50 years after the start of the golden muscle car era, recognizable vehicles from that time period are still visible in backyards and barns. The majority are uninteresting, but rare gems are still being found and saved. One of them is this 1969 Plymouth HEMI Road Runner. This Mopar was rescued by Dale from “Old Skool Rides,” and it has a rather intriguing past. Our host doesn’t know how long the automobile has been resting, despite the fact that it is very obvious that it spent years off the road. He is also unsure of whether it was kept inside or parked in a yard. However, based on the state of the body panels, I would assume it was kept indoors.
The Road Runner is just a project car as it stands. The original paint is long gone and some body panels have been refreshed over the years. The rear fenders are a bit rusty at the bottom, but other than that, the shell looks good. And it’s straight as an arrow.
Dale claims he obtained the majority of the pieces in boxes, despite the fact that the inside is nearly fully stripped down and the vehicle is missing a lot of chrome. This suggests that the Road Runner was disassembled for a restoration that never took place. He is also aware that the former owner of the muscle vehicle raced it.
What about the drivetrain, though? Does this HEMI still boast a coveted 426 cubic inch (7.0 liter) V8 under the hood? Sadly, the automobile still retains the original transmission, but not the engine. But it’s not obvious if it’s a four-speed automatic or manual.
Grated, it’s a bit disappointing that this HEMI Road Runner is just a rolling shell, but it’s still a rare classic that deserves to be saved. How rare? Well, 1969 was the Road Runner’s best year, with sales of 81,105 units. However, only a tiny fraction of these cars were shipped with the range-topping HEMI mill.
Only 787 vehicles, or 1% of the overall production, were specifically ordered with the NASCAR-spec engine. But this car is far more uncommon than that. The 787-example production run comprises hardtop, coupe, and convertible cars, so that explains it. One of the 356 coupes sold that year, this one is a post vehicle. If it has four speeds, the options are reduced to 194 units. There would only be 162 of these with the automatic transmission.
It’s a rare muscle car, no matter how you look at it, and it deserves a complete restoration with a replacement HEMI. And it’s precisely what it will get at some point. For now, however, Dale wants to install an engine, revive the transmission, and get the car running and driving. He basically wants to enjoy it almost as is for a while.
All told, this Road Runner has enormous potential, and it could become a Concours-winning Mopar worth a six-figure sum.