When Plymouth decided to make a low-cost competitor for the performance market in 1968, they brought out the Road Runner. It was named for the speedy cartoon character that always left poor Wile E. Coyote in the dust and they paid Warner Bros. $50,000 for the right to use the name for their new, affordable muscle car. It was a stripped-down Belvedere coupe body with a high-performance 383 CID engine in front of a four-speed trans, stiffened the suspension and beefed up the drum brakes that sold for a base price of $2,896. The first ones had only bench seats and even rubber floor mats instead of carpets. Options were few, the main and most expensive one being the fire-breathing 426 Hemi engine for $714. With that, the Road Runner could turn the quarter mile at 105 mph in 13.5 seconds. Road Runners were cheap and fast. And they were a hit with the younger drivers. Plymouth had forecasted sales of 2500, but sold a whopping 45,000 that year! Although a few more options were added for 1969, the Road Runner still stayed true to its original concept of affordable muscle. Vic Repstad’s ‘69 has carpet and even very rare factory air conditioning, but no fancy gauges, bucket seats or even the often-expected options like power steering and brakes. The only other options it has are Sure-Grip positration rear end, an AM radio and rally-type wheels. Vic, not really a Mopar guy, bought it from a friend a year and a half ago. The friend had taken it all apart over eighteen years before, planning on doing a restoration, bur never finished it. He had done the body work and primered the body, but not much else. The original 383 CID engine had been swapped for a four-barrel carbureted 440 CID. It took about six months of hard work to get it back together. He had it repainted in the original Sunfire Yellow, rechromed the bumpers and even had the original AM radio put back in working order (although wife Mimi wondered why he bothered). The upholstery was still in good shape, so he did not have to redo the interior. Since completing it, he has only driven it about 300 miles. He has other cars that handle and stop better, plus are more comfortable. Still, it is nice to own a car that is truly a muscle car legend. And the unique-sounding “Beep Beep” horn that Plymouth spent $10,000 to develop is cool.

The only external difference between the Belvedere and this Road Runner is the simulated air intake on the hood, the badging and decals on the doors. Vic was unpleasantly surprised when the reproduction decals and small plastic “road runner” badges cost about $300.

Although there was a 440 CID engine available for Road Runners in 1969, it was the triple-carbureted Six Pack version. However a stock 440 four-barrel put out 375 HP against the 383's 335 HP.

This Road Runner interior is simple, with a spartan dash and no console. Luxury was simply not in the mix for these muscle cars.