Arriving in 1970, the Superbird was Plymouth’s response to the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, and it quickly took the NASCAR circuit by storm. The Superbird had many elements with its corporate twin, but it was distinguished by a few key differences, including the roof, nose cone grille, and rear window. More significantly, a greater number of Superbirds were made.
While Plymouth produced almost four times as many Superbirds as Dodge, Dodge only put together 503 Daytonas. Although exact production numbers are unknown, most Mopar specialists concur that Plymouth exported 34 to 47 cars to Canada and 1,935 cars to the US. Over a thousand Superbirds are thought to still be in existence today.
While not quite as rare as the Charger Daytona, the Superbird also developed into a sought-after classic. HEMI cars are pushing into million-dollar territory, while the 440 rigs have been changing hands for six-figure sums for years. And because many examples have already been rebuilt, unrestored project cars like the one you see here are becoming scarce.
Showcased by Mopars5150 at the 2023 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN), this Superbird is a proper barn find. It’s not a true-blue unrestored vehicle, though. The worn-out Corporate Blue (also known as Petty Blue) is not a factory hue. As seen in some areas under the hood, this Superbird was originally yellow.
The winged warrior was available in just one shade of yellow, so we’re looking at a factory Lemon Twist car. Corporate Blue was also on the options list at the time, so the repaint is period correct. Plymouth also offered the Superbird in Alpine White, Blue Fire Metallic, Tor Red, Vitam in C, and Limelight.
Superbirds were actually ordered in 457 different colors, with Lemon Twist being the most popular—a color designated as FY1 on the fender tag. But of all the colors, Corporate Blue is the rarest, appearing on just 56 cars. However, because of the way the drivetrain is configured, this Mopar’s factory color makes it a rare gem even if it’s a very typical Superbird.
In particular, it came off the assembly line with a 7.2-liter (440 cubic inch) Six-Barrel, which is the second rarest engine behind the legendary HEMI. The 390 horsepower V8 was only installed in 761 of these, and only 304 of them had an automated transmission. And if we take into account the Lemon Twist paint, this quantity can be reduced to just 72 pieces.
It’s unknown if the Superbird will get Petty Blue paint or its original color, but a lot of work will be required before this Mopar can be shown off to its full potential. Although it still has a numbers-matching unit and is a nice survivor overall, the automobile has had a difficult existence.
The vinyl top is missing, and the area surrounding the back window has a lot of corrosion, which is a common Superbird problem. Additionally, there is surface corrosion on a few body panels and damage to the nose cone. Thankfully, the white interior remains intact.
What makes this car even more interesting is the fact that it’s one of those Superbirds that was presumed lost since it never had an owner recorded in the official registry. But it’s been found and retains the original and broadcast sheet, so it’s as legit as they get. Check it out in the video below.