The seller located this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner squirreled away in the back of a body shop. It occupied that spot for many years, and they purchased it, planning to return it to its former glory. However, with two projects already in their cue, they feel it needs to find a new owner willing to do it justice. The Road Runner is listed here on eBay in Byron, Georgia. Although the bidding has raced to $14,300, it remains short of the reserve.
It isn’t unusual to see stalled restoration projects at Barn Finds. However, finding a car where the restoration had stalled twice before it gathered momentum is rarer. The original owner ordered this Road Runner in dazzling Vitamin C, but it needs some work to recapture its lost youth. The panels are generally straight, with only a few dings and marks. The car features the desirable N96 Air Grabber hood, although someone also added a Chrysler hood tach that I would probably “lose” during the build. Mopar vehicles from this era developed a reputation for rust that would consume floors and rails, but this car avoided that fate. There is the usual penetrating rust near the lower rear window corners and the bottoms of the rear quarter panels. However, the remaining lower body extremities only show a few small spots. The floors need some minor patches, but the rails are rock-solid. The trunk pan has enough rust to justify replacement. Most trim pieces and the glass look okay, and this Road Runner rolls on a set of Magnum 500 wheels.
The surprise packet with this Plymouth is its drivetrain. The company didn’t produce a genuinely slow Road Runner, with this car featuring the 383ci V8 that sent 335hp to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Since it is a genuine muscle car, its ability to demolish the ¼-mile in 14.7 seconds before winding to 132mph is unsurprising. For interested buyers considering the potential value of this classic, the news that it is numbers-matching is positive. The seller indicates the 383 wears a carburetor that started life on a Chevrolet 396, but that appears to be the only non-original component. There is no information on the car’s mechanical state, but if the engine turns freely, it may not take much effort to coax it back to life.
When it comes to the subject of interior requirements, it is easiest to say this Road Runner needs everything. It features a bench seat, ultra-cool pistol grip shifter, and a factory AM radio. The upholstered surfaces are toast, as is the dash pad. It would be fair to expect a similar story with the headliner, and there is no carpet. However, the interior is complete, providing a sound foundation for restoration. A trim kit would seem the most logical approach, adding around $2,500 to this build.
When this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner rolled off the line, the company knew that the era of the classic muscle car was drawing to a close. The writing was on the wall, courtesy of increasing insurance premiums and upcoming tighter emission laws. It took decades for manufacturers to regain the ground lost to dwindling engine power, explaining why these cars never lost their appeal in the classic community. Fully restored, this Plymouth would command a value of $45,000 in the current market. It has already received seventeen bids with time remaining on the auction. Are you tempted to submit a bid so you can take it home? If you do, I can hardly blame you.
It’s now at $24,000 and the reserve has been met. Going to a new home. Typical Mopar rust but easy fixing. It really hasn’t succumbed to the deep rust a lot of these go through. New bottom quarters are the worst of the issues and trunk pan. Underneath looks really good. Looks like it was a regular driver before it’s hibernation. Appears before it began sitting the engine was rebuilt. Personally check the motor and tranny out, go through and refresh it and you have a nice running muscle car. If the price stays in this range, I believe someone is getting a nice deal. I like it and it definitely has some great potential. Sad that people would put other projects ahead of this bad boy!!
The Cuda in the background looks like it was getting well deserved attention. The Roadrunner is Nice,but it’s not a Hemi Cuda.
Typical Mopar “rot bucket”!
Queue. Two projects already in the queue.
Just for future reference.
And to think, remember how many of these were hauled away as junk and crushed? By the early 80s, these were cheap paper weights that no one could give away. People were paying fortunes for CVCC Civics. Such a different world then. I recall at work using computer disc drives that were two feet around and thinking just how cutting edge it was. A car like this back then, in comparison, was a dinosaur who was extinct and needed to rot into the ground (as many of them did)
I love the post cars compared to the 2 door hardtops.yhis car has potential especially with an original drive line
When I see cars in this shape it always makes me wonder if it’s better to spend the money on one that’s ready to drive and show.
I think it depends on the new owner and these two questions; can they do most of the work themselves? Or, do they have to farm out a majority of the work? If you have the skills and the space, there is tremendous satisfaction and pride in bringing these cars back to their former glory. If not, then yeah, it’s much more fiscally prudent to buy a car that has been completed, and you’ll still get plenty of satisfaction and a swelling of pride driving these cars down the road.
Me, Like all who had 1968 or 1969 RRs. we wanted the 1970…
A shame. Especially, being stagnant in a body shop of all places. Sounds like a worthwhile project. The ONE thing n one wants to see on a RR is a ball hitch on the back…. just sayin’
Nice write up, cars is the way I like them This is going to sound funny, but we often used our muscle cars to pull our muscle boats. Back then they were just cars and not that many had both a car and a truck and a boat.
I sincerely hope someone knowledgeable buys this one, brings it back to life. And drives it.
Look at the dash, Flood car?? anyway, hope it gets saved.
Cheers
GPC
Not a flood car ; I really dont know why that comment pops up so much on this site – Its all cracked from sitting in the sun for many years, possibly all in Georgia. The dust is from sitting, and more likely from sitting in a body shop with the windows down
That looks like a Good Project. I would really like to find a 72 Plymouth Roadrunner.
“Mopar vehicles from this era developed a reputation for rust that would consume floors and rails ” – Another comment from a Mopar hater . When are we going to read up on a rough ’70 Camaro or Mustang with comments like it has the ” known reputation for severe rust ” ? The car is 52 years old , unless its been in Yuma Arizona its whole life, a car is going to have rust, less in some states, way more in others. There must be at least 20 Ford and Chevy posts a week showing a wasted away desirable car , but there’s never mention of them being known for bad rust, when its obvious that all cars do .
I am trying to locate where some of the best shops around the south east are located for restoring Mopars? I have a roadrunner that I am planning to get restored. Any information on shops that have an excellent reputation for during excellent work will be greatly appreciated.