1968 Plymouth Road Runner

Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Manual

RM21H8GXXXXXX

Gasoline

1968 PLYMOUTH ROAD RUNNER PILLAR COUPE. RETURNED FROM THE RESTORATION SHOP THIS WEEK, WHERE IT RECEIVED SOME PAINTWORK, WET SAND AND BUFF, AND A COMPLETE DETAIL. ALL ORIGINAL BODY PANELS. ORIGINAL 383 CU. IN. ENGINE. FOUR SPEED TRANSMISSION WITH PISTOL GRIP SHIFTER. SURE GRIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS CAR OFFERS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS TO THE NEW OWNER. ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL ENGINE IS STILL IN THE ENGINE BAY, PERFORMANCE UPGRADES HAVE TRANSFORMED THIS BEAUTY INTO A GROUND POUNDER. PLEASE VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS OF THIS CLASSIC MUSCLE CAR. PRICED WELL BELOW BOOK VALUE FOR IMMEDIATE SALE. By 1968, the Muscle Car era had taken a turn into a different direction, and was at a crossroads. The performance cars had evolved from bare bones, mainstream models with expensive special engines to expensive special models with expensive special engines. This transition served to prohibit many in the core market group from purchasing a vehicle. Unable to afford a new Muscle Car, many reverted back to building their own hotrods. Most Baby Boomers remember back in the day that the "rich kids" owned the new Chevelles, Mustangs, GTX's, etc. , and everyone else was transplanting small blocks into Tri Five Chevies. The young segment of America needed an inexpensive mainstream model with an inexpensive special engine. Chrysler executives realized this, and began designing big engine, low frill unibody performance cars. The 1968 Road Runner is recognized by many automotive experts as perhaps the second most significant Muscle Car in history, next to the 1964 GTO. This amazing machine almost single handedly shifted the market back to the most bang for the buck roots of the movement. The success of the Road Runner would quickly surpass that of the more expensive GTX. Plymouth corporate sales estimate for 1968 was 2,500. Actual sales of the hardtops and pillar coupes was approximately 45,000! Indeed they had hit the mark! The automotive industry praised the simplicity of the concept. The base platform for the Road Runner was the Belvedere. The goal was to produce a performance car with mass appeal, capable of 14 second quarter mile times, and selling for less than $3,000. The standard engine was the proven 383 Cu. In., with the addition of upgraded carburetion, heads, manifolds, and camshaft, elevating the horsepower to 335. As an option, customers could order the venerable Hemi. Plymouth paid Warner Brothers $50,000 for rights to the name and likeness of their cartoon character, and $10,000 to develop the Beep Beep horn. Everything that was essential to the performance of the car was upgraded. Everything else was ignored. Many detractors labeled it a tin can with a big motor, but sales exploded. Motor Trend Magazine dubbed the Road Runner "The most brazenly pure, non- compromising super car in history." Only the GTO and Chevelle SS outsold the Plymouth Road Runner in 1968. The base price of a pillar coupe was $2,896, right in the young performance car buyer's budget. Demands from Dodge dealers led to the development of the Super Bee. The rest is history............ The car has just returned from the restoration shop. Paint looks fresh, and mirror gloss. Fit and gapping on all panels is very good. Rechromed front and rear bumpers. Remaining chrome, stainless, and bright work is in very good condition. All glass is in very good condition. Pop out quarter windows. Magnum road wheels with Daytona Radial S/R tires. For a file of 124 photos stored in the public internet domain Photobucket, click on this link: http://s1080.photobucket.com/albums/j325/AB0702/1968%20Road%20Runner/ Original 383 Cu. In., 335 HP engine. Less than 2,000 miles on rebuild. The engine has been modified for performance. Edelbrock carburetor mounted on an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold. Mallory distributor. Hydraulic roller cam. Mopar headers connected to Flowmaster dual exhaust. Engine bay is highly detailed. Manual steering. Manual brakes. Four speed transmission with Pistol Grip shifter. If you have never driven a car with this type of shifter, it takes some practice. In first and third your knuckles can hit the dash, and it is a loose patterned shifter. Don't expect to get in it and power shift the gears. The shifter wouldn't do that even when it was new. Sure Grip rear differential with what appears to be 3.23 gears. Undercarriage is clean and solid. Original floors are sound. Subframe, suspension, etc. in very good condition. Trunk has been refinished in 30* gloss black. In the trunk, included in the sale, are the Air Grabber air cleaner assembly, new speedometer cable(requires installation), and a Holley four barrel carburetor. Black vinyl bench seat interior. Front seat has been redone. Rear seat in excellent shape. Door panels, headliner, and carpet in very good condition. Minor crack in the dash pad. Steering wheel in excellent condition. All gauge faces are clear. Factory Music Master wheel radio. Beep Beep horn. Three aftermarket gauges mounted under the dash. Don't miss an opportunity to own this investment quality Road Runner. CALL RANDY AT 847 456 7726 WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR TO ARRANGE AN IN PERSON INSPECTION. WE WILL ASSIST BUYERS WITH WORLDWIDE SHIPPING.. BANK WIRE IS THE PREFERRED METHOD OF PAYMENT. IT IS SAFE, SECURE, AND PROTECTS BOTH PARTIES. OPTIONAL PAYMENT METHODS INCLUDE BANK OR CASHIER'S CHECK, MONEY ORDER, PERSONAL OR BUSINESS CHECK WITH BANK LETTER, AND CASH(IN PERSON). VEHICLES PURCHASED WITH CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS WILL NOT BE SHIPPED OR DELIVERED IN PERSON UNTIL FUNDS HAVE CLEARED THE BANK. All other payment methods must be agreed upon by both parties before end of auction. A deposit of $500 required within 24 hours of auction end, unless other arrangements are made. Please contact us via telephone or email immediately after end of auction to discuss payment arrangements. Payment in full due within 72 hours of auction end unless other arrangements are made. BUYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL TRANSPORT FEES. Please follow all the terms of sale for this auction, including deposit and final payment requirements. BUYER MUST ADHERE TO AND ABIDE BY TERMS OF SALE THAT ARE CLEARLY STATED IN THE PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RENDER THE SALE NULL AND VOID. WE DESCRIBE VEHICLES TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. HOWEVER, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER TO CONFIRM THIS DESCRIPTION. WE REQUEST AN IN PERSON INSPECTION OF ALL VEHICLES PRIOR TO BIDDING. IF IN PERSON INSPECTION IS NOT POSSIBLE, WE RECOMMEND A THIRD PARTY INSPECTION OF VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRORS OR OMMISSIONS DUE TO A “SIGHT UNSEEN” PURCHASE. SOLD AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH NO WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES. ALL SALES ARE FINAL, NO RETURNS OR REFUNDS. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BID.