Tall Order: 1970 Plymouth Road Runner

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The seller of this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner begins by telling us what the car has going for it, and that’s the fact that it comes with its original numbers-matching engine and transmission.  Unfortunately, as hard as I’m trying to see things more positively, that may be where the best news ends.  But if you’ve always wanted a first-generation Road Runner and possess a strong set of body and mechanical skills, maybe you can return this bird back to its former glory.  The B-Body is near the east coast of Florida in Sebastian and can be spotted here on eBay, where bidding is currently at $7,600 but still shy of the reserve.

In addition to some rust issues going on, this one got kind of crumpled from the back at some point in time, and other than maybe the trunk lid it looks like very little is going to be salvageable from the bottom of the rear glass to the back bumper.  It’s kind of hard to tell about the doors and front fenders, but upon first glance, they appear to be in better shape than the quarters, so perhaps these will all be repairable.  There’s some corrosion on the front too, and it looks like the car may have lightly tapped something from up there as well.

The interior isn’t looking a whole lot more promising, with the front seat pretty much in ruins and the back seat not having fared a whole lot better.  The headliner is MIA and the dash is showing a considerable amount of cracking, and it looks like the gauge faces may have faded, or maybe that’s just the camera angle.  This one seems to need a complete refresh inside, plus the seller also says the floor is going to need to be replaced, along with the trunk pan.  The frame rails are said to be solid, although we don’t get to see them.

In the good news department, the numbers-matching 383 comes with the sale, but it’s no longer under the hood.  It’s been disassembled and the seller says the motor is ready to be sent out, for an overhaul I assume.  The 4-Speed is also the original part and is said to have been rebuilt by Action Transmission in Florida, so maybe it’s ready to go if the next owner gets that far.  This one seems like a colossal project in my opinion- what do you think?

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Comments

  1. 8banger 8bangerMember

    Ugh.

    Like 14
  2. JACKinNWPA JACKinNWPAMember

    If I found that in my garage it would end up being a Superbird clone, at least I would keep the original color!

    Like 6
  3. Ike Onick

    Part it out. “We gotta move these refrigerators”

    Like 9
    • chuck

      We gotta move these color TV’s.

      Like 5
      • Johnny Cuda

        Money for nuthin”!

        Like 5
  4. Bamapoppy

    To get this one restored the question to ask the mechanic is, how many zeros do you want on this check?

    Like 13
    • The Other Chris

      Answer: “All the zeros.”

      Like 6
  5. Big Bear 🇺🇸

    A fool and his money will soon depart! This is a hopeless case. We seen too many Mopars look like this. People in our country must have very deep pockets! Heavy pass on this! 🇺🇸🐻🇺🇸

    Like 12
    • Michael Berkemeier

      Where are the fool and his money going, lol? I think you meant…”A fool and his money are soon parted.”

      Like 7
    • bone

      You see them because they get posted more ; there’s just as many trashed Camaros and Mustangs going for big money – probably more actually as they made more of them .

      Like 3
  6. Grant

    It was not so long ago, a car that looked liked this went to the junk yard, was stripped of a few parts, and soon crushed. It should be that way again.

    Like 11
  7. Oldschool Muscle

    pull what you cant buy and crush it .Money would be well spent with a better candidate.

    Like 7
  8. Yblocker

    And yet another Mighty Mopar awaiting a proper burial. It’s on life support, time to pull the plug.

    Like 8
    • Pat P.

      Are you crazy? It’s a Mopar!

      Like 1
  9. Maggy

    East coast rot bucket.I’m sure ocean salt has been in every nook and cranny for decades, the front bumper is even rotted thru.Parts car the mechanics of it and not muck else imo.If I was the seller I’d be ecstatic to get 7600 for this.

    Like 7
    • John

      Yep, grew up in Indian Harbor Beach back when these were new. I watched two Mopars that I remembered specifically that literally melted down into rusted hulks. What I don’t see on this vehicle is the rust stains cascading down the sides of the cars from every edge and crevice. I’d bet they washed the paint in some rust remover to get it looking this good.
      “Reserve Not Met”, LOL!

      Like 4
  10. Chasbro

    p o s

    Like 2
  11. Bob

    VIN tags!

    Like 2
  12. Brian K.

    Basket case.

    Like 2
  13. jim

    Hmmm 1970 Plymouth roadgrader

    Like 2
  14. Erik Morris

    Nancy Reagan said it best….”Just say no”.

    Like 5
  15. John Jasper

    Best thing would be to pull the hood and deck lid and scrap the rest and look for another body.

    Like 0
  16. Bill

    Just a Shame

    Like 0
  17. Pops in TX

    Mold a truck bed into that rear area n make it a cool every day fishing truck

    Like 2
  18. George Mattar

    These rusted 50 years ago. I had one. Sad, but time to make it a Kia. That’s where it will end up. Seems like some hillbilly hit the lottery to bid on this scrap.

    Like 1

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