The muscle car phenomenon was in full swing in 1968, with big engines in lightweight intermediates dominating the streets and tracks around the country. And they were getting expensive, with big block Camaros crowding the price of a Corvette and things like the 427 Ford Galaxie costing as much as a Buick. So Chrysler got smart and introduced the Road Runner, a no-holds-barred street fighter if ever there was one and expressly designed for young folks on a budget. Was it a success? You’d better believe it! In fact, they sold three times as many as they expected in the first year, and eight months into it, the Dodge boys saw what a runaway hit it was and trotted out their Super Bee version of the formula. After all, with a standard big block, standard 4-speed, and precious little else, it took bang for the buck to an entirely new level.

But just because the Road Runner was affordable, that didn’t necessarily mean it was cheap. This lovely 1968 Road Runner proves that big performance can also be attractive, functional, and comfortable. Wearing a correct coat of Light Yellow paint (this car’s original color), it stands out among its more brightly painted siblings and the combination of the yellow paint and black roof is classic. Actually, if you check the fender tag, you’ll see that it originally had a green top, which might be too much ‘60s funk today. In fact, the tag will tell you a lot about this very unusual Road Runner:

CAR: Plymouth Road Runner 2-door hardtop
ENGINE: 383 cubic inch 4-barrel high-performance V8
TRANSMISSION: 4-Speed manual floor shift
TIRES: F70x14 white side wall, steel belted
BUILD DATE: March 15.
AXLE: 3.23 rear axle ratio
INTERIOR: High trim grade, vinyl split bench seats, green interior.
PAINT: Monotone Yellow paint.
OTHER: Racing Green Metallic upper door frame color.

MOLDINGS:
25: Drip rail mouldings

ABC OPTIONS:
A1: 26-inch radiator
P6: Rear seat speaker
R1: AM radio
S1: Air-conditioning
T7: Tachometer
X1: Tinted glass (all)
Y4: Green vinyl top

abc OPTIONS:
m6: Driver's outside remote operated mirror
u1: Sold car when built (somebody ordered it)

Even without the code ‘u1’ there at the end of the options list, you know someone spec’d this car just the way they wanted it. The factory A/C is kind of a big deal, but then you notice that it’s also manual steering and manual brakes (which have been upgraded, more on that in a moment). The color combination is actually very attractive and is accentuated by a single black pinstripe that highlights the gentle ‘Coke bottle” shape of the fenders. It received a very high-quality rotisserie restoration not too long ago and the quality is excellent throughout. In fact, the more we look at this car, the more appealing it gets because there’s simply nothing that lets you down. The paint has just the right shine, the doors fit extremely well and don’t need a big slam to latch properly, the vinyl top isn’t wrinkled, and it neatly balances beauty and brawn without being an extrovert. We believe that the driver’s side quarter panel has been replaced, but otherwise it appears to be all original sheetmetal, and one glance at the floors proves that this was never, ever a rusty car. It’s seriously nice.

The fender tag also says this car original had a green interior, and while that might have been OK, the combination of the parchment and green it currently wears is absolutely gorgeous. It’s sophisticated and elegant, not basic as you’d expect, and the pearly-white seat covers are brand new and in excellent condition. The door panels, dash pad, headliner, and carpets are also fairly recent and it all works together to create a very upscale-looking driver’s compartment. The options list includes a tachometer in the dash, and with that you got a full complement of auxiliary gauges, all of which are functional and show bright, crisp markings and clear lenses. The mileage shown, 2177, is probably since the restoration was completed so it’s still quite fresh. As I mentioned, this one is remarkable in that it has factory A/C, and the system has been recently restored and is fully operational with good old R12 refrigerant inside. A 4-speed transmission was standard equipment, and this one is numbers-matching and equipped with a Hurst shifter so it’s a blast to run it through the gears. The original AM radio is still in the dash and there’s a speaker in back, but it doesn’t appear to be functional, but it’s the only component on the whole car that isn’t working. The back seat looks completely unused and there’s a set of neat color-matched floor mats to keep things looking tidy. Even the trunk is properly dressed with a reproduction mat and a correct redline bias-ply spare tire that’s never been used, plus a complete jack assembly. And one look under the trunk mat will prove that this was never a rusty car.

The standard engine on the Road Runner was definitely a runner, with this one packing its original, numbers-matching 383 cubic inch V8 that was unique to the Road Runner. Putting out a very stout 335 horsepower, it makes the relatively lightweight Road Runner a genuine threat on the street. And while the Hemis get all the glory, I actually prefer the 383’s road manners, because it likes to rev, has a great mid-range punch, and is bulletproof reliable. This one was rebuilt to stock specs and runs beautifully using a single 4-barrel carburetor and factory distributor (now with a Pertronix unit inside), cackling through a set of cast iron exhaust manifolds and a dual exhaust system. The A/C compressor dominates the top of the engine bay, but the cool wrinkle-finish air cleaner wears proper Road Runner decals and there’s corporate turquoise engine enamel on the block. Looking closely, you’ll see that all the hoses and wires are new, the wiring harness has been replaced, the radiator is fresh, and, well, it’s pretty close to new. There are a few signs of use, such as the slightly crusty exhaust manifolds and some burned engine paint near the EGR tubes on the intake manifold, but this engine bay isn’t too far from being ready to show.

As I mentioned earlier, this car came with manual steering and brakes, but in 2010, the Mopar experts at Hodge Restorations in South Carolina were tapped to install factory-style front disc brakes, a new master cylinder, and a complete OEM power steering setup, so it’s a fantastic road car today. At the same time, they installed a new clutch, a new shifter, turned the flywheel, and added the aforementioned Pertronix setup. $4800 later, this is one sweet-running, totally sorted Road Runner. You’ll also note that the floors are incredibly clean, wearing factory-style primer and a bit of overspray, the suspension has been detailed, and the rear axle (which has 3.23 gears inside) wears factory-style paint markings, just in case you want to show it. A new gas tank, new lines and hoses, and a set of 14-inch Magnum 500 wheels with recent 245/60/14 BFGoodrich T/A radials round out the list of things you don’t have to worry about.

Paperwork includes an original owner’s manual and some dealer brochures, and the car comes with a fitted heavy-duty cover for storage.

The more we look at this Road Runner, the more we like it. There aren’t many cars in our inventory that are nicer and the unusual color combination and options group makes it a fun footnote for Mopar numbers guys. The fact that it’s also totally sorted and an excellent driver is merely icing on the cake. A first rate car with exactly zero disappointments.