Documented Restored Road Runner Superbird 426 HEMI V8

Five words: Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Hemi... That's all I really need to build excitement for our latest investment grade Mopar. Of course, the car HAS benefitted from a professional, frame-off restoration. So I guess that bumps the word count to seven with: professionally restored Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Hemi. Then again, it's also a fully documented piece, which lands us at: fully documented, professionally restored Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Hemi. But wait, I almost forgot about its gleaming coat of High Impact Tor-Red pigment. So how about: fully documented, professionally restored Plymouth Road Runner Superbird Hemi that's covered in correct Tor-Red two-stage? Yeah, that sounds good. But trust me, if you like the sound of that sentence, you're going to LOVE the car it describes!

Speaking of Tor-Red paint, it is believed that only 14% of Plymouth's legendary Superbirds donned this car's Hemi-inspired hue. That means this brassy coupe is a factory accurate rarity among classics that are already highly exclusive. Here's a detailed breakdown of both its fender tag and broadcast sheet.

FENDER TAG

* RM23:
* -- R: Plymouth Road Runner
* -- M: Medium
* -- 23: 2-door hardtop
* R0A:
* -- R: 426 cubic inch V8 that utilizes two 4-barrel carburetors to produce 425 horsepower
* -- 0: 1970 model year
* -- A: Produced at Chrysler's Lynch Road manufacturing facility
* 176669: Assembly sequence number
* E74: 426 cubic inch Hemi V8 that utilizes two 4-barrel carburetors to produce 425 horsepower
* D32: Heavy duty automatic transmission
* EV2: Tor Red exterior paint
* P6XW:
* -- P: Premium trim grade
* -- 6: Vinyl bucket seats
* -- XW: Black and White interior
* EW1: White door frames
* B30: Assembled on November 30th, 1969
* J98842: Order number
* V19: Special order full vinyl roof
* V88: Transverse R/T stripe delete
* 26: 26-inch radiator
* C19: Center console that's complete with woodgrain

EQUIPMENT LISTED ON THE BROADCAST SHEET

* A13 – Superbird Package
* A36 – High Performance Axle Package
* B41 – Front disc brakes
* B51 – Power assisted brakes
* C16 – Center console
* C23 – Rear armrests that are complete with ashtrays
* C55 – Bucket seats
* C93 – Carpeting
* D32 – Heavy duty A727 Torqueflite transmission
* D56 – 3.55 gears
* E74 – 426 cubic inch Hemi V8 that's complete with two 4-barrel carburetors
* EV2 – High Impact Tor-Red paint
* F25 – Mopar red cap battery
* F96 – Oil pressure and temperature gauges
* G33 – Remote, left-hand outside mirror
* G41 – Rearview mirror that's complete with day/night mode
* H11 – Heater that's complete with a defroster
* J11 – Glove box lock
* J15 – Cigar lighter
* J45 – Hood pins that are complete with lanyards
* L76 – Heater control lamp
* M21 – Drip rail moldings
* M81 – Front bumper guards
* N41 – Dual exhaust
* N42 – Chrome exhaust tips
* N51 – Maximum engine cooling
* N65 – 7-blade fan
* R21 – Solid State AM/FM radio
* S15 – Hemi extra heavy duty suspension
* S25 – Heavy duty firm ride shocks
* S31 – Front sway bar
* S77 – Power steering
* S79 – Steering wheel that's complete with a lower-half horn ring
* U84 – F60x15 red-wall, polyglas tires
* V01 – Monotone paint
* V19 – Special order vinyl roof
* V88 – Transverse R/T stripe delete
* Y39 – Special order car

Throughout the '60s, Chrysler and Ford were heavily vested in the “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” sales mentality. And Dodge's Charger 500, despite its NASCAR-inspired tweaks, just wasn't getting the job done. In an attempt to one up Ford's slick and equally fast Torino, Chrysler went to the drawing board and began exploring aerodynamics. While aerodynamics wasn't a new concept, it had yet to be seriously studied by major auto manufacturers. And Chrysler's foray into the subject eventually culminated in testing full scale models at Lockheed Martin's North Carolina wind tunnel. Engineers quickly realized the benefits of a wind-cutting nose, but the real epiphany came when they employed a large rear stabilizer. Not only did that 'rocket nose' and 'park bench' spoiler combination create 'zero lift' downforce, it also produced immense directional stability, permitting speeds in excess of 200 MPH. Not surprisingly, Dodge's storied Daytona won the first race it competed in, and would eventually become one of the most successful NASCAR stock cars of all time. And Plymouth, looking to lure NASCAR star Richard Petty back into the fold, followed Dodge's impressive Daytona with the equally slippery, and some say better, Road Runner Superbird.

Contrary to popular belief, Superbirds were an entirely different animal than their Dodge-built predecessors. Instead of being rushed and outsourced, Plymouth's winged warrior program was a well-planned project built on a solid foundation of track-proven success. And that means more of these cars were produced, more survived the mid-years, and more remain completely intact thanks to avid Mopar collectors. This 'bird, a highly optioned New York native, features an exceptionally straight, all original body that was perfected over a multi-year, frame-off restoration commissioned by Wellborn Muscle Car Museum. And presently, it sits as an outrageous culmination of one of Detroit's meanest engines and some of Detroit's coolest, attention-grabbing style.

Despite its endearing aesthetics, that style is a direct result of one thing: Chrysler execs' disdain for Monday's headlines touting Ford's Sunday win. The boys in Auburn Hills had decided that, no matter how garish or impractical, they were going to design the ultimate race car. After all, Ma Mopar need only assemble 2,000 of said race cars to be approved for NASCAR homologation. And, as you can probably tell from this Superbird's slick profile, the program's main purpose was creating a platform that would lap large tracks at a very high rate of speed. At the front of the car, a downforce producing nose hangs sleek, flip up headlights above a small grille, hidden parking lamps and a body-matched chin spoiler. Behind that nose, drag reducing air extractors ride between standard hood pins, like-new glass and a clean combination of straight stainless trim and fresh black vinyl. At the sides of those extractors, prominent fender lines and Superbird-specific C-pillars frame bright marker lights, a stylish chrome mirror and familiar Chrysler door handles. And at the back of the car, a Superbird-specific wing rides above a small “road runner” emblem, clear tail lights, a prominent “P L Y M O U T H” script, bright exhaust tips and a new chrome bumper.

Toss this coupe's long hood and you'll find an original, 426 cubic inch Hemi V8 that's authenticated by a famous 2468330 casting number and matching 176669 partial VIN. As Plymouth's top option for power hungry gearheads, Chrysler's legendary elephant block utilizes cast iron heads, an oversquare bore, a forged steel crank, forged steel rods, forged aluminum pistons and a hydraulic cam to twist stout 10.25 to 1 compression into a stated 425 horsepower and 490 lb./ft. of torque. All that high performance hardware spins in a glossy, Hemi Orange block that hangs attractive, Organisol-coated valve covers over correct, low-restriction exhaust manifolds. A perfect mixture of fuel and air is supplied by large 4-barrel carburetors and a high performance, cast iron intake. Compression is sparked by high quality Chrysler Electronic Suppression wires, which are snapped onto a correct points distributor. And resultant combustion is cooled by a correct 26-inch radiator that's fitted with fresh, Chrysler-branded hoses and old school squeeze clamps. Visually, the car's Tor-Red engine compartment is clean and understated… Well, as understated as a classic Hemi can be. The car performs just as well as when it rolled into Courtesy Plymouth's showroom 43 years ago. And naturally, details like factory decals, a reproduction Mopar battery, a familiar Chrysler washer reservoir and a correct Road Runner horn have been professionally restored or completely replicated.

Slide under this spotless B-Body and you'll find a solid undercarriage that's completely restored to concours standards. Bright Tor-Red overspray highlights exceptionally clean floors that are painted and undercoated much as the factory left them. Like its Hemi V8, the car's original A727 Torqueflite, which is branded with a matching 176669 partial VIN, needed very little work to be in tight, like-new condition. That stalwart gearbox sends power to an 8.75-inch Chrysler rear end which is equipped with correct 3.55 gears. At the front of the car, Chrysler's beefy Hemi suspension utilizes Cosmoline-replicating torsion bars, an A12 sway bar and standard power steering to make quick work of big bumps and tight curves. At the back of the car, that same Hemi suspension hangs correctly staggered springs at the sides of a leak-free fuel tank. Stops come courtesy of standard power front disc and rear drum brakes. Exhaust is handled by aluminized tubes that bend around an H-pipe crossover, Chrysler-branded mufflers, correct resonators and bright stainless tips. And all this Mopar goodness rolls on standard steel wheels which twist F60-15 Goodyear Polyglas GTs around correct, satin-finished center caps.

Open this Superbird's slab-sided doors and you'll find a correct P6XW interior that, thanks to its racy color scheme, provides a vivid contrast to the car's Tor-Red body panels. Front and center, bright white seats are split by a fresh, wood-trimmed console that's centered on a sculpted chrome shifter. Below that console, new carpet, which shows no signs of wear, tucks beneath straight stainless sill plates. Above those sills, fresh white door panels hang classy stainless accents between white frames, small Road Runner decals and traditional chrome hardware. At the front of those panels, a slick dash anchors rebuilt gauges next to a correct Solid State radio. In front of the driver, a monochromatic steering wheel spins a silver horn ring around a cool Road Runner centerpiece. Behind the passengers, a fully restored trunk is authentic to its refurbished jack, full-size spare and factory lid decals. And overall, the livable cockpit melds competent civility with purist NASCAR roots.

The sale of this phenomenal Road Runner includes:

* An original broadcast sheet
* An original bill of sale
* A copy of the car's original sales invoice
* Original registration paperwork
* A vintage appraisal
* A reproduction window sticker

A poster child for the golden era of Detroit, the Plymouth Superbird stands head and shoulders above nearly every classic in terms of looks, desirability and performance. Few cars are as popular as they are polarizing, and that simply adds to its cache. With an exclusive, numbers matching powertrain, original sheet metal and enough visual flash to stand out in a mirror factory, this awesome coupe is about as close to the ultimate muscle car as you can get!