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Most Wanted Classic Cars: Plymouth Road Runner (Part 1)

The Plymouth Road Runner was a mid-sized car that was produced from 1968 to 1980, and it was offered between the Satellite and Belvedere in the Plymouth lineup. The Road Runner was a basic high-performance car with few amenities, and this made it very affordable to car buyers. It featured the Warner Brothers’ Road Runner image and a “beep beep” horn sound that was similar to the trademark sound made by the cartoon character.

The standard 1968 Road Runner came with 4-speed manual transmission and a 383 cid V8 engine that was rated at 335 hp. Though basic amenities such as air-conditioning, radio, and cruise control were not available, there were options that favored performance. With an additional $715, car buyers could be the proud owners of the Road Runner 426 Hemi, which was one of the fastest automobiles on the road in its time. Today, this car is regarded as one of the most prized American muscle cars by classic car collectors. 

The following year, Plymouth Road Runner convertibles were introduced, and a more affordable new engine was made available. The 440 Six Pack was a 440 cid 3-double carbureted V8 engine that could deliver 390 hp. In 1970, the car received an Air Grabber hood, a device that could be operated with remote control to create a hood scoop. Also, the 4-speed transmission in the standard Road Runner was replaced with a 3-speed manual transmission.