Roadrunner

Road Runner Brochure

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
• Superbird
• Volare

Competition

• Dodge Super Bee
• Ford Torino GT
• Mercury Cyclone
• Chevrolet Chevelle
• Pontiac GTO
• Oldsmobile 442
• Buick GS
• 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

1968 Road Runner

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

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body

Engines

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

Transmissions

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

Length, width, height, wheelbase

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

Production Numbers: & Base Price

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

Total - 44,598

According to another source:

• 2 door coupe - 29,240 ($ 2870)
• 2 door hardtop - 15,359 ($ 3034)

1969

1969 Plymouth Road Runner

• 2 door coupe
• 2 door hardtop
• Convertible

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body

Engines

• 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

Transmissions

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

Length, width, height, wheelbase

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

Production Numbers: & Base Price

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

Total - 82,109

According to another source:

• 2 door coupe - 33,743 ($ 2945)
• 2 door hardtop - 48,549 ($ 3083)
• Convertible - 2,128 ($ 3313)

1970

1970 Road Runner

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

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body

Engines

• 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

Length, width, height, wheelbase

• Wheelbase - 116"
• Overall Length - 204"

Production Numbers: & Base Price

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

Total - 36,327

According to another source:

• 2 door coupe - 15,716 ($ 2896)
• 2 door hardtop - 24,944 ($ 3034)
• Convertible - 824 ($ 3289)
• Superbird - 1920 ($ 4298)

1971

1971 Plymouth Road Runner

• 2 door hardtop only

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body

Engines

• 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)

Length, width, height, wheelbase

• Wheelbase - 115"
• Overall Length - 203.2"

Production Numbers: & Base Price

• 2 door hardtop - 13,046

According to another source:

• 2 door hardtop - 14,218 ($ 3147)

1972

1972 Road Runner

• 2 door hardtop only

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body

Engines

• 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)

Transmissions

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

Length, width, height, wheelbase

• Wheelbase - 115"
• Overall Length - 203.2"

Production Numbers: & Base Price

• 2 door hardtop - 6,831

According to another source:

• 2 door hardtop - 7,628 ($ 3080)

1973

1973 Plymouth Road Runner

• 2 door coupe only (stationary rear side glass)

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body

Engines

• 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)

Length, width, height, wheelbase

• Wheelbase - 115"
• Overall Length - 210.8"

Production Numbers: & Base Price

• 2 door hardtop - 17,443

According to another source:

• 2 door hardtop - 19,056 ($ 3115)

1974

1974 Plymouth Road Runner

• 2 door coupe only

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body

Engines

• 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)

Length, width, height, wheelbase

• Wheelbase - 115"
• Overall Length - 212.4"

Production Numbers: & Base Price

• 2 door hardtop - 9,656

According to another source:

• 2 door hardtop - 11,555 ($ 3545)

1975

The Forgotten B-Body Road Runner

• 2 door hardtop only

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• B-Body

Length, width, height, wheelbase

• Wheelbase - 115"
• Overall Length - 213.8"

Production Numbers: & Base Price

• 2 door hardtop - 7,183 ($ 3973)

1976

(The F-Body Road Runner)

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• F-Body

1977 (The F-Body Road Runner)

(The F-Body Road Runner)

Class

Low Priced Muscle Car

Platform

• F-Body

1969 Plymouth Duster I Concept

1964 Plymouth Road Runner Concept

1969 Duster Show Car

Duster1

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