1968 Plymouth Road Runner

[Chris Barnes]

It's pretty to say but I that's pretty close to what Mopar paid me for my last Divisional win!

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

[Paul Ceasrine]

The 68' Plymouth Road Runner,,,,

Mopars 1st,,,, 'Econo-Racer'

Gas Mileage with the 383,,
11.4 MPG,,,,,,,,(Local)
14.1 MPG,,,,,,,,(Highway)

Economy rating was considered,,,good
19 gallon gas tank,,,
1968 Gas Prices,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,35.9 / Gallon
Only $6.84 to fill up the tank.

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

The 68' Plymouth Road Runner,,,,

Mopars 1st,,,, 'Econo-Racer'

Gas Mileage with the 383,,
11.4 MPG,,,,,,,,(Local)
14.1 MPG,,,,,,,,(Highway)

Economy rating was considered,,,good
19 gallon gas tank,,,
1968 Gas Prices,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,35.9 / Gallon
Only $6.84 to fill up the tank.

I went off to school in Indiana in 1968, and remembering telling my street rat friends that Sunoco 260 went for 47 cents a gallon. It wasn't available back home.

No one could believe that anyone would pay that much for a gallon of gas when our usual Standard, Shell, Mobil, Sinclair, Texaco, and Cities Service premium seemed to work just fine.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

I went off to school in Indiana in 1968, and remembering telling my street rat friends that Sunoco 260 went for 47 cents a gallon. It wasn't available back home.

No one could believe that anyone would pay that much for a gallon of gas when our usual Standard, Shell, Mobil, Sinclair, Texaco, and Cities Service premium seemed to work just fine.

Damn...you were getting screwed. Sunoco 280 (two Eighty) sold for .39.9 in 68-69 (Maryland) and thats what I used in my 67 435 HP Vette.

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Damn...you were getting screwed. Sunoco 280 (two Eighty) sold for .39.9 in 68-69 (Maryland) and thats what I used in my 67 435 HP Vette.

College towns aren't usually known for being fair to the students. It was a small station across the street from my apartment.

Even more baffling was the first time I bought gas and the attendant shorted me on what I'd asked for. Turns out that Indiana charged sales tax on gas at the time and the pumper had to mentally calculate how much to actually put in the tank. Two bucks worth had him stopping the pump at 1.92 or some such.

[Paul Ceasrine]

From the Road Runner to Gas Prices,,,,,

I'll add my 2-cents.
In 1968, my father had a gas station,
West Road Amoco, Carmel, New York

The hot ticket was 'white gas',,,,,,Amoco Premium,
the only one that was 'lead-free'.
And labeled as the 'high-performance' gasoline,, at 96 Octane.

His price, about 37.9 cents per galllon......
Which was the highest price in town.

OH, the complaints he would here from the Cadillac and Lincoln owners.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Mike,

On the 68' Hemi Road Runner;

The cars base price was $2896,,,,
Options:
Hemi Engine (Code #23),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$714
Heavy-Duty Sure Grip w/3.54 gears,,,,$146

Put the base 'Coupe' car at $3756,,,,

Other Typical Options;
* Power Steering,,,,,,,,,,,,,$94
* Tinted Glass,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$42
* AM Radio,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$60
* Deco Group,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$79
* Lower Rocker Trim,,,,,,,$21
* Tachometer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$51
* Magnum 500 Wheels,,$112

Add it all up,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$4215

Car & Driver,,,,,called it ,,,'A Plain Jane Car, With No Frills,
A Quarter-Mile in 13.50 Seconds, All In A Brown Paper Wrapper'

Motor Trend,,,,
'The Fastest Production Sedan Ever Built'

After performing several timed accellerated tests at Irwindale Raceway, the Motor Trend
editors were a bit frustrated with times in the 13.50 range @ 105 MPH, as they felt the car had more potential.

They were unable to keep the F70 x15" (6.3" width) Red-Streak back tires from breaking loose. The Hemi had to much power for the under-sized back tires.
One of the editors had brought a set of Casler 7" Slicks, mounted
on 15" x 6" rims to the drag strip, with the intention of mounting them on the car.

With the 7" Casler Slicks, the 4-Speed, 3.54 geared Dana-rear, 3595 lb. car
was able to crack into the low 13.30's,,,,,,
with a best of 13.31 @ 107.7 MPH.

[Paul Ceasrine]

To end some of the confusion and questions on my PM,,,,

The 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Coupe, 426 Hemi,,,
was classed in SS/C or SS/CA in 1968.

Based on the car weight of #3560 lbs., and 475 Horsepower.
(NHRA had re-factored the 426 Street-Hemi from 425 HP to 475 HP).
Giving the 68' Road Runner a weight factor of 7.49 (wt/hp).

In 1968, the SS/C class had a weight break of 7.00 to 7.69 (wt/hp).

Not a favorable weight factor for the car,,,,,,as it fell into the wrong end of the SS/C weight break.

SS/C Competitors;
396/375 HP,,,67'/68' Camaro
427/425HP,,,,66'/67' Ford Fairlane

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 photo,,,,
1968 Hemi Road Runner, SS/CA

From upstate northwestern New York (NED 1 Country)

[Jeff Lee]

This months issue of Hemmings Muscle News features the '68 RR(price, options, collectable value, etc.). Paul, you timed this right!