One of the good things about the Plymouth Road Runner in the vintage muscle marketplace is that the desirability of these cars isn’t really showing any signs of letting up, with even the lower condition examples seeming to have no problems attracting a buyer. And that’s understandable, as Plymouth nailed it back in the sixties when they set out to create a car most buyers could afford that combined a hefty engine with an appearance the younger generation would gravitate toward. If you’re in the market for an example that probably won’t initially deplete your bank account, this 1968 Plymouth Road Runner here on eBay might be a decent candidate, but you’d better have a strong set of both mechanical and metal skills before deciding to take this one on as a project. This B-Body is located in Perry Hall, Maryland, near Baltimore, with bidding only up to $2,750 so far, but the bad news is the reserve has not yet been met.
Even if the car sells for a reasonably low price, this one’s gonna take some time, effort, and plenty of green to get going again, and it’s certainly not an undertaking for the beginner. On the other hand, if you’ve got the expertise and patience to DIY, owning an operable late-sixties Road Runner down the road is a goal that may be worth pursuing here. The seller says the car has most of the usual B-Body rust, and it looks like an attempt was already made to replace the passenger side quarter panel, although it appears there may be some additional work needed here. We get only limited shots of the driver’s side, but that quarter has also been torched-off and the door removed.
We also don’t get any information as to the car’s background or how long the seller has owned it, but it doesn’t appear that the Road Runner has moved on its own accord in quite some time, and taking a peek inside shows components that look like they’ve been exposed to the elements for awhile. The owner says a new front floor panel will be included with the sale, along with a new windshield and rear glass. The VIN and fender tag are both still present, plus there’s a clear title, so at least getting it registered won’t be a problem if you ever get that far.
The engine is claimed to be numbers-matching, a high-performance 383 according to the H in the VIN, and even though I was initially kind of expecting it to still be under the hood that would be incorrect, as the motor is out of the car and sitting on the ground. Half of it’s covered and a few parts are MIA on the side we can view, but if you’re a stickler for having the original block, here’s your starting point. The trans is not original and no word on its condition. Is this a viable Road Runner project? Any thoughts about inquiring about the red fuselage-style B-Body in the background?
When I read the description in the eBay section it said.. needs work. I laughed a bit . Major work and lots of cash. Yes it’s a RM23H8 real deal Road Runner. Question is how far will someone go for the winning bid? Then get it to the shop and take it apart to be send out for a dip in the tank. It’s going to need plenty of new metal. Then the 383 needs complete rebuild as long nothing is cracked. It’s a shame. Muscle cars from my youth are getting harder to find. Good to the next owner. 🇺🇸🐻🇺🇸
‘Guys, it’s time to let one of my projects go’. Does this guy have some sort of pool going where the first to rust out wins? It’s hard to say if a 383 Roadrunner with a non-original transmission is worth saving. A fender tag or three would make it easier to determine. Problem with this market is … those who had to have them when they were 18 are over 70 now… Market is moving to the 70’s and 80’s.
Someone in their 70s couldn’t handle this car in running condition. Most of us are not what we once were. Time to forget reliving your youth and accept what is soon coming. Take all that money destine for a car that you can’t safely drive and give it to a grandchild to go to college. That will leave a legacy that something as silly as this never could. My wife and I went without many of the things we lusted over to put three kids through college, but today we have two doctors and an architect in the family. People who can support themselves and contribute to society. Sometimes being selfless is the way to go.
I’ll take the classic car, thanks. And I’ll try and ” handle” it.
Age really sucks, I’m 65 and the day I can’t put the pedal to the floor to spank some young punk and his rice burner, that’s when I’ll park it. Right now I’m driving a 23 t-bucket pushing 550 hp with a total weight of 1830 lbs, so you want to talk about a wild ride. WeeeeeHaw 👍
What is wrong with a person working their way thru college? My brother was a doctor and sold cars at a ford dealership while going to medical school. I accept what is coming but am going to have as much fun as possible until then.
Gary, when was that, 1980? College has gotten crazy expensive. The old arguments do not work today. There was a time when you could work at McDonalds during summer breaks only and pay for tuition, room and board on that. Those days are long gone. Besides, being a car salesman is not really back breaking work. Mostly boredom, and between rare customers, plenty of time to study. Most people do not have a job like that. My job in college was being a farm hand, not easy, but I did end up with the farmers’ daughter, so that did have some perks. Steve P, driving something like that makes you sound senile. Are you trying for an early grave? BTW, todays “rice burners” for the most part would tromp on any muscle car of our era. Progress baby!
Walrus, as someone who works in the industry daily, I promise you those 70s and 80s guys have turned into 40s and 50s guys who are buying for investment potential. Regardless MOPAR SELLS and will continue to sell, and draw BIG dollars now and in the future!. Who would want an 80s car (pieces of junk) when you can have a BIG BLOCK, from the true muscle car era!
VIN, fender tag and clean title. What else do you need?
cha-ching!
What Grant said. I turn 67 in a few days. Can still drive my 50 year old 4 speed Corvette with ease. Why? Because my great and beautiful wife cooks only healthy food. We go to the gym 3 times a week. I still do physical labor and don’t smoke or drink. It’s that simple. But my focus now is on helping our grandkids because with that out if control spend thrift in the White House, well the word Titantic comes to mind.
The ad said the guy selling it had it for a year, it ended at $4000 and the reserve wasn’t meet, I’ll bet it will be relisted sometime soon.
Twenty years ago this would have been a $500-1000 car. Heck I still wouldn’t pay that for it.
Disagree, At the time it was crazy expensive for what he was making. If someone wants a college education bad enough they will make it work, he was motivated to do so because our dad was a janitor and he did not want that life. If they work for it they will appreciate it more, not saying your children didn’t but that is generally the case. He did that job because of flexibility with his schedule.
Gary, the world is different than in our time, much crueler. Because our kids could devote full time to studying, they were top in most of what they did, that made getting into very competitive graduate schools easier. In my day, school was much cheaper in general, so the little I did work, it was easy to fit it in to my studies. Even as a foreign national student, it wasn’t too bad of a tab (though I did have some academic scholarship). If someone works full time in a factory and can handle a full academic load, good for them, but I truly doubt for most STEM programs that could be accomplished. The stress on a person, plus the competition from others would soon leave you behind. I feel that to have the money to at least help out your children in this way, and then spend it on something so selfish shows quite poor character. I read every day of young people starting life with 50-100 grand in school debt, though I see many a middle aged person with a brand new 75K pickup truck. What does that tell your child about you? Okay, don’t pay for it all, they need some skin in the game, pay for half. There, a reasonable compromise, something that is so very lacking for so many things in our country.
Here’s an idea! Don’t go to college. Use your brain and get paid to learn a trade. Start when your 18, and by the time your 28? You can buy yourself a sweet rice burner, or classic muscle car, or self driving pod that runs on sunshine. And a house. Then, later, you can help mom and dad out, in their golden years. What a concept!
Big C, you are right about learning a trade. Except for a few of the advanced degrees, college is not always the answer. Too many young people are talked into it when in reality, maybe being a carpenter, or plumber, or electrician would have been a better fit. When I see what I pay for a mechanic to fix my computerised car, or a plumber, and many other things, it becomes apparent that these are worthwhile professions. In Europe in many places, where education is mostly government paid for, they encourage the trades, but they make sure they only pay for what is needed. Too many plumbers chasing too few jobs, and they won’t pay for so many to get schooling for that, at least for a year or two. Same with doctors and nurses. Education here has become a profit making enterprise over helping young people. To often we have a boom and bust situation. There are certain parts of the country where right now we have too many nurses chasing too few jobs, that is because a dozen years ago everyone kept pushing that and schools all bumped up tuition related to demand and expanded, but now there is a glut of them. We need a little more central planning for our economy like they do in Germany, where I hear, they al seem to do very well.
Correct Big C help mom and dad in their golden years, they do not owe you a college education, they have raised you and done without I agree with you 100%
Motor has A/C compresser!!! Not correct motor for car. No vents in dash…
I don’t think the current owner could have screwed this car up any more than he has here. Why cut off the quarter panel if you don’t have a new one to weld in? Why remove the engine then leave it sitting out in the open? This sounds like something my brother in law would do!