When Plymouth decided to build the Roadrunner it was in an effort to appeal to buyers who didn’t have as much scratch as the next guy. That’s one of the reasons many Roadrunners came barebones and sported few options. What the Roadrunner didn’t lack was get-up and go, though. I can imagine that RacingJunk visitors reading this article today all have a slew of cars from the late ‘60s they would like to own. I know I do. The Plymouth Roadrunner is right near the top of that list.
When mulling over which car to write about I happened across the vehicles you’ll see here today. Every time I rediscover a muscle car I haven’t written about it’s like Christmas. Today is no different. Any person who has looked at buying one of these cars should know there’s a few things that need to be looked at before pulling the trigger. If you’re unaware as to what some of these things are then, well you’ve come to the right place.
What to look for when buying a Plymouth Roadrunner?
- The first concern a buyer should have when looking to purchase a Roadrunner is if the Plymouth is actually a Roadrunner? The Roadrunner was based on the Belvedere/Satellite and both are similar in appearance. Yup, it’s true, people clone cars all the time. Why? They didn’t have the $90k to buy the original version. If you do, be careful and do your homework.
- Telling the difference between a ‘68-’69’ and ‘70 is easy if you know what to look for. The ‘68 used circular marker lenses and a square grille. 1969s used a plastic grille that was divided into 4 long, rectangular segments. ‘70s Roadrunners had a barbell style grille that was much different than the previous years.
- Common rust areas on the rear end of Plymouth Roadrunners are the frame rails and leaf spring perches.
- Common rust areas on the front end of Plymouth Roadrunners are the floorboards, hood hinges, door skins and inner fender panels
Roadrunner Vin numbers start with “RM.” Additionally the fifth number will tell you the engine size.
What should I be paying?
The original MSRP for a Plymouth Roadrunner was $3000 dollars in 1968. Today the average retail price is just over $28,000, up $25,000 from its debut price. These numbers fluctuate widely depending on condition, year of production, and options.
Fast Forward to Today
The Plymouth Roadrunner is a highly collectible car that was built during an illustrious time in American automotive manufacturing. If you’re familiar with muscle cars than a Plymouth Roadrunner is probably on your short list. There’s certainly plenty of options to choose from, no doubt. Happy hunting!
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