1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 with Air Grabber, 38 years with one owner

Why we picked it

Why we picked it: an RM23 Road Runner hardtop with the 383 four-barrel, A727 TorqueFlite, factory Air Grabber hood, console and buckets, owned by the seller since 1988 and on a clean Massachusetts title. It is not a show car: a previous owner repainted it red from Lime Green Metallic, the paint shows fading, the seats were reupholstered and the right rear quarter was replaced.

The $5,000 bid is far below where 383 Road Runners in this condition have been selling, and the auction runs to Nov 4, so bids usually climb a lot from here. A finish in the $20k range would still leave room for paint and sorting compared with recent driver-grade sales.

The value check

When we found it, the bid was $7,000. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $33,000–$50,000, so the middle of the market is about $41,500. That put this car 83% under.

Current bid on a Hagerty auction. Driver-grade and lightly modified 1969-70 383 Road Runners sold for about $31k-$50k in 2026 (Mecum $44,000 for an original 1970, Cars & Bids $35,000, Saratoga $33,000); a rough 1970 project brought $11,750 on Hagerty. Expect bids to climb well above $5,000.

Where the numbers come from:

• 1970 Road Runner, Mecum, $44,000 (May 2026)
• 1970 Road Runner, Cars & Bids, $35,000 (Jun 2026)
• 1969 Road Runner, Saratoga, $33,000 (Sep 2026)
• 1970 Road Runner project, Hagerty, $11,750 (Sep 2026)

What to check

• Numbers-matching status is not stated; check the engine pad and transmission stampings against the VIN
• Replaced right rear quarter: look at the quality of the panel work and the trunk drop-off beneath it
• B-body rust zones: rear window channel, lower quarters, trunk floor, floor pans and cowl
• A/C is inoperable and a new rear differential center section was fitted; ask for receipts
• The listing does not say how it runs or drives; ask for a cold-start video

Making it drive like new

A repainted driver is a good base for a mild pro-touring build: tubular upper arms and larger sway bars, four-wheel disc brakes, an overdrive automatic, and a modern EFI system on the 383 would make it a comfortable daily-use Mopar without cutting the body.

How it ended

Bidding reached $20,000 but the car didn't sell (ended Oct 26, 2026). Unsold cars often get relisted, so it may turn up again.