Midstate Mopars highlight – 1974 Plymouth Road Runner

Chrysler owners came from far and wide for the 18th edition of the annual Midstate Mopars this past June. Held in Bendigo and hosted by the Central Victorian Chrysler Club Inc., Midstate Mopars combines a cruise on Day 1 with a show ‘n’ shine in the Bendigo’s Town Hall precinct on Day 2.

Wet weather impacted entry numbers this year, but more than 150 cars still came for the show ‘n’ shine, covering the Aussie Valiants and Chargers you’d expect, plus a broad spread of American Mopar models, too, including a rare 1974 Plymouth Road Runner.

First offered by Plymouth for the 1968 model year, the Road Runner was a companion to the GTX. Both were based on Plymouth’s intermediate B Body models of the period – the Road Runner on the Belvedere and the GTX on the Satellite – with the GTX more expensive, better trimmed and with some slight styling differences.

From launch, the Road Runner was available with a model-exclusive 383ci V8 that offered more grunt than the same engine in other Plymouths, via a lumpier cam and increased compression ratio. This was matched to a four-speed manual transmission as standard, with a three-speed auto optional.

First year sales far exceeded Plymouth’s expectations, so the Road Runner was retained for the 1969 model year, with more engine options added, like the 426 Hemi and 440 V8s, plus an ‘Air Grabber’ functional intake scoop.

The Road Runner ‘Superbird’ would join the range in 1970, offering the same aerodynamic nose, high rear wing and go-faster features as the Dodge Charger Daytona. Despite this, Road Runner sales were falling by 1970, reflecting an industry-wide trend as emission regulations and rising insurance premiums priced most potential muscle car buyers out of the market.

The second-generation Road Runner launched for the 1971 model year with an all-new body and styling. Most of the previous generation’s engine options carried over, although the 440 and 426 would be discontinued after 1971.

A major restyle of the front end was introduced for 1973, with a less dramatic change made at the rear. By this stage, the standard engine was a 318 V8, with 340 and 400 V8s optional. The Road Runner was moving into luxury territory, too, offering power windows, power seats and plush carpeting that had unavailable in the model’s early years. 

For 1974, the 318 remained as the standard Road Runner powerplant, with 360, 400 and 440 engines optional. A three-speed manual was the standard transmission, with a four-speed manual and three-speed automatic optional, although some engine choices limited the transmissions available.

Road Runner production for 1974 was just 9,656, although some sources say 11,555. Either way, it makes the example featured a rare beast. Drivetrain in this car is unknown, although ‘408’ decals on the bonnet suggest a bored or stroked version of the 400ci V8, with an aftermarket alloy radiator and some other modern fittings visible in the engine bay. Similarly, transmission is unknown, but as the vast majority of Road Runners from 1974 were optioned with the four-speed manual or three-speed auto over the standard manual, it most likely has one of those two.

Finished in black, this Road Runner was wearing barely discernible matte black stripes on the bonnet and flanks, which made the cartoon ‘road runner’ decals stand out.

Cragar S/S mags complemented the paint and bright metal wheelarch trims, which along with the dropped stance, gave this rare car a real menacing presence at Midstate Mopars.

To see JUST CARS’ report from the 2025 Midstate Mopars, click HERE.