Roadrunner

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Background:

Plymouth released the Road Runner in 1968 as a low buck stripper Muscle car, by taking a stripped down Satellite and putting its 383ci motor into it. In the truest form, the Road Runner had dog dish hub caps, steel wheels, vinyl bench seat, and "Puke & Wipe" vinyl floor covering. It was designed to be a no-frills, low budget Muscle Car version of the GTX.

History:

Model Predecessor

None -- with the stripper Muscle goal.

Model Successor

The Road Runner rode it out past the Muscle Car era -- so there never was a true successor to it.

Export Versions

None

Related Models

• Satellite
• GTX

Competition

• Dodge Super Bee
• Ford Torino GT
• Mercury Cyclone
• Chevrolet Chevelle
• Pontiac GTO
• Oldsmobile 442
• Buick Grand Sport
• AMC The Machine
• AMC SC/rambler
• Plymouth GTX
• Dodge Coronet R/T

While the above cars competed for sales, on the streets, and on the race track with the Road Runner, most broke away from the low buck stripper Muscle Car theme that was started by Plymouth with the introduction of the Road Runner.

1968

• 2 door coupe
• 2 door hardtop (midyear addition)

1969 - 1970

• 2 door coupe
• 2 door hardtop
• Convertible
• Superbird was a Road Runner in 1970 produced in small enough numbers to make Legal in NASCAR

1971 - 1974

• 2 door hardtop only

Technical:

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body 1968-1975
• F-Body 1976-1977

1968

• Engine Code H - 383 ci 4V V-8 335HP
• Engine Code J - 426 ci 2x4V V-8 425HP

1969

• Engine Code H - 383 ci 4V V-8 335HP
• Engine Code J - 426 ci 2x4V V-8 425HP
• Engine Code M - 440 ci 3x2V V-8 390HP

1970

• Engine Code N - 383 ci 4V V-8 335HP
• Engine Code R - 426 ci 2x4V V-8 425HP
• Engine Code U - 440 ci 4V V-8 375HP
• Engine Code V - 440 ci 3x2V V-8 390HP

1971

• Engine Code H- 340 ci 4V V-8 275HP (240HP Net)
• Engine Code N - 383 ci 4V V-8 300HP (250HP Net)
• Engine Code R - 426 ci 2x4V V-8 425HP (350HP Net)
• Engine Code U - 440 ci 4V V-8 375HP (305HP Net)
• Engine Code V - 440 ci 3x2V V-8 390HP (330HP Net)

1972

• Engine Code H - 340 ci 4V V-8 240HP (Net)
• Engine Code P - 400 ci 4V V-8 255HP (Net)
• Engine Code U - 440 ci 4V V-8 280HP (Net)

1973

• Engine Code G - 318 ci 2V V-8 170HP (Net)
• Engine Code H - 340 ci 4V V-8 240HP (Net)
• Engine Code P - 400 ci 4V V-8 260HP (Net)
• Engine Code U - 440 ci 4V V-8 280HP (Net)

1974

• Engine Code G - 318 ci 4V V-8 170HP (Net)
• Engine Code L - 360 ci 4V V-8 245HP (Net)
• Engine Code P - 400 ci 4V V-8 260HP (Net)
• Engine Code U - 440 ci 4V V-8 280HP (Net)

Transmissions

1968

• Manual 4-speed standard
• Torqueflite automatic 3-speed optional

1969

• Manual 4-speed standard
• Torqueflite automatic 3-speed optional

1972

• Standard transmission in the 1972 Road Runner was the manual floor mounted 3-speed
• Manual 4-speed Optional
• Torqueflite automatic 3-speed optional

Specifications:

1968 / 1969

• Wheelbase - 116"
• Overall Length - 202.7"
• Overal Width - 76.4"

for what years are the above numbers accurate. 
It certainly cannot be for all four of the platforms (68-70, 71-74, 75, 76-78) the Roadrunner was on. 
This needs to have the years of the quoted numbers with the numbers quoted

Production Numbers:

1968

• 2 door coupe - 29,240
• 2 door hardtop - 15,358

Total - 44,598

1969

• 2 door coupe - 32,717
• 2 door hardtop - 47,365
• Convertible - 2,027

Total - 82,109

1970

• 2 door coupe - 20,899
• 2 door hardtop - 14,744
• Convertible - 684

Total - 36,327

1971

• 2 door hardtop - 13,046

1972

• 2 door hardtop - 6,831

According to another source: 2 door hardtop - 7,628.

1973

• 2 door hardtop - 17,443

1974

• 2 door hardtop - 9,656

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1969 Plymouth (Road Runner) Duster I Concept

Magazine Article References

• July 2009 Mopar Collector's Guide pages 84-89

External Links

• The Forgotten Road Runner (1975) Forum
• (1968-1974) Road Runner Forum
• (1976-1977) Road Runner Forum