The History Of The Plymouth Roadrunner

[@garycb8592]

Worked at Chrysler Trenton Engine in 1968. Machined several hemi heads. Every time I see a 68-69 Hemi I wonder if it was one of mine. Also owned a new 68 Road Runner coupe. Built at Lynch Road assembly. All I have now is the window sticker and a factory manual and some pictures.

[@LU6TIE]

Well, you definitely helped manufacture a legacy of great cars. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@sanfranciscobay]

I liked the 1968-69 style with the bench seat, 4 speed on the floor and big engine. Something about big cars is cool. I miss the muscle car era.

[@cb874]

My bother had a new blue '69 383 4 speed bench seat coupe that I remember as a kid being a big car back then. Miss those days man.

[@Brooks22n]

@@cb874 I had a 69’ with a bench seats and Dual BEEP-BEEP Horns haha

[@warrenjansen7096]

What a sad ending to such an iconic muscle car. 1970 was my favorite year.

[@jonellwanger7258]

Warren Jansen 🤔 they died with the best engines!! We didn’t get to watch them transform into some weird late 70’s model. Like the chevelle and everything else. Think it was best that way. Most cars get better, but in the 70’s, they went backwards.

[@warrenjansen7096]

@hobby 4me My brother, who is 10 years older than I am, pulled up into my parent's driveway while on leave from the air Force, in a brand new 1970 Roadrunner. Lime green with a white vinyl top and white interior. I got to drive it once before I got my license. 383, automatic and it could sure turn heads.

[@daniellobo1680]

Same here. After 70... They started looking ugly

[@dustinschmidt4008]

Still have dad’s 1969 1/2 Plymouth Roadrunner. Such an awesome car

[@joeyrabon4208]

Mine as well

[@cmscms123456]

I bought my first Mopar, 1970 Roadrunner, I bought it in 1975, used, with 89,000 miles on it. I was 17 years old, just joined the Air Force. My 70 Roadrunner was 2 door, no post, coupe. 383, 4 bbl, 3 speed manual on the floor, very rare. B5 Blue, black vinyl top and B5 blue interior. Price.. $1395. original Mopar rally wheels had Goodyear Rally GT tires on the rear, Goodyear polyglass on the front. My previous cars were, 1965 Mustang, and a 1965 GTO, 389, 3-2's 4 speed. The Roadrunner was AMAZING... FAST, COOL, My old GTO was no match for my 1970 Roadrunner.

[@scottyfisher2321]

My ol lady can't give me WOOD like this does

[@animalyze7120]

Dated a Girl back in High school who had bought a 1970 Roadrunner that had a 426 (Rated 425 but was pushing 525) she paid $900 for it the engine was in pieces. Her Uncle was an old Assembly man from a Plymouth plant and not only found all the parts, also painted it in Panther Pink for her. One of the sweetest looking rides I ever saw and one of our favorite past times was Eating 5 point slows and Iroc Z's for snacks. Great memories!

[@Z06C5]

My 1st car was a 69 Roadrunner Learned to drive a stick. Great car. Paid $700 for it in 1981

[@markflierl1624]

My first car was a 68 roadrunner. It was also a stick shift. I paid 4,000 dollars in 1989.

[@kc-6837]

Thanks for the video. The 69 is my favorite.

[@metalroach437]

The 69 was my favourite as well

[@tomriggle3217]

I have a 68 I love the round marker lights

[@SebastianSmith-c5t]

Grew up with these cars. Had a few of my own, but my pride is the 69' Convertible which I inherited from my Uncle. I'm 47 now and been around that car since I was 3.

[@jimjungle1397]

The 1968 and 1969 383's had the tall, high compression pistons. The 1970 383 had shorter pistons and lower compression. Early 1971 383's were like the 1970, but late 1971 383's had even lower compression, with 2 barrel 383 pistons and a standard camshaft. In 1972, the GTX model was dropped, but there was a new GTX package option for the Roadrunner that included the 440 engine. The 1969 383 manual transmission models got special rear leaf springs that were one year only.

[@vassa1972]

Great video you guys thanks. I was born in Toronto in '72 and always been a fan of these muscle cars

[@paultomaszewski1964]

Had to change the style in 73 with new bumper regulation. Look at the "72, the bumper surrounded the headlights, "73 had an actual bumper.

[@Combat556]

I bought a new 68 coupe, dark metallic green, black vinyl interior (no carpets), 383 4 spd for $2900. Had a lot of fun street racing Chevelle’s and GTO’s. Favorite was the 69 440 6 pak.

[@sanfranciscobay]

Hard to believe that they would build cars that had rubber flooring instead of carpet to keep the prices lower.

[@robertbowyer7239]

I owned a 1968 Roadrunner, and currently own a 1969, love the Roadrunners!

[@williamchristian8705]

For myself it was the 70 in Orange. What a car it was. Great times.

[@Dogboy1960]

In 1971 the death nail was installed not by insurance companies nor emissions standards that were to come later. In a story that trips up most car companies at some point.... it was a new design too ugly to want that killed off the "classic" road runner as a good looking bargain muscle car. How Dodge body styling designers couldn't see it amazes me still to this day.

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

I watched the demise on muscle cars into the 80s. Back in the late 70s you could buy them cheap. It's amazing to see the return to muscle cars. He'll cats. ZL-1 Camaros and Coyote Mustangs got to l the the Vetts too. I still own a 73 Firebird, 1972 455 HO, 4 SPEED and a 1990 ZR-1 Corvette. I am helping a friend with his 1969 RR, 1970 440 engine. Just did all floor pans, complete front end rebuild with front disc brake conversion, power brakes and steering added. Mid range cam, headers, intake and carb with new ignition system. That ole 440 sounds great, she should pull strong too. I am enjoying working on the Mopar

[@jhenninger]

I used to buy 80s camaros in the 90s for $2k beat the crap out of them and send them to the junkyard, if we only knew how much theyd go up

[@60viking]

I always look for me in these videos. I was a mechanic/driver in Chrysler engineering. 440 6 bbl development but drove superbird, Daytona ,AAR ect. I sure messed up.

[@G53X0Y0Z0]

How did you mess up? Didn't squirrel away a bunch of these legendary cars?

[@MICKSS350]

I had 3 68`s all had 383`s that I quickly shit canned and dropped in 440 Magnums and changed out the gears to 4:56`s. They were good cars but had lousy electronics, ballast resistors and starter relays being the main culprits.

[@sanfranciscobay]

Where would you get the 440 engine from? Wrecking yard or new?

[@johnogo7886]

Mine is a 1970 Roadrunner with HP 383 road wheels and bucket seats with center console.

[@dono624]

I had 2 roadrunners, a 73 was my first car had a 340, and later I got a 70 383 hemi-box 4-speed and air grabber. Man I miss that car...

[@johnboggess3582]

'71... owned by the wife of a Plymouth/Chrysler dealer; sapphire blue with white vinyl roof! it had fake wire wheel covers! i installed a Torker and a windage tray, and sold the wire wheel covers. most prettiest car Plymouth ever made.

[@meanf1502]

68 69 70 after that down hill 69 for sure hemi or 440

[@wesgtx440]

Would have been nice if the 440 was an option in the RR. Only the 440 6BBl was an option offered mid year 1969 and for all of the 1970 model year.

[@glennsvoboda6602]

I always loved Road runners. Had many. Then i was given a 70 Duster. 383 6pack. Plum Crazy. Front scoop. Rear spoiler whit reflector decals, side and rear. Black buckets, console. It was taken from me during my divorce for attorneys, Dishonest Judge Donald Blydenburg , Suffolk county L.I. N.Y. we celebrated his death! My name is Glenn Svoboda. " DOWN BEATEN DAD "

[@tomquinn607]

Yeah. Been there dad. I lost everything I worked 20 years for to a cheating scumbag. Now she's dead so fck her! But my love for the Roadrunner is forever. Maybe a burnout on her grave. Just kidding. Got to move on.

[@cheekydemon6131]

You have a Czech surname. Svoboda means Freedom in the Czech language. I guess your ancestor came over to the USA from the former Czechoslovakia 🇨🇿. Driving an old muscle car...that's the ultimate SVOBODA to me 🗽

[@Alfred..E..Neuman]

I had a few '69 383 Roadrunners back in the mid '70's and one of them had the pop out rear windows which I thought was kind of unique!

[@jhenninger]

Never seen one with rear windows that pop out, that must have been a rare option choice

[@Alfred..E..Neuman]

@@jhenninger I remember it was B5, black vinyl top, black interior, bucket seats, console, 4 speed, 3.91 gears and manual steering..It was stolen and recovered, they removed the vinyl top and had it painted fire engine red at Earl Scheib, the motor was built by Ramchargers..I had it painted black with the flat black hood, then it was stolen again and never recovered, this was the summer of 1976, I still have the original Michigan title as when it was stolen, they applied for an assemblers title! 😠

[@Alfred..E..Neuman]

I just learned, from watching KZbin's "Nick's Garage", that the pop out rear windows were coupes and the roll down were hardtops.

[@jtp336]

5:42, wow, never saw a 71+ without headlights, too bad Chrysler didnt offer hideaway headlights as an option from the factory.

[@teddyshepherd2854]

My first new car was the 69 RR. Nothing that came after it could come anywhere near the perfect design of the 69.

[@glennsvoboda6602]

Ah, 71 blue white stripes. Black buckets. Slap stick 727! Wow. What a car! Playing Yes songs with the 8track. "I've seen all good people turn there heads so satisfied I'm on my way!"

[@garymckee8857]

I owned a 69 and a 72 and I miss them both.

[@CarefulWithThatAxeEugene]

The Winged Warriors 💜 Oh my...

[@gregdixon9443]

Dodge has canceled their Plymouth line. I wonder if Dodge could revive the RR under the Dodge name?

[@tmax8029]

Chrysler should bring back the Roadrunner and the Super Bee 🐝 . The body of these cars should have a sportier look 👀. These were really kool names for muscle cars.

[@chadhaire1711]

They did --it is called the Charger RT...get out of your cave.

[@tmax8029]

@@chadhaire1711 I said Roadrunner and Super Bee. The R/T Charger has never left production. Go back to your cave, because you don’t have a clue about Muscle Cars.🤔

[@geraldmyers3660]

1970 roadrunner. Fast n Furious. Walked away from horrendous accident. Totalled but speed kills!.

[@christopherlucy1772]

I had a 1968 hemi roadrunner with a 4-speed &bench seat. It Had an aluminum trim panel that I don't see on some cars on the back of the trunk lid and it had a wood grained 3 spoke steering wheel with a plain horn button I don't see on some cars that have fancy horn buttons can anyone tell me why?

[@wesgtx440]

Part of the road runner decor package. Steering wheels had different options to order as well.

[@UncompressedWAVmusic]

Great video muscle car show and tell. You told it great for Road Runner. Thank you. Now Burn rubber with that Road Runner.

[@torchred99]

1969 the best year.......

[@trythinking6676]

I still want my 85 Shelby Dodge. Broke my heart when I had to sell it.

[@Aldo-zp8wk]

Please, it was a French design that was a throw away POS.

[@trythinking6676]

@@Aldo-zp8wk it had 300000 on it when I sold it. What you mean POS

[@andrewhill1415]

I still want another Shelby Charger as well!

[@ngauruhoezodiac3143]

My favourite would be a 1970 model with a supercharged 383 engine and 4 speed transmission.

[@hayseed5467]

I almost killed myself in my '69. BTW, the 375hp 440 was an option in '70, and the standard trans became a THREE-speed stick(!)

[@robertvalderaz7329]

After 73 the road runner was junk but the 68 thru 70 were the years to have. I had the 68

[@jhenninger]

69 more my style, my buddy had a 73 still loved that car even though it wasn't the good years and it only had a 318

[@dono624]

@@jhenninger Not only the 318 in the 73. I had a 73 with a factory 340 in it, Later I dropped a big block k-member in it and dropped a 440 in it after the 340 threw a rod through the block.

[@tomriggle3217]

I have a surf teal Polly 68

[@danshelburne1948]

Only problems I had was over heating in Texas heat an cops following my 440 GTX. Wish I had kept it.😣

[@darcyheffernan7533]

Very good video, my only complaint is that Road Runner is TWO words!

[@chadhaire1711]

The 440 was advertised at 390 hp, but installed in the car, was really 325 hp....the 2020 Dodge 5.7 puts out more at 375.

[@garyarnold5699]

And your point?

[@chadhaire1711]

@@garyarnold5699 their figures are wrong mine are right....or do I really have to explain it?

[@garyarnold5699]

chad haire I guess you do as I don’t see where this video has anything to do with a 2020 Dodge 5.7.

[@chadhaire1711]

@@garyarnold5699 It has to do with proper horsepower figures.....this video says the 1970 440 has 390 hp giving the impression it had more power then a new one.......it was really 325 hp compared to the newer ones at 375 hp. What is it that confuses you....or you are just confused.

[@redlight3932]

They ran them on the dyno with no accessories and full exhaust in the 60s and 70s so they did make that much hp just not when installed in the cars with accessories the new cars are tested with everything on

[@alain99v6]

the 1970 front end was rhe best looking

[@josephliptak]

What a horrible death the roadrunner endured in 1980, nothing like its 1968 birth.

[@dono624]

Thanks insurance companies for ruining the muscle car era.

[@cuda426hemi]

No no..Thanks GM, Mopar & Ford for making crappy cars that couldn't turn or stop; and thank the kids that drank and drove waaay too fast and killed thousands of people every year in those fast yet dumb garbage cans - I know because I lived through that era. What? Do you think Insurance companies exist to bleed cash because of morons?? I was just lucky (I'd like to think"good" but no) - but you have to thank idiots like me for raising the price of fun. On the other hand I remember being pissed (the Cuda got 7mpg when having fun) when the price of gas went to a f'd up 45¢ a gallon!!! The Horrrrrahhh!!! 🚗

[@t.t.6398]

@@cuda426hemi Braking and handling of cars back in the 60's and 70's was horrible no matter where they were built!

[@dono624]

@@cuda426hemi I grew up in those days too and I see your point, but... You think insurance companies are your friend? Seriously?? All insurance companies are the same, they exist because nobody have been taught to save. And they don't give a rat's behind about your well being. These companies handle everything from cars to houses to health, same companies! I watched as my Wife deteriorated and lost her battle with Cancer all because the insurance companies wouldn't budge on how they would cover things. So I kinda see what you are saying, kinda... BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE... Insurance companies are NOT the Noble human interest groups you paint them out to be.

[@dono624]

Yea the insurance companies did not raise any of their prices and push for different standards because they were worried about people, they did it because it was hurting their bottom line. Money talks, was true back then and it is even more true today. People are disposable to them, it is what it is...

[@easygoing2479]

Everyone go out and find the 1970 Motor Trend (?) issue about Insurance Companies "Putting the Squeeze" on "Supercars". The front cover had picture of a large pair of hands, outstretched, holding a Limelight Superbird by the front and rear. On each successive page of the article inside, the hands were incrementally squeezing the Superbird until it was finally squeezed to about 1/5th its original length by the end of the article.

[@omcara1]

What"s a 1976 Bowl-air? Some sort of a retro chevy? ... Can't pronounce Volare?

[@UseYourIllusions78]

a 69 rr 383 with headers, an 2 650 double pumpers on the 4 spd , beat the hemi all day long .i seen it , family had both ...one a 69 with two 650s had air ride ,4spd , headers..an notsure on cam .an 2 hemis..a 69 an 70 both maual as well .. an the 383 beat em by a half car..so the hemis hp was not what it bragged about as they got spanked by fords an chevs stock as well

[@gelandewagen4394]

90% similar to the charger but still super car and like

[@harryjohnson8605]

Road Runner will never be a cheap muscle cars again

[@zone47]

Wow, I threw up in my mouth a little bit around the 1974 roadrunner offering. My Girlfriend had a ... I think it was a 76 Dodge Charger front wheel drive with a 4 cylinder. The insurance co. still had a sur charge on that car because it was a Charger and we couldn't talk them out of it.

[@gabrielkloster4502]

insurance companies killers muscle

[@davingraham7061]

i love my 76

[@LITTLE1994]

The Superbird will always be best version. Meep Meep!

[@pariswatkins4841]

Love the spoiler

[@johnnielsen5999]

Anybody that knows me knows I'm a Mopar freak

[@lovethesmellofracefuelinth7374]

There are 4 dislikes. Ayone to not like those beautiful machines has either got to be extremely envious, or deceived with the man-made global warming scam. My third Mopar was a 70, and love the birds 💪🏼😎

[@mitchnerem6759]

How do folks make videos and get historical facts wrong??

[@geraldmyers3660]

I ran with wannabes, but beep beep, zoom.

[@dougb3699]

Robot vocal

[@dalebarton2098]

I don't know your history with my history was it was the first car at ever drove when I started driving and I give $275 for one

[@daviddennison4287]

What were they thinking back then? Modern technology sucks what would you rather have? New Cameros are lame however fast and expensive Challengers are cool 80000$ How much for a time machine?

[@chadhaire1711]

these old care were junk....a modern V-6 blows them away

[@Johnpinckney98]

71-72 looks better than the 73-74, however everything after that looks ass and I know it was because of the oil crisis.

[@deweydodo6691]

I didn't know the road runner lasted till 1975

[@IAmProdAG]

1979

[@meauxjeaux431]

R/R lasted til '74, with '73-'74 being questionable at best, and I am being generous by even saying that. Everything else through '79 was other various pieces of shit with a R/R sticker on them, but they were NOT R/Rs.

[@cmscms123456]

I am most sad to see a lot of these iconic American muscle cars going to Europe and Australia. These are AMERICAN TREASURES, should stay in America.

[@cheekydemon6131]

Well, there are many European people that grew up without being able to even see classic muscle cars on the streets, let alone buy them and drive them, so for many of us it's a lifelong dream come true. Being an '80s kid that grew up behind the Iron Curtain, watching American movies and videoclips on pirated VHS tapes back in the day, I saw "Gimme All Your Lovin' " from ZZ Top and I promised myself "When I grow up, I'll buy an old muscle car and I'm also gonna get this cool ZZ Top keychain and hang it on the keys from the car." A little boy's silly dream? Maybe, but now I am closing in on 40 and I fullfilled my dream some time ago, even though it seemed impossible for a long time. And to be honest with you I wouldn't trade my ride for anything. Not even for a Lamborghini Countach or a brand new Ferrari. The '72 Demon 340 might not be the most sought after American classic or the most known, but I fell in love with it immediately. It's just perfect to me...to the last bolt. It has everything I'd have ordered myself, if I was the one buying it originally. What a hell spawn and extremely unique here in Europe too!! I don't need to own the latest iPhone, I don't need to wear expensive Swiss watch or eat in luxury restaurants, but I sure as hell need to just cruise down the road in my Demon... Hopefully for all of us, there are enough US classics for the whole world. From my experience instead of classic muscle cars young Americans/young people in general much rather want prestigious car brands from Europe anyway. These old classics are "difficult" to drive and some have a stick shift plus you can’t chase golddiggers in them, hahaha. I personally love the way American classics handle, but it might be way too challenging for many others. Have a good day, sir. American classics forever... Just so you know - old cars here in Europe need to be in a top shape, or you're not allowed on the roads, so we don’t drive neglected rust buckets. Most old American classics here are museum worthy 😍 Sorry for the language barrier.

[@themidtenairbear9426]

Why did everything from cars to music turn gay in the 70s and 80s

[@meauxjeaux431]

Nothing wrong with 70's music at all, but It all went to shit in the 80's until Guns-N-Roses saved rock from extinction for a little while. But then it all went to hell...AGAIN ! I wasn't exactly thrilled with the hair bands so, I quit listening to radio in the 80s, and never started listening again.

[@komodokhan]

1975 killed that legend

[@billdouglas6561]

If it ain't broke don't fix it !!!!!!!

[@chadhaire1711]

they were broke and needed fix

[@gnr311182pj]

Crazy just crazy how such an awesome in every single way car got noticeably worse looking and let’s face it sadder and sadder year after year after year...sorry but this car sucked by the end. Shamefully.. Just my opinion. Those first couple years though.💥.f’n glorious 🤘🏻😬👍🏻

[@jhenninger]

Just wait til they revive the name with some ugly electric version

[@t.t.6398]

I couldn't make it halfway through listening to the horrid computer voice. Way to fail on an otherwise great video!

[@v.e.7236]

Would have been a fun little tale were it not for that annoying robo-voice. FAIL!