Just Kidding: 1970 Plymouth Road Runner
Thanks to reader Patrick S for finding this amusing listing here on eBay. Things in Redlands, California seem to have taken an amusing turn. Seldom do we see the state of oxidation described by comparing it to flatulence resulting from popcorn. It doesn’t run, does not have the original engine and transmission but it’s not very rusty. The thing some will find most amusing is the $28,000 asking price.
Much of the original interior is still present. Some of the original upholstery might have even survived under the diamond pattern seat covers. There’s no sign of daylight through the floors and the proper number of pedals are visible.
Here’s the nonoriginal engine. It appears to have the original air cleaner for the 6 pack and even sports the original decal. There’s no word on what engine this might be, although it looks like a 440. All we can tell from the description is that it does not match and does run.
This Road Runner is not a pretty sight from here either. Hopefully, the rust doesn’t go too far up into the quarter panels. This may be a solid car, but it is not a numbers matching car. For the right price, it could be a nice driver. How much do you think a buyer will be willing to pay for this car?
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Comments
I about wet myself reading that listing. Guy’s got a sense of humor for sure.
He had me at Maypop tires
Lol! Pipe dreams!! $5k tops
That’s funny. It’s not 1984. The air grabber assembly and hood should get close to that.
Steve R
Not to mention the $2,500 trac pac dana and oh yeah, the super solid B-Body hardtop body and the $1,000 aircleaner. Not sure if the six pack is there, but that’s more value if it is. I think he will get his $28k or at least close. V-code = Value.
I bought a 1970 in the fall of 1977, seems to me I paid $1050 for it and thought it was highway robbery. Of course, had to have it, so that was that. Wish I hadn’t paid to have it crushed in 1981 after the second tranny went bad and I needed to finish college more then repairing the car. These prices are nuts. Wouldn’t mind owning another one for nostalgia sake, but you are right, no more then 5K, and it would have to be a lot nicer then this.
The attached photo of this ’69 Road Runner is not mine, but looks identical to the one I used to own. It was A4 silver, 383/727, posi-rear, air grabber intake, deluxe bucket seat interior, etc. A luxo-barge that was a great car at the time. It only had one issue, had a hard time NOT passing a gas station.
I paid the princely price of $1995.00 for it in 1970 from a local VW dealer. Should I have kept in stored away? Of course, but back then it was JUST ANOTHER CAR. Who would have ever thought they would be worth the insane money they’re getting for them now. I also passed up a ’70 HEMI, automatic Cuda convertible. Why, because it was an ugly green color with a black top and a black and white hounds tooth interior. I was working for a GM dealer at the time (1974) and they had a heck of a time trying to sell it for around $4500.00! Between the cost of insurance and gas, not many takers, me included. MY bad.
Not a Mopar guy, but aren’t restored ones over 100K? I don’t think the guy is that far out in left field with his asking price. A first day of production car, originally 440 equipped, with a replacement 440 and not much rust. Make him an offer.
Big money is being brought by original cars.
Restored cars always beg the question as to who restored it and what quality was put into parts and labor.
Restored cars don’t bring as much as original cars.
$12,000 tops in that condition if it was running, which it isn’t.
Car is going to need everything, the seller ought to not try and make money off the car as if he’d had any monetary investment in the future restoration.
Back in 1987, Cars Magazine took basically this same car, albeit with its original 383, and did a “12.9 for $1,299” series of articles. They got there by removing the interior and performing all kinds of other indignities to the poor wretched thing that would be considered sacrilege now.
That’s about what I’d pay for this. I’m sure the 440 six pack isn’t original and restored run of the mill 383 ‘Birds are probably 30k tops, on a good day. You’d be upside down in no time.
That was one of the best car buff magazines back then, glad someone remembers it.
Yup, great read from another era. I’d love to get Tony DeFeo’s take on today’s ridiculous muscle car hobby. He’d laugh his ass off.
Haha, yeah, Tony is working on my ’73 Duster, I’ll ask him this week! :)
Interesting. A serious buyer should talk to the man and make an offer. this one has a lot of goodies. I’d run it without painting. Good luck to the prospective buyer, Think this is a sleeper if it really is as solid as he says. While the description is funny, would like to have seen a more detailed description.
I don’t know where these crazy prices come from–certainly not from the car. I think a person would be lucky to get $7000 here. If those hideous seat covers were removed and incinerated, the value of the car might double!!!!!!!
A real V-code 440 six pack Road Runner with little rust and what looks to be a complete air grabber set up is worth only $7,000 if they are lucky. Really?
Steve R
To those uninformed :) An almost rust free body alone is worth a premium add the V code, 4 spd build sheets and
Jackpot. My two “Sense”
Looks an awful lot like the Hot Rod Garage building. Same area as well.
You guys are smoking crack. Except for the superficial rusting, the car appears to be intact. Dated motor and tranny, about 30-40 grand max in body work and incidentals and you have a low mileage 440/6. The parts alone are close to, if not more then his asking price.
Classcars.com has 3 440 6 packs in great shape. None of them is over 40000. This is a 10000 dollar car at best.
Yes, gas monkey Garage, and other shows, have turned many non car guys into finders of Classics, now, you can just jump on to the latest craze and buy and sell… I was a Ford guy, in the 80’s had a few big block Torino’s, sold the last Torino Cobra in 2004 for $21,000 guy sold in last year for $82,000 I paid $1500 in 1986…Who knew!!!
You cannot tell what engine that is by looking at it from the outside you have to go into it to tell what size it is the Crank & Rods will tell the true identity of it whether it is a 383 400 440 Mag.440 wedge yes I know about my engines I’ve worked at engine rebuilding shops & have seen basically all of them at one time or the other OH I’m not a Chrysler fan but do have respect for them I’m a true G.M. fan or British German too these are the autos I like
all you have to do is clean the little flat spot on the front of the block and it is stamped 440 . This is a 440 engine
it is definitely an RB block however it could also be a 413 or pre hemi 426
Mopar prices are crazy. So it may be worth close to that.
But I would be suprised if that floor isn’t full of holes when you start cleaning it up.
Just a small point. I don’t know about ’70 RRs, but my ’69 383 RR had the same air cleaner as part of the “Coyote Duster” option. So it may not be indicative of a 440 being the original engine or that it is original to this car.
The VIN shows that it is an original 440 6 pack car. The N96 on the fender tag shows air grabber.
Steve R
Maybe it comes with a fully restored car for spares, :)
Anybody pays more than 5 grand for that’s got to have rocks in their head
Apparently because of this “So fast the original engine and trans drove off in another vehicle” they chained this engine to the frame.
lol
i chained my motors down whenever i blew my left side mounts.money was sparse when i was street racing as a punk.
@stanley kwiecinski – A chain on the left side solved most motor mount problems.
David Frank….stick to write up’s on GM’s or Ford’s please.
And RoKo – make that offer….and FYI – if you couldn’t see – it doesn’t need a grille.
Solid rare builder there….did it say B5 blue ?
Hey David Frank, please keep writing about all vehicles. I really do enjoy your write-ups and appreciate you devoting all the time you put into each one.
This barn find is a mess.Great value if you can buy it by the POUND!!! Lol.
some non OEM screws holding the data plate on. That always makes me wonder if something is up. Seems to have enough other supporting data however
I’m curious as to why the fender tag appears to have been recently removed and sandblasted. Maybe it’s a repop with enhanced option codes.
I’ve had 3 440 Six Packs and one 340 Six Pack(AAR ‘Cuda). My first was a Green 1970 R/T Coronet 4-speed. Then a Black/Black 1970 ‘Cuda 4-Speed. My last one was a turbo-rare 1971 Super Bee, red/back, Air Grabber, Wing Package, Super Trac-Pac, and ALLIGATOR vinyl roof (with matching, black anodized, acid-etched – to match the vinyl – stainless trim). The ultra-rarity was the documented fact that it was a genuine Mr. Norm’s Dodge.
This Road Runner is one of my bucket list cars. Time ran out on being able to grab these for $1500 with the original driveline before I got around to one.
Price seems about right…
Too bad.
Sigh.
This forum is the best. Your comments and observations are obviously high-octane and maybe the ones written later in the day infused with ethanol. I’m right there with you. Don’t stop. I am amazed and impressed daily with the knowledge and information I derive from this site.
The air cleaner looks better than anything else under the hood. They did use the same top for the 4 barrel as the 6 pack, just a different base plate.The 70 should have had a small round top for a 4 barrel and the large top for a 6 pack, still have to wonder whats under there…..