1968 Plymouth Road Runner

[Dan Bennett]

I didn't own one, but my brother bought the first hardtop 68 Road Runner I'd ever seen in the spring/summer of 68. None of the magazines (which was our only source for info) had mentioned that option yet so I did a serious doubletake when he brought it home.

It was really too pretty to be a Road Runner. It was light yellow, had a two tone tan interior including carpet, had road wheels with trim rings, and chrome around the windows. The wide ovals were even thin line whitewalls. It didn't have any performance options at all; in fact I think the 3:23 rear end wasn't even Sure Grip. It looked like a really nice Belvedere and would have been the sleeper of all time if it had a Hemi.

The car ran OK but since it was pretty heavy with the options and he was a goob anyhow, it wasn't something anyone was afraid to pull next to.

I drove the car a bit that summer and the thing I remember more than anything was the great intake sound from the open aircleaner and AFB. I'd kick the Torqueflite down any chance I could just to listen those secondaries open.

I thought the car was pretty neat back then but looking back on it I'd probably rather have the 58 348 Impala he traded in.