One-Owner Muscle Project: 1974 Plymouth Road Runner
The dynamics of the muscle car market changed from the 1960s to the 1970s. To gauge the impact all you have to look at Plymouth Road Runner sales. From a peak of 82,300 units in 1969, output fell to barely 11,500 copies in 1974. Rising insurance premiums and fuel prices were the main culprits at work. This ’74 Road Runner is said to be a one-owner car and may have its original 400 cubic inch V8, but it’s been idle for some time with engine parts missing. You can find it in Brooklyn, New York, and it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,000.
A hot ticket from 1968 to 1970, the Plymouth Road Runner (and the rest of Chrysler’s B-bodied cars) was redesigned in 1971. Two years later, the styling was refreshed, and the 1973 and 1974 editions were practically identical except for stronger bumpers. Much of the “muscle” in the muscle car was gone, with a 318 cubic inch V8 being standard equipment in the rather large automobile, though it did now have dual exhaust for a few more horses. The car was also a little plusher now compared to the rather basic 1968s.
The seller’s car has the E68 400 cubic inch V8 which replaced the 383. It produced 260 hp SAE net. It has an automatic transmission though the 4-speed hadn’t disappeared yet. You could still get the 440 motor, but fewer and fewer were being offered, especially after the late 1973 OPEC oil embargo drove up fuel prices for these gas guzzlers.
We’re told very little about the Mopar here. It’s a one-owner and we guess that the said owner gave up on it years ago. The red paint (original or not) is badly faded, you’ll find rust in some of the photos, and pieces of the engine have been removed, such as the carburetor and fan. It’s clearly a project and no trades will be considered. The seller apparently wants it gone, but is the price good enough to make that happen?
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Comments
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Can’t you just hear the novelty horn,,a sickly, meeeep, meeeep,,,truly, the last of the Mohicans , musclecar gasping for breath, I think Chrysler milked it to the bitter end. ’75 RR was the Cordoba one, and slipped further with the Volare. This was actually a pretty cool car for the time, a time that clearly was a dead end. Pretty amazing, the rise and fall of one of the most iconic cars and if you drove/had none, you know why.
This car? Man, I just don’t think so. The people with any connection can’t restore it, and not a lot of interest for the future. The Road Runner eventually got caught, like the Seth MacFarlanes version of the coyote finally getting him, funny, but a sad ending.
By 1974, even a 400 (or 440) was going to be a hard sell. At least in the major population centers. Smaller towns for some reason tended to have plenty of gas, no lines, no disappointment. I heard of gas lines in Minneapolis while at work there, so I quickly called my wife to have her go top off her car that she rarely used so I would be able to get back and forth to work. She found no problems at all in the small town about 30 miles away where we lived at the time. Never had any problems getting gas there, but heard some horror stories from work buddies who lived in the city. Then, as soon as the price doubled, surprise (!!!) suddenly we were awash in gasoline. Wonder why? Could it be that it is not really a free market after all?
The one time I had trouble getting gas was during the first week of June, 1973. The stations on the Ohio turnpike were limiting the amount a vehicle could buy to just 10 gallons. That was the only time during the 1973 – 1974 crunch, and I can’t recall ever having any problem in 1979.
I painted one of these for a friend several years ago and drove it several times while it was at my shop. ’74 400/auto. It pulled harder and was sportier to drive than I expected it to be.
Growing up, my Mom would cruise all around Yonkers in this very same car, with my older brother and I rolling around in the backseat. She kept it the garage for many years, but once the rust set in it was a goner.
By ’74 the traditional muscle car buyer had largely moved on. Lower performance, higher fuel prices and life’s obligations had caught up with the idea of fast and loud transport. Personal luxury was now the rage as evidenced by the cushy seat and steering wheel in this car. Someone may bring it back as it deserves to be.
I like the 73 and 74 RR much more than 71 and 72. Too much rust shown and being NY car forget it. Salt city.
To me , its just another bloated american car , so an easy pass
YOLO
If you hate all American cars, then why comment ?
Where did i write that ?
Get your meds adjusted !
Tds ?