Plymouth Roadrunner

Q: Greg, I’ve read about Plymouth Roadrunners in several of your articles. What’s the story on this car? — Dennis S., via e-mail

A: Dennis, here’s some history on the Plymouth Roadrunner. Chrysler reportedly paid $50,000 to Warner Brothers for the naming rights to the famous cartoon bird, intending to apply it to a stripped-down 1968 Satellite powered by a big V-8.

Plymouth felt a sub-$3,000 car could help sales, and decided to drop a 383-inch V-8 into the Roadrunner. It did so to combat General Motors and Ford, which were selling plenty of muscle cars. Plymouth took 440 cylinder heads, cam and kit, and an oil pan windage tray from the powerful GTX line, resulting in a 335-horse 383 that produced 425 pound-feet of torque.

The car came with Roadrunner decals, a “beep-beep” horn, rubber floor mats (no carpeting) and a bench seat, with either automatic or four speed. The base price came at about $2,900, while the only engine option, for $714 more, was a 425-horsepower, 426 Hemi.

The early 1968 Roadrunners were post coupes, while a hardtop and an “Air Grabber” ram air came at mid-year.