Vehicle Description
1969 Plymouth Road Runner
The first Roadrunners, 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
sports cars back in its era to improve their hardware and deliver
high-speed performance at an affordable cost. The Roadrunner
remains the greatest muscle car of its era, some would say it was
an evolution of the muscle car industry. Despite its fall, the
Roadrunners are still remembered in auctions and promotional tours.
And they still get action at auctions with the correct stats.
For consignment, a converted to 440ci V8 1969 Road Runner with a
dual intake hood, some replacement steel, and bathed in orange with
black accenting. We have a classic that was a key to ushering 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
Screaming orange paint on this car is pretty much top notch with
just a few areas where filler is cracking on the rockers and a drip
or two is noted along with the rear quarter panel seams starting to
show at the roof line. As to the hood, an N96 fresh air version is
on and has wide black stripes painted within its field. Very
straight steel, well minded gaps and shiny trimmings are abounding
on this example, with its dual round horizontal headlights flanking
either side of a chromed egg crate grille. Badging on the hood
states 383 but we know otherwise based on our examination of the
specs on this example. 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. The rear quarter corners are "canted" inward with a
rectangular tail light on each corner. Also, below is another shiny
pristine bumper and dual exhaust pipes peeking out from below.
Polished 15-inch Weld DragLite wheels are wrapped by new BFG raised
white letter rubber 225's for the front, and 275's for the rear
yielding a 2 inch rake to the car's stance. Neat Road Runner
cartoon badges are noted on the doors and trunk lid back.
Interior
Options are king on these early muscle cars as at this time they
all cost extra money, which with the original buyer was no object.
So currently, we note black steel sills in the doors that sport
black vinyl in their centers which provide a field of play for the
armrest/actuator, and window crank. Orange steel is on the bottoms
of the doors and these have like new rubber seals and not rust on
the edges at the thresholds. Seats are bench style with a split
back for the front and solid back for the rear. Back vinyl covers
smooth bolsters and tuck and roll inserts as well as low headrests
on top of each seat. For the back passengers a rear bench in the
same black vinyl pattern allow for extras to go along for the ride.
An original dash showing in near perfect condition in black padded
vinyl and black textured vinyl for the background of the gauges
which include a factory tachometer. Fronting the dash is an
original steering wheel that has a "Fratzog" shaped padded center
with Road Runner central badging, and black plastic shiny rim. In
the dash center resides a newer aftermarket Audiovox AM/FM/Cassette
player and just below a trio of aftermarket gauges hanging below
the dash. A like new, tight, black vinyl headliner is above, and it
has a working dome light in the center. Below all floats some black
clean carpeting.
Drivetrain
Getting right to the heart of the matter, we fling open that N96
hood and are greeted by a like new engine which is not the original
engine..its better! We note an orange painted block in 440ci size.
This engine is circa 1966-1972 and has black ribbed cast aluminum
valve covers, a beautiful matte silver intake with a 4-barrel
carburetor on top. This fits neatly under the oval shaped rubber
gaskets air cleaner covering which is badged as a "Coyote Duster".
It fits neatly into the cowlings under the hood taking its air from
the outside through the dual bump ups on the outside in the back
stripes. On back is a factory numbers matching 3 Speed A7327
Torqueflite tranny and way back the pumpkin weighs in at 8-3/4
inches. We see clean headers and a Turbo muffler system, a rust and
corrosion free engine bay with clean supple wires and hoses and a
like new radiator. Just a beautiful 1969 replicated engine bay.
Undercarriage
Not to be outdone by the topside, the undercarriage goes along for
the show too with jet black painted frame, floor pans and rockers.
Just a smidge of surface rust spotting the fenders underneath its
showing but is unremarkable. A new fuel tank is now installed, and
amazingly the stamped undercarriage panels are painted in beautiful
black and are straight. Independent torsion bars are up front
providing the ride, and in back are leaf springs. Power disc
braking is on front, and power drums for the back. All looking good
underneath.
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 wheel and reported back with a Cheshire cat grin. He rarely
does this, so when I witnessed it I knew he was impressed. He
confided in me that he loved it 's handling, acceleration and
overall performance, commenting it was all buttoned up, and all
working and in order as things should be for such a good looker. We
note the heater core has been bypassed due to it leaking into the
interior and the previously stated body frowns but they are minimal
in the overall scheme of things as to this example.
An orange piece of muscle car history showing very well in this
example. Our consigner states he has the original 383ci engine and
it will come with the car you'll just have to give it a once over
and put it back in. Nice job folks right here ready for the Road
Runner taking. Beep Beep!
RM21H9A254198
R-Plymouth Satellite/Belvedere/Road Runner
M-Medium Price Class
21-2 Door Coupe
H-383ci V8 4bbl
9-1969
A-Lynch Rd, MI Assy Plant
254198-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.