Mysterious is the word that comes to mind when it comes to this 1972 Plymouth Satellite, whoops I mean Road Runner. The seller doesn’t have a lot to say about this car, other than it currently presents as a Road Runner and is an “excellent Satellite conversion”. In all fairness, it does look pretty cool and seems impossible to not be a blast to drive. If this looks like a B-body that might be of interest to you, it is located in Cambridge, Minnesota, and can be found here on Craigslist with an asking price of $21,000. Many thanks to Pat L. for the tip on this one.
The thing the seller talks about the most is the drivetrain, which includes a 440 motor. There is no mention of a VIN tag, and Plymouth did not offer a 440 in the 1972 Satellite, so this is obviously not the original engine. There’s also no mention of how well this 440 runs, its origin, or any other details. The car is also equipped with a 727 TorqueFlite automatic mated to 3.91 gears in the rear. Under the hood, it does have an aftermarket MSD ignition on the firewall, and the much loved Voice Of The Road Runner horn near the radiator.
The car is said to be rust-free, but other than this the only other exclamation is that it is a “beautiful car”. The condition is checked as “like new” on the Craigslist box, with mileage typed in at 67,934. Looking at the exterior photos, the body does look like it is in really nice shape, and although we don’t know any specific details about the paint it does seem to present well. It does kind of baffle me that the owner didn’t drive the car down to the local car wash and at least hose it off before taking the photos. Inside, we have a green interior with a bench seat, which has a cover over the driver’s part so we don’t know if it’s there for preservation or if it is covering up something. Again a quick cleaning and a 10-minute vacuum would have done wonders for the inside appearance.
Overall this does seem to be a pretty decent attempt at making a Satellite into a Road Runner clone, maybe not the best ever but for a driver quality car it’s a valiant effort. I think the seller may be a bit optimistic in checking the like-new box, but for what you’re getting here $21,000 seems in the ballpark of a reasonable price to pay, especially if it runs and drives as good as it looks. What are your thoughts on this 1972 Satellite/Road Runner?
I’d want to know what year the engine was. The HP of the 1975 Police motor was a whopping 205. A typical 1969 440 had about 280.
It appears that all the pollution junk is gone if it were a newer motor, so the numbers would be higher if that’s the case. Don’t forget, you’re talking 205 hp in sae net ratings. In gross ratings, it would be considerably more.
The E86 440 motor made from 1975 to 1978 was rated at 255 net hp as I recall. Even had full dual exhausts. Around 190 RWHP.
The early 70s E86 was rated at 375 net hp and made around 305 RWHP.
My 2020 300S 5.7L (345 ci) makes around 375 net hp (on premium fuel) for about 320 RWHP due to increased drivetrain/accessory efficiencies.
I don’t find this converted Satellite appealing – good luck with the sale.
A 69 -440 engine had 350 horsepower. A 383 engine had 335 horsepower.
a 1969 440 was rated at 350-375 HP.
20K and rust free? In today’s market that’s quite a deal.
As much as I like 2nd generation Chargers this “Road Runner” can be restored, actually restomodded, without replacing every square inch of sheet metal. 20K only seems to buy you a ton of ferrous oxide that has the silhouette of an automobile if you’re Charger shopping.
“Rust free” in Minnesota? Hmmmm.
Anyone truly interested should check this car out well.
I bought a low mileage 2004 Mercury Marauder a few years back that spent its entire life in Michigan. 2 owner – never driven in winter and always garaged. Seller was correct – no rust.
I NEVER send money in advance and always pay by bank check. I NEVER buy a car sight unseen – if not as advertised, I’m gone. I’d rather waste a trip than buy a ‘money pit’.
Joe Sewell, you are correct, of course. I know someone who was too lazy to drive to the next state over to inspect a car. When he got it it was way worse than described and he never got the project completed. I think that happens often.
The ad says it’s a Washington state car
Looks like a runner with that 440, quarter stick shifter and all. The white paint and black decals look cool, but the green interior doesnt jive well with paint, in my dumb opinion. Seems like a deal.
It might be OK for what it is as long as the buyer understands that he is not getting a real Road Runner. In 1971 when Chrysler went to the new body style they also softened up the suspension and K frame to give a more “luxurious” ride. Parts are available to firm it up but the seller doesn’t indicate that was done. IMO, you could put a million bucks into a Satellite and it will never be a Road Runner.
Chrysler “softened” the suspension in ’73, not ’71.
Mike, if that is the case, then I stand corrected. Thank you.
#1: This is a Satellite Sebring. Period.
It has been only partly “cloned” into something resembling a Road Runner.
The list of differences is too long to go into here.
As it is, it appears to be a solid, un-rusted base to either restore to being a Satellite or to go forward with a full clone job. But the VIN can never be changed to make it a true Runner (that’s highly illegal.)
We know nothing about that 440 except that it has an Edelbrock manifold and a year-correct air cleaner that has an extra decal off a Dodge (the top one we can’t see well) — so any more is a pure guess…it could be an otherwise stock late ’70s smog engine, it could be a stock 1967, it could be all built-up inside for 500hp, it could be blown-up and in need of total rebuilding…we don’t know. We DO know that NO Mopars had their engine bays bombed in black by the factory unless the whole car was black, and that aftermarket shifter required some hacking….so the likelihood that this car is a messy hack job by a non-Moparian owner is high.
That said, the ’72 is desirable year, a great body, the last year before the suspension and K-member were changed to improve ride, and it looks to not be rusty and the interior is decent. But there are so many questions. SO…
So as is, this thing isn’t worth more than 10,000.
Of nkte, someone memtioned Minnesota however the car is plated for Washington State so that could assist in the cars rust free claim, but also makes one go hhhmmm with regards to the title, et al.
Id prefer it if it was just a Satellite.
With that instrument panel, it almost looks like a Two-door Taxi Cab!!! Come on, get with the program a real Road Runner would have a Rallye Instrument Cluster. Such an injustice!!!!
a 1969 440 was rated at 350-375 HP.
I’m not onboard with “excellent conversion.” There is a bunch wrong; i.e., the horn is there — a repop, no doubt — but it’s in the wrong place, and no RR of that body-style ever had a non-rallye dash. All that’s been “converted” is just a few badges and stickers. But if it’s truly rust free, the price is probably a reasonably fair starting point. Although if I was the seller I wouldn’t walk away from 15.
I don’t care for the wing on the trunk, but the stripes and “PLYMOUTH” letters on the quarter panels look pretty cool.