1968 Plymouth Road Runner

[Paul Ceasrine]

In 1968,,,,,,,,
The 383 Road Runner was only available with a 3.55 gear ratio
(Performance Axle Option).

As listed per the sales order form.

The 3.91 gear ratio could be ordered, as a
'Special Order Option Only' which was not on the sales order form.

The salesman had to know the 'special code' to get the car to come
through with that option.
Any cars delivered to the dealerships back in 1968 (regular dealer stock cars), either had 3.23's or 3.55's only.

That is why all 68' 383 Road Runners tested by the car magazine auto editors
were either 3.23 or 3.55 gear ratio's. Only standard or regular optioned cars were tested.
pc

[Paul Ceasrine]

The first Plymouth Road Runner print advertisement,,,,,
September 1967,,,,,,Hot Rod Magazine



One of the few print ads to actually post the camshaft specifications and torsion bar size.
Cam Specs:
Lift: 450 intake / .465 exhaust
Duration: 276* intake / 292* exhaust
Overlap: 54*

Torsion Bar Size:
.94"

[k.pascoe]

My neighbor growing up had a new '69 Hemi RR. Man he ran the hell out of that thing. I think after the first year he had wrecked it at least 3 or 4 times. Brown driver's side fender (The car was green) missing the front bumper and the hood was buckled. I remember late summer nights with the window open in my bedroom and him banging gears, by far the coolest sounding street car ever.
My mother told me I was not to ride with him in that car, I got bold one day and ask him for a ride. (I was helping him adjust the shifter, well has much help as a 8 year old boy could). I got caught getting out of the car. The beating was worth it!!!

[Paul Ceasrine]

1968 426 Hemi Road Runner, Coupe, 4-Speed Manual Transmission

Hard to imagine,,,,,,,the Code #23 Hemi Option was only an
additional $714

Add on the $135 for the required 3.54 Dana Rear (Mandatory option).

And for the 'cool price' of $3745,,,,,,,,,,,,

How many 1968 Code #RM21J8G, 426 Hemi Road Runners
* 576 4-Speeds
* 443 Automatics
* Total 1019 (2.3% of Production Total)

Total Production #'s
* 30,353 Coupes
* 15,701 Hardtops
* Total 46,054

[Paul Ceasrine]

Cheech,

This month's Muscle Car Review (October 2011) has a reprint
of Motor Trend Magazine (December 1967) general review of the
1968 Road Runner.

With comments from then Editor, Eric Dahlquist.
The editors took turns racing the car,,,,,,,,a Coupe with an
automatic transmission and 3.55 gears.

A Best E.T of 15.01 @ 93 MPH.

Only options, Magnum 500 steel wheels (14" x 5.5") and
rocker trim molding.

At first, they thought the marketing of the Road Runner name was
some kind of joke, but after testing the 383/335HP B-Body, they
were impressed with its performance.

Soon after, 'Car & Driver Magazine' labeled the car an 'Econo-Racer',
a $3000 'bare bones performance car'.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Ron,

In the 1967 Motor Trend Magazine 'Super Cars' of compartive new Model 1968 cars,
considered 'mid-size performance cars', with a weight/horsepower factor of 10.00 and up.

1968 Road Runner 383/335HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3424 (10.22 wt/hp)
1968 Dodge Super Bee 383/335HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3440 (10.26 wt/hp)
1968 Dodge Charger 383/330P,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3581 (10.85 wt/hp)
1968 Chevelle SS396 396/350HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3549 (10.14 wt/hp)
1968 Buick GS 400 400/340 HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3512 (10.33 wt/hp)
1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 400/350HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3510 (10.03 wt/hp)
1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass 350/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3271 (10.06 wt/hp)
1968 Pontiac GTO 400/350HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3504 (10.01 wt/hp)
1968 Pontiac Lemans 350/320HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3498 (10.93 wt/hp)
1968 Ford Fairlane 390/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3429 (10.55 wt/hp)
1968 Ford Torino GT 390/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3487 (10.73 wt/hp)
1968 Mercury Cyclone 390/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3487 (10.73 wt/hp)
1968 American Motors Rebel SST 390/315 HP,,,car weight #3443 (10.93 wt/hp)

Motor Trend (December 1967)

[Jim Carter]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Ron,

In the 1968 Car Review Magazine of compartive performance cars,
considered 'mid-size performance cars'

1968 Road Runner 383/335HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3424 (10.22 wt/hp)
1968 Dodge Super Bee 383/335HP,,,,,,,,car weight #3440 (10.26 wt/hp)
1968 Chevelle SS396 396/350HP,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3549 (10.14 wt/hp)
1968 Buick GS 400 400/340 HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3512 (10.33 wt/hp)
1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 400/350HP,,,,,,,,,car weight #3510 (10.03 wt/hp)
1968 Pontiac GTO 400/350HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3504 (10.01 wt/hp)
1968 Ford Fairlane 390/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3429 (10.55 wt/hp)
1968 Mercury Cyclone 390/325HP,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3487 (10.73 wt/hp)

Wow: GM intermediates weighed more than Super Bee or Road Runner!!
That unibodyconstruction must be the difference.

Jimmie C.

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by Jim Carter

Wow: GM intermediates weighed more than Super Bee or Road Runner!!
That unibodyconstruction must be the difference.

Jimmie C.

It is a bit surprising that the Chevelle was the heaviest of the bunch.

Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. If you want a real shock, check the weight on a 70-71 Hemi Cuda or Challenger. I was astounded until I realized that the whole front clip (cowl, fenderwells, etc) was basically the same as B bodies like the Roadrunner.

[Paul Ceasrine]

June 1968 Popular Mechanics
An evaluation of current owners of the 1968 Plymouth Road Runner,
by Bill Hartford, Associate Auto Editor.

'It Goes Great Guns'

After 6 months in the automotive market, Popular Mechanics printed an article, on the evaluation of the Plymouth Road Runner by their owners.

The general review for the 'mechanical' part of the car received very good responses, listed below in order of satisfaction.
Specific Likes:
* Great Handling (#1 response)
* Style
* Performance
* Power
* Mechanical Workmanship

Mechanical problems, listed in order of required service;
* Carburetor (Frequent idle re-setting)
* Brakes (Drum brakes, inadequate)
* Transmission (Automatic, needed kick-down adjustments)
* Electrical (Voltage Regulator and Interior Lighting)

Recommended options, in order of preference;
* Power Brakes
* Radio
* Power Steering
* Sure-Grip Posi Rear






'

[Paul Ceasrine]

Matt,

The 1968 Road Runner (standard car) had;
* Egg-crate design front grille w/black accent color
* Power-bulge hood w/383 emblems installed on each horizontal vent
* Road Runner emblems on each door
* Road Runner cartoon character on each door
* Road Runner cartoon character on trunk deck lid (right side)
* Road Runner cartoon character (center of steering wheel, horn)
* Road Runner nameplate on the dashboard, above the glove box.

Otherwise, everything else was a Belvedere.