Stalled Superbird Clone: 1970 Plymouth Road Runner

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Knowing a particular car will never again be a numbers-matching example leaves the playing field wide open, and that’s sort of where we begin here with this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner here on eBay.  I would love to have seen the before pictures of exactly what this car looked like when the seller first acquired it, but fast forward to the present and dismantling is in progress, so it will be up to the next owner to decide how to put things back together.  Fortunately for the buyer, lots of structural repairs have already been completed, so if you’re looking for a B-Body project this one’s already had a decent head start.  The Mopar is located in Indiana, not the state but the city of Indiana in Pennsylvania, where bidding has gotten up to $10,200 so far.

The story here goes that the seller planned on converting the Road Runner into a Superbird.  I’m guessing we’ve all heard chatter among Mopar fans about their fantasy to take on such an endeavor, but this guy actually seemed serious at one time about seeing it through, as he went so far as to sell the front clip after it was removed.  He doesn’t tell us why he gave up on the idea, but this is no quick and easy task, although there are affordable kits available such as this one from 2040 Parts if you’re looking for some of the basic prefabricated parts.  Just be aware that it’s not complete, and doesn’t include every component needed such as the modified Coronet front fenders, although the company claims to have an additional inventory of needed pieces but they’re sold separately.

What’s not immediately evident is how much new metal is already in place, with new floor pans and trunk steel installed, along with the tail panel and trunk extensions.  Make no mistake, there’s still plenty left to do regardless of which direction the next owner chooses to go in, but I’m sort of a fan of starting at the bottom and working my way up.  In a way, I’d kind of like to see this Road Runner returned to how it once appeared with those cool dust trails along the side put back on the finished car, an option that was only available in ’70.  On the other hand, who wouldn’t like to be driving a Superbird look-alike that didn’t deplete their retirement savings?

We don’t get a specific shot of the interior, but a lot of it has been taken out, with the seats sitting outside and currently functioning as a bathroom for birds.  The original 383 is gone, but a good running 440 will be provided plus a TorqueFlite, and with the rear end still intact you’ll be starting with a complete drivetrain right off the bat, though the same can’t be said for the front clip.  What to do here folks?  Continue the Superbird vision or go the Road Runner route?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. space GREGORY POLLACK

    I would like to see the roadrunner put back to a more original state myself.
    I have a bunch of mopar parts available

    Like 13
  2. Dr Ron

    The seller realized that he was going to have to go a lot deeper and many of us have been there and done that.

    The market (never mind the cost) would have still been friendly to this Bird with a non matching engine. We dropped a late model salvage 5.7 Hemi into a mundane ‘71 Barracuda with a missing 318 and it was a very happy ending and may have even increased its value.

    It would appear that other than the Dog House the most difficult part of the proposed transformation (The Super Bird rear window) was already done…

    Good luck to the prospective buyer.

    Like 4
  3. BajaPFEMember

    Begging for an epic restomod.

    Like 1
  4. Geoff C

    Back to Road Runner original would be my own preference.

    Like 3
  5. jeffrey

    back to a road runner if anybody wants to clone one use a satellite not a real road runner and what i don’t understand is the prices asked for clones i have a real 242 66 gto and it needed some work nothing crazy and i see lemans clones for a ton more then i payed for mine you could buy one do what was needed have a real one and money left over

    Like 3
    • Phillip Anthony Cifuentes

      No way cloned anything. I’d make it a old school GASSER.

      Like 1

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