ROADRUNNER 1969 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER IN DETAIL
The late 1960s was an interesting time in the automotive world. Muscle
cars, as we now know them, were well established, with all manufacturers
joining the horsepower race. You could walk into the showroom for any
brand from any manufacturer and find a variety of performance models.
Competition being what it is, the manufacturers were looking for ways
other than winning races to lure buyers into the showrooms and entice
them to buy their products. Some tried to accomplish this with fancy
marketing schemes and graphic paint packages and decals, and for the
first time, some tried to win over buyers with price.
Volume No. 5 of CarTechs Muscle Cars In Detail series covers the 1969
Plymouth Road Runner. It was an interesting marriage of a car that
attempted to appeal to potential buyers with a low-cost, light-weight,
and potent bare-bones package. It also added a brilliant marketing
strategy of partnering with a famous studio and a popular cartoon
character. The end result was a wildly popular, big-block, affordable
muscle car with great graphics and a cool beepbeep horn. The public
loved it.
All In Detail Series books include an introduction and historical
overview, an explanation of the design and concepts involved in creating
the car, a look at marketing and promotion, and an in-depth study of all
hardware and available options, as well as an examination of where the
car is on the market today. Also included is an appendix of paint and
option codes, VIN and build-tag decoders, as well as production numbers.
1970 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER IN DETAIL BOOK
By 1969, the muscle car war among Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler had
reached a fevered pitch. Plymouths Road Runner, Mopars intermediate
entry, was leading the charge. For 1970, the Road Runner had its
strongest year yet as it housed the best street V-8s Chrysler had to
offer.
Author Scott Ross retraces the history of the Road Runner and brings the
1970 model year into full focus. The stripped-down Road Runner
exemplified the essence of a purpose-built muscle car: brute power and
stunning acceleration. A new aggressive grille and Air Grabber hood
provided an audacious yet tasteful performance statement. The backto-
basics Bird had a unique character with its iconic cartoon Road Runner
graphics and beep-beep horn.
Underneath the skin, the Road Runner lived up to its persona. The 335-hp
383 was one of fastest 383s Chrysler built because it was fitted with
the 440 camshaft, heads, and manifolds for even more performance. The
440 Six Pack car generated 390 hp and gained a reputation as a stout
street performer. And at the top, the conservatively rated 425-hp 426
Hemi set the standard for performance.
The Road Runner was lighter than the Cuda and somewhat overbuilt as it
was one of the toughest and most consistent muscle cars. To transfer all
this power to the ground, the Road Runner was equipped with the A-833
4-speed or TorqueFlite 727 automatic. With a torsion-bar suspension and
heavy-duty rear end, the Road Runner handled well. However, these are
just a few of the highlights of this complete story.
Each volume in the In Detail Series provides an introduction and
historical overview, an explanation of the design and concepts involved
in creating the car, a look at marketing and promotion, an in-depth
study of all hardware and available options, as well as an examination
of where the car is on the market today. Also included are paint and
option codes, VIN and build tag decoders, as well as production numbers.
