1974 Plymouth Road Runner

In 1974 the Muscle Car era was taking its last gasp, having been plundered by the feds and all their rules just took out the proverbial wind from its sails. Although still garnering interest, there were a few sleepers that got through to dealerships, and this is one of them!

For consignment it's all right when found under a covering in Arizona which the former owner prior to our consignor snapped up and began the process of a full restoration. After a lengthy process all is buttoned up right down to the original color retained for the respray. The interior is very special, and it has a sunroof, something unheard of in this era. On top of this all the car has been certified by Galen Govier.

Exterior

Although it's good, this car manufacturer did not get the memo, or ignored it when it came to 1974 rules. It actually grew from the previous year, sports some dual headlights in a nice chrome bezel flanking a horizontal grille. Below is a chrome bumper with some rubber blocks in its center for the crash mandate of 5mph. Straight steel is on the Coke bottle sides along with some wheel well trimming sport mirrors, all bathed in Lucerne Blue Metallic, and a white graphic stripe starting up front as a dull spear, then widening as it goes to the rear. It does not make it, as it takes a turn upwards on the B pillars and wraps around the rear glass, and up and over the roof. In the B pillar is a cartoon road runner in the center of this wide stripe. The hood has subtle but menacing looking nostrils also with some white pin striping and a 360 badge emblazoned on it. The hood is pinned and on the back the rear bumper houses the tail lighting. 15-inch Mopar rally wheels are on all 4 corners and are wrapped in G6015's with raised white lettering. As monitored this car has a rare sunroof option and it is a factory sunroof!

Interior

All looking like it came right off the factory floor, blue vinyl door panels have a central wood applique stripe running through their centers. Inside sleek styled with integrated headrests, buttoned blue vinyl buckets. Fronting these chairs, is original molded plastic to look like a wood covered dash front. On top is padded blue textured vinyl. The gauges have been "molded into" the wood and are all clean and functioning. More blue as the dash extends over to the passenger side with an ash receptacle and lighter, and a glove box. Blue carpeting floods the floors for the front and rear, and just above the rear is a pristine rear bench with buttons and matching the buckets up front. A center console in blue molded plastic surfs through the front buckets and has some wood applique in it, and a pistol grip shifter from Hurst. Above a near perfect headliner frames the sunroof.

Drivetrain

Under the hood in a completely restored engine bay painted blue, we see an aqua painted block in 360ci format. We cannot verify if its numbers matching due to some of the numbers on the block are not legible enough to confirm but the consigner states it is so we'll go with that. It is topped with a 4-barrel carburetor and has a numbers matching A833 4-speed manual transmission on back. An 8-3/4-inch rear axle is on this car.

Undercarriage

Obviously a rotisserie restoration due to the visual I'm getting from underneath. Nicely coated underpinnings with not even a speck of rust. Torsion bar front suspension, and leaf sprung for the rear, along with power disc brakes upfront, and power drums for the back. A Flowmaster exhaust snakes its way to chrome tipped rear exits.

Drive-Ability

A very quick fire up and a low rumble with the idle. Off on the test track she performed with great acceleration, bias free braking, and all simple functions were working just swimmingly. Comfy too!

A meticulous restoration which started from this car sitting in Arizona under a cover and did not run, to now what you see in this shining example. 1974 is still hangin' in there! Keep on truckin'.

VIN DECODE

RM21L4G159818
R-Plymouth Road Runner/Satellite
M-Medium Price Class
21-2 Door Hardtop Coupe
L-360ci V8 4bbl 245hp
4-1974
G-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
159818-Sequential Unit Number