Can get these on line, no problem. You can use a broker or bring it across the border yourself like I have. They are very helpful at the border, no issues, and it doesn’t cost anything. You must get those 4 forms red stamped at border because your local DMV will need those to provide title, following a VIN check, it’s really that simple. Good day, all.
Given my last experience crossing the boarder between Nova Scotia and Maine I would not call anything having to do with these folks to be easy or cooperative. At 57 years old (at the time) I don’t pick fights or mouth off, but the nonsense I had to put up with was impressive. Maybe you were dealing with Canadians to get the paperwork.