#330 out of 1935 built. High-quality and very correct restoration. Date-code-correct 440 with Six Pack induction, console-shift automatic, Tick-Tock-Tach, buckets. Beautiful winged warrior ready to rock!
Restored to original specs, it wears vivid Vitamin-C Orange paint, which was one of seven original choices and it was indeed this car’s original color. It appears that this one is wearing all its original sheetmetal, including quarters and floors, and unlike many of its siblings, it seems to have always been treated as something special, not some oddball throwaway. It is likely far better than it was when it was new, particularly in the fit of the nose cone, which conforms to the Road Runner’s front fenders far better than it did originally. The headlight doors fit well (and flip up properly when you hit the switch), and even the wonky hood extension sits relatively flush with the fendersThe paint is vivid and deep, with a gloss that was all but impossible in 1970, so it’s surely modern two-stage urethane. And while that towering wing looks fragile, it’s actually made from high-grade aluminum and attached with struts connected to the subframe that are strong enough to support a grown man sitting on top. There’s not much chrome, but there are plenty of cool details, starting with a smattering of Road Runner decals that add a bit of whimsy.
There were only two colors you could get inside, black or white, which this car carrying basic black with some handsome silver piping on the seats. The woodgrained wheel was also optional, as were the Rallye gauges and Tick-Tock-Tach, which is fully operational. Black carpets are protected by embroidered floor mats that seem appropriate, and there’s an AM/FM radio in the dash, which was pretty high-tech in 1970. The gauges are all rebuilt with crisp, bright markings and the vitals always look healthy. A few more Roadrunner emblems, seat belts, and a taut headliner round it out. The trunk opens conventionally (the wing is exactly high enough to clear the trunk lid) and inside you’ll find a correct mat, jack assembly, and what might just be the original spare tire. You’ll also note that correct markings have been duplicated under the lid, along with a set of reproduction jack decals.
This car originally carried a 440 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor (the Super Commando), rated at 375 horsepower. However, it has been upgraded with a correct Six-Pack induction system with three 2-barrel carburetors and 390 horsepower. We believe it is a warranty replacement block, and if you study the stamping pad, you will see there is no VIN stamp at all, adding evidence for this theory (if this engine came from another car, there would be a VIN stamped in the center of the pad). It’s date-code correct, being built on June 10, 1969 and features a correct F440 stamping denoting a 1970 model year 440, as well as the HP2 stamping indicating it was a high-performance engine. It is a correct 2536430 casting. There is no VIN stamping on the oil pan rail. It was fully rebuilt to mostly stock specs save for a slightly upgraded camshaft and the aforementioned Six-Pack carburetors. It runs superbly, starting easily and idling well after about a minute of warm-up time, and you’d better believe there’s plenty of power on tap. The engine bay was properly detailed at the time of restoration, with Hemi Orange paint on the block, reproduction hoses and spring-style clamps, and a correct distributor cap. The plug wires are the only notable non-original part, but that’s easy enough to fix if you’d like to put this car back on the show field.
The transmission is a TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic feeding an 8.75-inch rear end with standard 3.55 gears inside, a great combination that makes for punchy acceleration but relaxed cruising at speed. The undercarriage is highly detailed with beautifully finished floors, a correct reproduction dual exhaust system, and new lines and hoses for the brake system. It does show some minor signs of use, but there’s absolutely no evidence that this car was ever rusty or wrecked and the detailing underneath suggests it’s never even been wet since the restoration was completed. 15-inch Rallye wheels were optional, with these carrying staggered BFGoodrich T/A radials.
Documentation includes the original owner’s manual, restoration photos, and a stand-up poster detailing the car’s specifications and history. It also includes the original 4-barrel Carter carburetor, air cleaner assembly, and intake manifold.
These are just incredibly cool cars that will never be duplicated again. Sure, there are still homologation specials being built by manufacturers all over the world, but none with the take-no-prisoners attitude of the Superbird. With only 1935 being built (15 more than necessary to homologate the car), these are incredibly rare machines, and experts estimate that only about 1000 still exist today. This is number 330, making it a fairly early production car. The restoration is beautiful, it’s fully sorted, and you’ll always cause a stir when you arrive in a wing car. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com