The 1971 model year was a notable release for the Road Runner family, mainly because of Plymouth’s changes in the lineup.
Street Hemi was one among them. Only 55 Road Runners eventually acquired it, as 1971 was its final year on the market and Plymouth was already preparing for its total extinction.
The 440 Six Pack option was the subject of the second. The automaker was also preparing for its retirement while concentrating solely on the other engines in the range, which were obviously not as terrifying but slightly more concerned with fuel efficiency.
The convertible waved goodbye to the Road Runner lineup in 1971, so the car could be had only as a two-door hardtop. The base unit was powered by a 383 four-barrel unit with 300 horsepower, while the optional choices were the 340 V8 with 275 horsepower, the 440 Six Barrel with 385 horsepower, and the almighty 426 Hemi with 425 horsepower.
Of the 14,218 Road Runners, more than 11,600 rolled off the assembly lines with a 383, with only 1,681 units fitted with a 340. The Hemi was unsurprisingly the rarest.
The 1971 Road Runner that made its way to eBay earlier this week was born with a 340 but eventually got converted to a 383 at some point in the ’80s. Seller millevoi didn’t share more specifics on the engine swap, but I believe the owner wanted to make the Road Runner easier to sell, as the 383 typically costs some 15 to 20 percent more than a 340 in restored condition. There’s no reason to perform this engine swap otherwise, especially because a 340-powered Road Runner was much rarer in 1971 than a 383.
As a result, I think this Road Runner was supposed to receive a thorough restoration before looking for a new home, but the project was somehow shelved in the middle. The vendor claims they removed the Road Runner from storage after a few decades, but the automobile has been sitting ever since.
Even though the ad is brief and lacking in details, it is clear that the car is in good repair. To get the 383 up and going again, you’ll probably need to clean or replace the gas tank and everything else. The 383 still starts and operates using an alternative fuel source.
The Road Runner looks good, so it’s no surprise that it receives so much attention.