Why is the Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird so WEIRD?!

Technical overview & design history for the 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird. Hear how Chrysler designed the Dodge Daytona for NASCAR.

Up against Ford, the Dodge Charger 500 wasn't giving Chrysler what they wanted in the NASCAR world. Here's how the Daytona & Plymouth Superbird were made, and why they look so weird.

Factory FY1 Lemon Twist With Black Interior
Numbers Matching V-Code 440 Six Pack Engine
Numbers Matching 4-speed Transmission
1 Of Only 308 V-Code 4-Speed Examples Produced
Beautiful Nut And Bolt Rotisserie Restored Superbird
Documented In Chrysler Registry, Broadcast Sheet

For just one year, Plymouth produced one of the most storied muscle cars of all time. The short-lived Plymouth Superbird was a highly modified version of the Plymouth Road Runner. This muscle car was designed with one person in mind, NASCAR champion, Richard Petty. A long-time Plymouth driver the Superbird was meant to lure him from Ford back to Chrysler. The Superbird's smoothed-out body and protruding aerodynamic nosecone were race inspired while the street version retractable headlights added nineteen inches to the Road Runner's original length. The high-mounted rear wing was mounted on tall vertical struts that put it into less disturbed air thus increasing the efficiency of the downdraft placed upon the car's rear axle. There was no secret mathematical formula used to determine the exact height of the enormous wing rather simply designed to provide clearance for the trunk lid and by sheer coincidence, the height of the wing was at the optimum level for maximum downforce. A smaller version of the decal appears on the driver side headlight door. The rear-facing fender scoops were to hide cut outs to allow wheel clearance and lowered height of the vehicle for NASCAR however for standard road going Superbirds, the covers or "air extractors' ' were a cosmetic look only enhancement. Superbirds had three engine options: 426 Hemi, 440 Super Commando Six Barrel, and the 440 Super Commando with a single 4-barrel carburetor. Transmission options included a 4-Speed Manual and 3 speed automatics. Only 1,920 Superbirds were produced and sold new for $4,298 or about $1,000 more than other muscle cars of the day.

This very rare and desirable Superbird is finished in its original color of FY1 Lemon twist Yellow, with a black bucket interior. It is nicely equipped with a very rare (1 of 308 produced) numbers matching V-code 440 Six Pack engine and a numbers matching manual 4 speed pistol grip transmission. It has power steering, power brakes, hood hold down pins, tachometer, vinyl roof, ralley wheels, Radio delete and much more. It is listed in the Chrysler registry, and documented with a broadcast sheet, old title and listed on the Superbird Nascar Vin list/shipping document. This Superbird has benefited from a very high-quality full nut and bolt rotisserie restoration, with great attention to authenticity and detail. This is a very unique opportunity to purchase a very rare and highly collectable, documented and fully restored piece of NASCAR heritage.

The popularity, and importance of this Superbird to the muscle car world, as well as NASCAR, is virtually unmatched, making this very special Bird one of the most collectible muscle cars in the world.

Hit the like button right now if you like the video, it's the only way for us to grow!

This is the Legendary Motorcar Show. We're gonna show you some of the coolest cars ever made! Subscribe for weekly content including reviews, PURE sound, drives, tips for restoration & buying/selling classic cars, and guest appearances from some of your favorite celebrities in the car community!

#NASCAR #Daytona #Dodge #Plymouth #Chrysler #Roadrunner #Superbird #PlymouthSuperbird #PlymouthRoadrunner #DodgeDaytona

[legendarymotorcar]

What's the strangest looking car you've ever seen? Let us know below!

[tracyerik]

I never thought these cars were weird. I loved them ever since I was a little kid.

[tazman]

The Daytona and Superbird is not weird it's Awesome!!!

[jamestheredneck]

I wouldn’t call it weird… that beautiful machine is a work of art !

[mrstinkytit]

I graduated from high school in 1978. In 1979, I went on an errand to the south side of Cobb County, just north of Atlanta, GA. Sitting in the front yard of someone’s house was a Blue Roadrunner with a hand written sign. “For Sale $9500 OBO”. It was beautiful and like new. I’ve wanted one ever since that day. I’m sure there is a split between collectors with fat wallets and their cars are like new and good ole boys with these unrestored cars covered in dust in a barn somewhere. Whatever it may be. The sexy muscle cars of the 60s and 70s will always bring a smile to our faces😎

[fitfogey]

Something about that road runner cartoon emblem makes me smile every time I see it. Too cool.

[anthonygabriel]

Back in February of 1972 during a snow storm I traded a Jeep with a plow for a Yellow Superbird., 440 4bbl 4 speed. It’s on the rotisserie in my new garage as I write this. I worked as a mechanic in several Chrysler Plymouth garages. I feel lucky that I never had to sell any of my 7 Mopar muscle cars. I’m enjoying them now. I really enjoyed your show like everyone else. Toronto is only a 6 hour drive from Pa. I’ll stop by after the repaint.

[fordkiller_lt]

I love the Gran Turismo 4 music in the videos Such a great touch A real car guys channel👍

[gregreed]

A lot of people thought they were ugly looking, they weren't built for looks, they were built for speed . Chrysler's intention was to go racing and win races and that's what the wing cars were designed to do and did , my opine was , i thought they were Awesome looking cars . The Plymouth Super Bird was one of my favorite muscle cars in Chrysler's line up . I would give both my Road Runners for a Super Bird . Thanks for the great video !

[Deuce_Luminox.]

A guy local to me has one of these. He's the original owner. It has had a recent restoration done to factory new condition. It is a super cool ride. I met him at a car show and asked him how it handled. "Like a lumber truck" was his reply.

[michaelsholtz]

I really miss your TV show. Used to be the highlight of my week.

[EZ-D-FIANT]

I'm English!
When I was younger (my dad died young) I had a Canadian neighbor who was like a dad to me and he showed me pics and told me about this roadrunner car he had he got super cheap because no-one wanted it and then 5 years later he sold it and bought a house and it sorted him for life!
I still know the dude he's older now but I'm going to take a trip across the country to see him again now just on the nostalgia your video gave me!
Be sure I'll show him this video too, wow his was also yellow it's amazing to hear this story now he told me then but I didn't fully comprehend what I heard until your video and it all rushed back! cheers guys great video...👍👌👍

[paulmoore]

I have a memory from the mid Eightys, downtown Ottawa, watching a family climb into a white Superbird with their groceries, in the middle of winter. White car, snow tires, rusty quarters, in the middle of winter. Clearly,

[Mark-mzq]

They were anything but goofy! When I was 15 years old my father took my younger brother and I to Dover Downs (The Monster Mile) in Delaware for a Nascar race. We were all MOPAR fans and Richard Petty won the race in a Plymouth Superbird. Buddy Baker was Petty's teammate and I remember Bobby Isaac had a winged car along with several other drivers. The Superbird's and Daytona's were awesome! You could close your eyes and were still able to distinguish the winged cars smooth razor-like sound from the Ford and Chevy rattle traps. After the race, we stood at the gate to the garage area and we weren't disappointed. Soon Richard Petty and Buddy Baker arrived in a Dodge Monaco or Polara painted in Petty blue with the Petty Enterprises checker flag logo painted on its rear corner panel. The car stopped at the gate where a crowd had gathered and a smiling Richard Petty got out, took his thermal taped boots off and gave them to a youngster. That's why Richard Petty will always be the King! I believe it was in that season that Buddy Baker qualified a Dodge Daytona at Talladega at over 200 MPH...the first car to do so. Its a shame that NASCAR banned Chrysler's innovations (The Hemi engine, the Wedge engine, and the winged cars just because Ford and Chevy couldn't keep up with the competition. An interesting side note: Years earlier my older brother had spent the summer in Michigan, at my uncle's house. My brother said that my uncle, an executive at Chrysler Corporation, had a Chrysler Turbine car that was loaned to him for evaluation. It was an exciting time to grow up. God Bless.

[michaelhorn]

One of my favorite all time cars, I can remember seeing these on the used car lots in the 70s

[shadowknows]

Thanks for including in the description that the Superbird was built to lure Richard Petty back to Plymouth, I saw an interview with him where he said to the Chrysler Execs that build a Plymouth version of the Daytona and he would come back, shows the power that the winning drivers had back in the old days. I'm not a MOPAR fan but on most weekends knew which MOPARS in town not to race if I wanted to keep my cash. My 409 was quick but not unbeatable.

[bbldb]

I worked in vehical development at Chrysler and did work with these in 69, 70. Mostly driving and engine mapping, development . My honorable discharge got me the best job ever.

[jamesblair]

I remember pulling up behind a new Daytona at a traffic light, summer of 69. I was on a motorcycle, and from behind, , that wing looked lethal. Here in British Columbia, the motor vehicle department didn’t buy the story that the nose itself was a bumper, so a local Super Bird had to install a bumper off a Pinto, but after a few years past, it didn’t seem to matter anymore.

[agoraphobicadam]

Around 200 mph on Bias Ply tires. Those were real nascar drivers.

[mikeymopar]

My two favorite car Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Daytona I will never be able to afford a real one so the next best thing is 1:18 Scale diecast which I collected one in every factory color and that's a lot cheaper than the real thing