1972 Plymouth Road Runner GTX

Description

Fans and aficionados of vintage Plymouths: prepare to be impressed. First off, that's not a type-o in our headline, Mopar actually made a Road Runner GTX. They were very rare with only 672 total production cars built in 1972, but if you ordered a 1972 Plymouth Road Runner with a 440 V8, well, you were one of the lucky few that got a real-deal Road Runner GTX. About 5-6 years ago, this particular example received a meticulous, higher-end restoration that's left it in stellar condition - ready to dominate your local car show circuit. Frame-off restored to stock standards and highlighted by a slick Tor-Red paint job, sporty interior, and thundering 440 V8 big-block, this is one of the coolest, yet least-known Mopar creations ever made.

The color on this '71 is its factory original Code EV2, Tor-Red, and what could be more fitting for a Plymouth from this era? Tor-Red always looks closer to orange than it does any shade of red, but it's a prototypical, high-impact shade that is the perfect fit for a real Mopar muscle car. It's fairly obvious that a lot of time and money went into the paint and body, with a lot of prepping and high-end workmanship resulting in a bright shade that's still in great form today. It's miles deep, with a luster typically reserved for the crème-de-la-crème of the motoring world, and although it's not a perfect show-car it's fairly close and will at the very least dominate any local car show circuit. It's a beautiful car too, and never has the term 'catfish-style' been more applicable to the front end of a car: the dual chin spoilers mimic the fins, the grille it's mouth, and even the lanyards attached to the hood pins look like barbels. A sharp, contrasting pair of white billboard stripes add the perfect amount of contrast to the unique hood and big fenders, matching the big C-pillar stripes that crown the middle of the body. The all-new fuselage styling of the 2nd generation B-Body gave the Road Runner a big leg-up on the competition and the swoopy design definitely looks the part of a Mopar muscle car. The wrap-around bumpers that circle the front end and taillights were a defining feature, and painting them to match the bodywork gives this car a more modern and somehow more sinister look without erasing its identity. As you'd expect from a restoration of this caliber, all the finishing touches have been looked after - the white decals look razor sharp, clean rubber trim surrounds all the windows, and the body lines are as precise as can be, allowing the doors, hood and decklid to open and shut as smoothly as when this Plymouth first hit the road. Louvers over the back glass are period-perfect touch we absolutely love, and with its tall rear wing, bid dual exhaust tips, and correct Road Runner, GTX, and 440 badges, this Mopar is deliciously conspicuous.

The two-tone, cloth-and-vinyl upholstery on the seats inside this Road Runner GTX absolutely scream 1970's, and they've been beautifully reupholstered back to an excellent standard. If you were alive in 1972 you probably sat on a couch with a matching pattern to the cloth inserts on these seats, and the contrasting white vinyl is supple and looks surprisingly high-end. High-backed bucket seats straddle a contrasting black-and-woodgrain center console and beckon you to climb inside to assume the driver's position where, as you grab hold of the stock steering wheel, you'll see a woodgrain instrument cluster full of clear factory gauges. A black dash pad runs across the top, there's a bit more woodgrain further down that helps warm things up, and between the plush black carpets on the floors, the bright white door panels at the flanks, and the taut white headliner above, everything in the cabin was attended to during the build. Like many Mopars that were strictly about the business of going fast, options are limited, although you do get a working heater, seatbelts fore and aft, and an upgraded retro-style AM/FM/AUX stereo in the stock dash slot. The rear seats look completely untouched but do offer plenty of room for friends, while the trunk houses a full-size original spare tire and jack set and is really as sharp as can be, with a clear view the beautifully finished sheetmetal.

The beautifully detailed engine bay looks pretty much exactly like it did when it left the factory, with Corporate Blue engine paint covering the powerful 440 big-block V8. Nestled neatly in between the Tor-Red inner fenders, the block is topped with a stock, dual-snorkel air-cleaner adorned with proper 440-Four Barrel stickers. With a Holley 4-barrel carburetor feeding it fuel and air, the engine's running great, with plenty of horsepower on tap and a healthy torque curve that helps it get-up-and-go in a flash. A throaty dual exhaust system means this 440 sounds wonderful at full bore, and it pairs with a 3-speed automatic A727 Torqueflite transmission that's shifting with slip-free precision today. One look underneath and anyone can instantly see why this Road Runner GTX needs mirrors when it's being shown, with painted floorpans and fresh components everywhere you look. Power front disc brakes help the car stop on a dime, while power steering makes navigating this rare Plymouth a breeze as it cruises on a set of 15" original Plymouth wheels outfitted with period-perfect Goodyear G60-15 bias-plys.

If you're looking for an upper-echelon Mopar that's at the top of its game both in terms of looks and running condition, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything better than this seldom-seen 1972 Plymouth Road Runner GTX. Call today!