Vehicle Description
1968 Plymouth Road Runner
The first Road Runners, built for serious roadwork, were lighter,
cheaper, and had better performance compared to other muscle cars
of their time. Plymouth Road Runners were fearsome and pretty, but
don't mistake pretty for fragile because these road demons were
faster than the regular cop cars of their time and could take
serious damage without breaking down. This car prompted other
muscle cars back in its era to improve their hardware and deliver
high-speed performance at an affordable cost. The Road Runner
remains the greatest muscle car of its era, some would say it was
an evolution of the muscle car industry. Despite its fall, the Road
Runners are still remembered in auctions and promotional tours, and
they still get action at auctions with the correct stats.
For consignment, a well optioned 1968 Road Runner with a
non-original 383ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, Hurst
shifter, 2 Door vinyl hardtop, front disc brakes, AM radio, a bench
seat, and a tachometer. Throw in the 383ci call outs on hood, and
we have a rare classic that ushered in the muscle car era and
created a bar for the other manufacturers to try to meet as to
toughness and reliability with the power to outrun the Po Po...
Exterior
Burgundy now replaces the original Midnight Blue metallic and is
just a perfect color on this muscle car. Paint on this car is
absolutely top notch as are trimmings, black vinyl top and long
trunk deck and hood. Speaking of the hood, a twin bulge hood with
engine callouts is on, and shows sans any stripes or pageantry that
would make an opponent think you were in anything greater than a
run of the mill Belvedere. Laser straight steel, with only 2 small
areas of rust bubbling on the bottom of the driver's door and nary
even a scratch to be seen throughout with all well minded gaps.
Pristine chromed bumpers frame the bottoms of the front and rear
and on the back shiny exhaust pipes peek out from either side of
the bottom of the rear bumper. One has to love the detail on the
rear glass with its "ogee" bottom window trim shape just adding
some interest to the overall lines of this pretty much square and
rectangle design car. Shiny 15-inch Magnum 500 wheels are wrapped
by blackwall rubber and give this car the perfect sleeper
stance.
Interior
Options are king on these early muscle cars as at this time they
all cost extra money, the original owner of this Road Runner
checked the minimal boxes to keep with the Road Runner mantra. So
currently, we see black vinyl mixing with some glossy black metal
on the doors in horizontal panel breakup format along with some
simple trim and pulls and cranks within this black field. The basic
vinyl bench seat in black is installed and for the back passengers,
a rear bench in the same color way and pattern allow for extras to
go along for the ride. A Hurst shifter reaches for the driver from
the center of the hump just in front of the seats and just above is
the original dash showing in near perfect condition in black padded
vinyl, and black textured vinyl for the background of the gauges.
Gauges which include a factory tachometer, water temperature, and
alternator to monitor the mill while tromping on the gas pedal that
feeds it. A like new black perforated headliner is above, and it
has a working dome light in the center. What was once black
carpeting that has now faded to an off orangish red and is likely
original covers the floors.
Drivetrain
Getting right to the heart of the matter, we fling open the hood,
and are greeted by a like new engine which is the heart of the
muscle...where we see a non-original 383ci block, circa 1970. The
mill sports a 4bbl carburetor which is feeding air and fossils
through a factory intake. An A833, non-original, 4-speed manual
transmission is on back and it pushes power rearward to an
8-3/4-inch 3.23 sure grip rear axle.
Undercarriage
Unrestored and overall solid is what we see down below. Surface
rust is present on the usual suspects; suspension components, floor
pans, etc. One area of invasive rust worth noting is the rear shock
crossmember which has rotted out on the driver's side and has been
repaired with what appears to be round stock. Independent torsion
bars with disc brakes are on the front while leaf springs with drum
brakes are on the rear. Dual exhaust with minor surface rust snakes
its way back along with Turbo mufflers before ending at chrome tips
under the rear bumper.
Drive-Ability
A fight nearly broke out as to who was going to test drive this
beauty and I lost! So, my cohort decoder and muscle car madman took
the ride and reported back with a smile on his face. Rarely does
this duo draw straws for the driver's seat, but I knew he was
impressed. He confided in me he loved its handling, acceleration,
overall performance, commenting it was all buttoned up, and only
one frown on the drive. That being a bearing growl from the rear
axle assembly.
The high point of muscle car madness with a super quality build. A
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place show winner at Chryslers @ Carlisle plus a
best paint award at the Wildwood, New Jersey car show, all looking
showroom new. Get in here fast because the Coyote is after you!!
Beep Beep Indeed!
VIN DECODE
RM23H8A307703
R-Belvedere/Roadrunner
M-Medium Price Class
23-2 Door Hardtop
H-383ci V8 4bbl High Performance
8-1968
A-Lynch Rd, Detroit, MI Assy Plant
307703-Sequential Unit Number
FENDER TAG
ENGINE: 383cid 4-bbl HP V8
TRANSMISSION: 4-Speed Manual Floor Shift
TIRES: F70x14 White Sidewall, steel belted
MODEL YEAR: 1968
BUILD DATE: May 27.
AXLE: 3.23 Rear Axle Ratio, Sure Grip
INTERIOR: High Trim Grade, Vinyl Split Bench Seats. Black
Interior.
PAINT: Midnight Blue Metallic
OTHER: Black Upper Door Frame Color.
MOLDINGS:
25: Drip Rail Mouldings
ABC OPTIONS:
R1:AM Radio
X1:Tinted Glass (all)
ABC OPTIONS:
M6:Driver's Outside Remote Operated Mirror
U1:Sold Car
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
