1973 Plymouth Road Runner GTX 440 Highly Optioned & Factory Sunroof My Car Story with Lou Costabile

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On "My Car Story" we're at the Carlisle Events in Carlisle PA on 7-13-23.
We're looking at a 1973 Plymouth Road Runner GTX in Black Paint. The car comes with the 440 CI V8 engine, and an automatic transmission.
The car's Owner is Dave Arent. Dave’s had this car since 2020. Dave shares he likes to find highly optioned cars, and this appears to have all the boxes checked including a factory sunroof. This car looks showroom new.
If you’re interested in learning about the different events at the Carlisle Events, go to the website at www.carlisleevents.com
ENJOY!

[@loucostabile]

Hi, If you like this video, please click on SUPER THANKS ❤ with the $ in the middle which is the SUPER THANKS button under the video. Thank you! Lou

[@randyhammett4467]

Highly optioned B-bodies are so rare, glad someone checked all the right boxes and it has such a great caretaker now. Don't be afraid to drive it just plan your trips and enjoy it.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

I wouldn't. The amount of stupid on the streets......

[@loucostabile]

I'd like to see them driven and enjoyed too :-)

[@riccocool]

I have done collision damage since the 80s. Don't drive these cars because everyone else is texting

[@riccocool]

Beautiful car

[@andydanko7074]

Absolutely gorgeous and rare, rare, rare. "Scared to drive it" ??? I'd be scared to sit in it😢😅 great review Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Andy, Happy to read you appreciate the rarity of this car :-) Lou

[@classicmusclecarexhaust1988]

The '71 and up Satellite styling falls into the 'love it or hate it' category, and I love it. To find a Road Runner of any year with luxury options is rare indeed, let alone one with two trim tags. Well Lou, I learned something new from your videos once again- the back windows on a '73 Road Runner are functional with the power window option. Who knew? Great video Lou, Thanks!!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom & JudyAnn, Happy to read "I love it" :-) Glad to share the power window info with you. You're welcome, Lou

[@georgewilkinson1068]

I love the styling. Especially those models with the famed "peek-a- boo" horizontal speedometer.

[@TheGunfighter45acp]

Wow! The power back windows knocked my socks off, and the factory sunroof put them back on again. What a great looking and fully optioned car. Thanks, Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Happy to read the details you enjoy! You're welcome, Lou

[@SolamenteVees]

Wow, what a stunning restoration. I’d love to know more about code Y97 Show Car Finish… 🤔

[@loucostabile]

Hi SolamenteVees, Happy to read you appreciate the restoration of this car :-) Lou

[@richarddevoe5871]

Beautiful RR/GTX and the power windows and sunroof are options I would love on my Plymouth for sure.. another great find Lou !

[@loucostabile]

Hi Richard, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) My pleasure sharing this car with you, Lou

[@johncornell3665]

You dont see many of these cars optioned like this. Thanks Lou!

[@loucostabile]

You're right. You're welcome John!

[@larryb6715]

What a sweet GTX. I have to get to MCACN.

[@loucostabile]

Hope you're at MCACN this November.

[@architypeone8646]

Beautiful restoration! Sweet Mopar! A real time capsule.

[@loucostabile]

High praise :-)

[@LITTLE1994]

Awesome paint and "LX" options

[@loucostabile]

Happy to share this one with you :-)

[@JeffKing310]

Very nice GTX ! You’re right, the paint work is stunning. There are not many of this body style still around, let alone with a 440 and optioned like this one. Thanks for bringing this classic to us.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jeff, Happy to read you enjoy the paint and rarity of seeing one like this so highly optioned. My pleasure sharing this one with you. You're welcome, Lou

[@martinliehs2513]

The paint quality under the hood looks better than the paint on the exterior panels of most cars. The chrome really gleems as well. It is too nice, if such a thing is possible, so it is easy to understand the owner's apprehension when driving this car. Thanks again for bringing this car to our attention.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Martin, High praise for the condition of this car :-) Lou

[@josephanthony4621]

In 1993 ,in my area at Spencer Auto ( Jimmy Spencer of Nascar) I had an opportunity to purchase a 1972 Plymouth Road Runner , it was B5 blue with a full vinyl top, it had power steering , power disc brakes, 400; 4 barrel , pistol grip 4 speed , air conditioning power windows, electric rear window defrost, motorized door in the roof , am fm radio lateral traction bars , black dashboard , white interior , the car was garaged and drivable the dash was not cracked , the seats were not torn , the car was solid , no rust. The original A/C was not removed and it had the original dual snorkel orange air cleaner housing. They wanted 3,000 I said 2,000 the owner met me halfway at 2,500 At the time I was looking for a 1971 Plymouth Road Runner 440+6 car , so I passed on the 72 Plymouth Road Runner. I have been regretting not buying that car for a long time.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Joseph, Thanks for sharing, and if it helps, I think we've all had some stories of ones we've missed, Lou

[@kevinesterline622]

My uncle Joe had one like that. He would ask us kids who wants to see 120 ? My sister would say no boy's would say YES! He would point at speedometer and say there it is😂 good old uncle Joe

[@loucostabile]

Hi Kevin, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Uncle Joe's car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@craigm2484]

Absolutely Awesome 👍🏼

[@loucostabile]

High praise :-)

[@mogarcia9755]

The Road Runner was such a unique novelty muscle car this one is beautiful, just needs a spoiler in rear, thanks Lou… for another one

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mo, Happy to share this "unique novelty muscle car" with you. Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@mogarcia9755]

@@loucostabileLou the car owner looks like Jon Voight with glasses Angelina Jolie’s father 😂

[@JohnCBurzynski]

Nice engine.

[@loucostabile]

I agree.

[@damxgopak457]

Always thought these 73 74 power bulge hood was one of the coolest of all what a very special car lucky dude for sure.

[@loucostabile]

Thanks for sharing what you enjoy on this car :-)

[@czechmate6916]

Very nice restoration work 👍👍

[@loucostabile]

I agree, this car looks showroom new.

[@urideamabal]

Who knew, you could find anything so cool, in 1973. 👌🤓👍

[@loucostabile]

Nice :-)

[@garylewis6495]

Unbelievable black paint! To paraphrase the guys on the Mecum telecasts, "This would be a nominee for the Paint Job Hall of Fame!" Thanks, Lou.

[@loucostabile]

High praise for the paint on this car :-) You're welcome Gary.

[@billfeld5883]

That is a great example of what money could buy back in the early 1970s. Beautiful cruiser!!! 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bill, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@acts2211]

Great Mopar Lou

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy this one acts2211 :-)

[@motorTranz]

Beautiful Road Runner 😍😍😍😍😍 Thanks Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi motorTranz, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@dougpeters1625]

That is an absolutely spectacular restoration.

[@loucostabile]

High praise for this restoration.

[@gene978]

Exceptional! Never seen one this nice! That Red Makes it really Stand out!

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read "Exceptional!" :-)

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

That's one incredible road runner. Makes me miss the 74 I had even more

[@loucostabile]

Hi FUBAR Model Yard, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@sespider]

Still have a old photo from when I was the mid 80s. In it is my Mom, little Rock, and myself standing in front of Dad's Roadrunner. He took the photo. It was our family's first camera. The car wasn't the focus of the photos, but it still ended up in one. Dad's Roadrunner was brown and the only vehicle my parents ts had. When something in it messed up, Dad didn't have the knowhow, nor time, at the time to fix it. He ended up selling it pretty cheap and got a small cab pickup to replace it. Dad greatly resents selling the vehicle because he loved it and has since realized what the engine issue likely was. He doesn't resent putting the family's needs first though. He needed to be able to get to work and not having a working vehicle was a great burden on us all. I turned 45 this past Feb. 23rd (2024), and Dad turns 69 in September. With their medical conditions, I now take car of him and Mom. I badly wish I had the funds to buy him another Roadrunner. He more than deserves it. But with absence of funds and how expensive the Roadrunner is today, I know that dream will never come true. If you're blessed to have one, be grateful. They were far more important to families, back in the day, than you realize.

[@loucostabile]

Hi SEspider, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@bruceh92]

Well equipped and flawless. Underneath just as clean! Great feature guys, many tks!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bruce H., Happy to read you enjoy this "flawless" car :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@johnhenrymcmahon6878]

OMG big bro Lou! WHOOSH>>>>>>>WHOOSH>>>>>>go my floppy sneakers headed toward ya there in Carlisle, PA and Johnny boy is once again in his tubesocked stocking feet 🤪🤣!! I gotta go to mass here at St. Mark's, big brother-so can ya catch those boys and throw 'em back to me here in Brooklyn lol 😜? Oh boy, I just had to see this Batmobile-like GTX. EPIC. Love that open greenhouse (power window options are good!) and those huge chrome exhaust pipes out back-beautiful and more than worthy of a look and a listen. These cars are wildly awesome, big bro Lou. Thanks for tracking them down for us. Please throw me back my sneaks, man!! JV Johnny ⚾⚾

[@loucostabile]

Hey JV Johnny, Happy to read your "tubesocking" with this car :-) Enjoy that Sunday message. You're welcome and my pleasure "tracking them down for us", Lou

[@robgrear1142]

Road Runner...Beep! Beep! What a unique and stellar '73! Watch out for any coyotes out there! A definite keeper.

[@loucostabile]

NICE!

[@DWH072]

Lou normally I’m a stickler for that 3rd pedal, but with all those options and that sunroof. That’s crazy rare 👍

[@loucostabile]

Hi DWH072, Happy to read you appreciate the rarity of this car :-) Lou

[@anthonybrincefield2812]

There is one nearly identical locally, in Butterscotch, with a pistol grip 4 sp and sunroof. Not as pristine as that one but very nice. Thanks.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Anthony, Happy to read this car is like the one in Butterscotch you're aware of locally :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@thud9797]

There were no 73 440 4-spds built, all 440s were automatic.

[@anthonybrincefield2812]

@@thud9797 I noticed that when I looked them up in my “White book”. Obviously someone has changed it to a manual trans.

[@user-ys7ng6hq5j]

Цікаве авто! Класна фарба! Дякую!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Сергій, Happy to read you enjoy the paint on this car :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@louiskats5116]

Goodday Lou, Talk about a mega hamburger with the lot with a side serving of chips & beer with all those options. Imagine how much fun it would of been back in the day walking into a Plymouth dealership & ordering such a Roadrunner. Yeah I will take that & that & don't forget the 440. Cheers Louis Kats your number 1 Fan in Melbourne, Australia. 🇦🇺 🇺🇸 👍 🙂

[@loucostabile]

Goodday Louis, You're right this one has all the boxes check, and I agree it would be fun checking all the boxes :-) Thanks for being my # 1 Fan in Australia. Cheers, Lou

[@stephenschumacher2696]

I have a 73' 400 4 speed pwr window road runner red and black I found in a corn field when I was 19 it's in my garage and I'm 56!🤠 Plymouth ❣️

[@loucostabile]

Hi Stephen, Happy to read you have a cool car :-) Lou

[@mikeeshom4589]

I had one with a 406 pack factory. Sunroof 15 inch rims the proper exhaust. I love that car

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mike, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@briansd2772]

I want one! Thanks Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hope you get one! You're welcome Brian SD!

[@davidbaron6647]

sweet ride

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy this "sweet ride" :-)

[@richarddowd4001]

I also spied that blue Super Bee or Coronet in the background.

[@loucostabile]

I'm sure that's a good one too :-)

[@gzuzsavz]

...just on the ragged edge of over restored🪞and..that's perfect! Aha. Such a stunner, this road runner! It does exude Bat Mobile vibes, aha and I wager Bruce Wayne would not mind having it in his collection! ..ppl say the original muscle era ended in '71. They never saw THIS car! & moi having driven mid-late 70's 440 powered cars..trust me..they had the oomph to back up their looks. Esp w/a few tweaks 😎 Thanks tons, Mr. C! You have a good eye, man. God bless you. Psalm 122:5-7

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mr. J, "that's perfect" Well said. You're welcome. Blessings receive. God bless you too, Lou

[@gzuzsavz]

@@loucostabile Thanks, Lou! Have a great week hunting up more classic cruisers!

[@michaelsmith-rh4yt]

Back in 1976 a friend of mine had a green 74 Roadrunner GTX 440 Auto and possibly a sunroof but not sure about that detail, I know it was rare because I never saw another one since, at the same time I had a 1974 Charger 400 Magnum with the blacked out hood with the bulge, it also had those exhaust tips with the Red like this GTX in the video, must have been fairly rare car since I've never seen one like it since either.

[@michaelsmith-rh4yt]

The Charger I was referring to was silver if anyone has seen it, as I sold it in 1977 to get rid of the payments 😊

[@loucostabile]

Hi Michael, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Friends car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@Slimjim260]

Beautiful body design

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)

[@karlepaul6632]

Beautiful car... perfection...and honestly, that's the one bad thing, like Dave stated, he gets nervous driving it due to the possibility of something happening so slightly, it's no longer going to be perfect. lol Really though, I'm beyond impressed. 👍

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read "I'm beyond impressed" :-)

[@estebanjosemerlo]

Hola Lou, buenas tardes. Que hermosa maquina. Una nave digna de su dueño el Sr.Dave, amante de los opcionales. A su lado, en color verde, me parecio reconocer una Dodge GTX V8. ¿Podria ser Lou? Mi padrino se vompro una 0km. en 1971. El velocímetro marcaba 240kms./h. El acelerador era muy celoso. Apenas lo tocabas la trompa respondía. La marcha atrás tenía un gatillo que la accionaba. Fue muy vista aqui en Argentina en esos años. Hoy en día es muy buscada por sus fanáticos y hay restauradores que hacen un muy buen trabajo. Muchas gracias Sr.Dave que la disfrute. Muchas gracias Lou por registrarla y compartirla con todos nosotros. Muy buen trabajo. Segui adelante. Gracias.

[@loucostabile]

Hola Esteban, Happy to share this "Beautiful Machine" with you :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@georgewetzel4380]

YES!!!

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@mreinstein48]

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@mickeyshea8013]

Amazing

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@philipdrake6]

An other great car Lou, that Plymouth as you say has a beautiful paint job, and the car through out is outstanding, good show.👍👍.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Philip, Happy to share this "great car" with you :-) Lou

[@romans828.]

280 h.p. But we'll take it! Beautiful car thanks Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) You're welcome Robs Big Tent Revival!

[@plymouthdie-castreplicas]

'73/'74 the last true RR. Long live the Beep-Beep!

[@loucostabile]

"Long live the Beep-Beep!" NICE!

[@bigredc222]

Very nice. Thank you.

[@loucostabile]

You're welcome C Smith. I see you like model trains. Good news! Here is a link to a playlist I created of model train layouts & trains for you to enjoy, Lou kzbin.info/aero/PLkoIzmOYXcchOyKhEHn_2-NqjpNFq64U3

[@bigredc222]

@@loucostabile Thanks. I have watched a few of them. I'm new to the hobby, I still have a lot to learn.

[@bluesman7475]

Good looking GTX. It does have lots of options. I would have to second day a 6-pak and give it some 4.11's. Thanks Lou for a rare car.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Greg, My pleasure sharing this ""rare car" with you :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

Nice...

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Nice 😀

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@ollienilson1644]

Nice car Lou. Love it as a MOPAR fan. Ceep going Lou.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Ollie, Happy to read you enjoy this "Nice car" :-) Lou

[@SA-bq1us]

That is one happy man ...i would be too. options options options. I would keep that mopar in my living room

[@loucostabile]

Hi S A, "I would keep that mopar in my living room" NICE! Lou

[@raphaelhernandez4088]

I love these years roadrunners. I didn't know about the back windows only working on electric windows.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Raphael, Happy to read "I love these years roadrunners" :-) Lou

[@tinkerlewis9187]

I had a1973 340 A 833. Manual windows. Pretty sure that they rolled down. Back ones I mean.

[@rebeccabogart8517]

This was awesome 💯😎😊❤ my brother years ago had a 70-71 road runner GTX with a Hurst stick shift I loved 😍 that car if you redo one like that could you show it?. It also had the small stirring wheel with the beep beep horn THANK You

[@loucostabile]

Hi Rebecca, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Brothers car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou P.S. Here is that 1970 you requested. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJrRlZylg7SDnZI

[@20alphabet]

That's quite a car!

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you like it :-)

[@billmagorian490]

Lou great coverage of this car making a point to not only video all the options but also giving verbal praise especially the console. I have two questions. In all previous Plymouths the road runner and GTX were distinct models. The GTX was more luxurious while the road runner was more bare bones and had inferior upholstery among other things. What was with the Road Runner GTX name? BTW I never saw any GTX badgeing. The owner's car show board detailing all the car's options really helped this MCS. Also by 73 the 440's horsepower had plummeted especially on the California cars. What was the horsepower in this car? No more questions just a thank you for this excellent story.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bill, the GTX badges were on the hood over the 440. A google search (which you can do) shared this regarding HP. "Still available in 1973, the big 440 engine was rated 275 horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. Changed for '73 was the four-barrel carb. Out was the old Holley and in was a new, bigger, Carter Thermoquad with 1.50-inch primary and 2.50-inch secondary barrels." Happy to read "excellent story" :-) Lou

[@barrycuda3769]

Nice, I think this year of Road Runner looks better than the '71 model. Didnt Daisy Duke have one in the early Dukes of Hazzard?

[@michaelhollon5332]

Yellow Roadrunner

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)

[@diegohorton869]

That green Super Bee looks like the one I had 40 years ago. To bad you didn’t show that one.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Diego, You're right this was the only car I was able to video in this Building that day, Lou

[@adamtrombino106]

I wonder if it was some sort of dealership special order promo car to be optioned like that? From what I saw, the only options it doesn't have are the console mounted tape player and power locks. Fantastic car in my favorite color schemes! ( I'd be afraid to drive it too. We just saw the results of a green 68 GTX that got rear ended and totaled in 1 of my Mopar F/B groups. 1 of the passengers was sent to the hospital with neck injuries.)

[@loucostabile]

Hi Adam, Seems I've seen a few Car Dealer "Executive Car" with all the option boxes checked. People generally couldn't afford all the options, so rare to see one like this. Sad to read the results of the rear ended car :-( Lou

[@konradbenz7110]

💕👍

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@carllavell8673]

👍🔥😍🔥👍

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@Clay-ov6yj]

I have the same car minus a few options. Mine has a white strip

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you have a fun car too.

[@tonydagostino6158]

I hope the blue trim on the control knobs isn't radium paint to glow in the dark

[@loucostabile]

Hmmm, interesting.

[@tonydagostino6158]

@@loucostabile It shouldn't be. It was banned in '68 but it wouldn't be the first time a company broke a rule

[@leroyfisher9768]

Needs a pistol grip stick shift 💪

[@loucostabile]

Hmmm, wonder if that would have been standard?

[@jeffreyb6165]

I wouldn't consider a sunroof in a Road Runner a special feature but a design flaw, but then again that's just me. The words Muscle car and sunroof should never be uttered in the same sentence 😀 Other than that nice ride and great content as usual Lou. 👍

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jeffrey, Thanks for viewing and sharing your thoughts, Lou

[@sergeantmasson3669]

By 1973, they were smog choked low HP slow slugs.

[@loucostabile]

Thanks for viewing and sharing.

[@timothyrobinson1612]

They changed the way they measured horsepower from the gross rating to a net rating which made it look much lower than it actually was, the gross rating was done without anything that would rob horsepower such as belts on pulleys etc, also the air Cleaner/filter that prevented it from getting enough air , and if course a drop in compression and retarding the timing so it could burn unleaded fuel didn't help either, but if it was rated in gross hp numbers it would be around 350 hp , remember the net rating started in '72 to help bring down the insurance costs

[@thud9797]

The smog choked slugs started in 73 with catalytic converters, the 73 and 74 440 cars still ran good.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

@@thud9797 Smog pumps began in '68. Cat converters in '75.

[@thud9797]

@@sergeantmasson3669 True but smog pumps really didn't kill power and were perhaps the best way to lower emissions without hurting power. Rather than retard timing they could keep mostly the normal tune and let the air pump do the rest. Maybe a 10hp loss at most and exhaust much cleaner and no rich exhaust smell.

[@Ikeebeabuchi]

Love that red stripe with the black paint

[@loucostabile]

Nice :-)