Mopar(s) of the week: 1973 & 1974 Plymouth Road Runner

[thrashingcows]

Probably someone is under the impression that you could get the GTX option with a motor other then a 440. Which is also untrue.

 

[Dr.Jass]

I was wondering if in '73 there were both RM21U and RM23U available... I don't know, I can't find it online, and my '72-'74 White Book is missing.

 

[thrashingcows]

All 73 and 74 RR's were RM21 cars. Non had roll down back 1/4 windows. I just checked my little white 72-74 production books.

 

[Dr.Jass]

I knew the '74s were; I wasn't sure about the '73s. Thanks for checking that!

 

[Muhney]

As requested here we got the 1973 and 1974 Plymouth Road Runners.

Still using the 1972 body shell the 1973 had restyled front grille, rear bumper and taillight configuration. They also added the rubber pads to the front bumper that could stand a 5 mph. impact.

The Road Runner came with a special body-side and over the roof stripe treatment and performance hood.

The Road Runner came standard with a 318ci V8 with dual exhaust. As an option you could get a 340, 400 and 440 engine, the 318 was backed up by a three speed automatic transmission. You could only get the 4 speed on the 318, 340 and 400 engines. The 440 was only available with the 727 three speed automatic.

The suspension parts remained the same, though it did get different bushings for a smoother ride.

The interior got some cosmetic changes and the bucket seats which were optional were redesigned. Standard were the bench seats, but you could upgrade the interior to a vinyl bench seat with d?cor group or vinyl bucket seats with d?cor group.

If you would order a Road Runner d?cor group you would get dual racing mirrors, drip rail mouldings, body belt mouldings, deluxe steering wheel, Rallye wheel trim rings and custom styled vinyl trim.

Just like in 1972 the GTX was no longer a separate model, it was an option. This was basically the Road Runner with a 440 engine. Sorry I really can’t find any information about the GTX subject.

In the 1974 the design was basically kept the same with only a slight grille change. In the interior the cloth and vinyl bucket seats were optional and you could still order the Road Runner d?cor group.

Also mechanically the 1974 was about the same as the 1973, with as the only major difference that the 340ci 4 barrel was replaced by the 360ci 4 barrel. The rest of the engine line-up was still the same and again the 440 was only available with the 727 three speed automatic transmission.

Just like last year the GTX was still the Road Runner with the 440ci 4 barrel engine. This would be the last year the Road Runner line would be made with the 440 and for the next year it would be based on the Fury. From 1976 to 1980 the Road Runner would be continued to be made, but now based on the Volare.

If anyone has any detailed information about the GTX I would be more than happy if you could provide it. There is not much information out there about these cars. Don’t think the GTX got an option code, since I can’t seem to find anything on them in the white books. Anyways hope you all enjoyed.

Retail Prices

1973 RM21 2 door coupe V8 $2,987.00
1974 RM21 2 door coupe V8 $3,305.00

Exterior Colors

1973
GK6 Autumn Bronze Metallic
HL4 Sahara Beige
JY3 Honey Gold
JY6 Golden Haze Metallic
JY9 Tahitian Gold Metallic
EW1 Spinnaker White
TX9 Formal Black
FY1 Lemon Twist
GF3 Amber Sherwood Metallic

1974
JA5 Silver Frost Metallic
KB5 Lucerne Blue Metallic
KG2 Frosty Green Metallic
KJ6 Avocado Gold Metallic
KL8 Dark Moonstone Metallic
KB1 Powder Blue
GB5 True Blue Metallic
FE5 Rallye Red
HL4 Sahara Beige
JY6 Golden Haze Metallic
JY9 Tahitian Gold Metallic
EW1 Spinnaker White
TX9 Formal Black
KT5 Sienna Metallic
KY5 Yellow Blaze
JL6 Aztec Gold

Production Figures

1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 15,928
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 318-2: 7,056
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 318-2 with 3 speed manual: 1,242
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 318-2 with 4 speed manual: 350
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 318-2 with automatic: 5,447
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 340-4: 5,384
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 340-4 with 4 speed manual: 956
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 340-4 with automatic: 4,428
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 400-4: 2,740
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 400-4 with 4 speed manual: 749
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop 400-4 with automatic: 1,991
1973 Plymouth Road Runner GTX 2 door hardtop 440-4: 749
1973 Plymouth Road Runner GTX 2 door hardtop 440-4 with automatic: 749
1973 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door hardtop with sunroof (M51): 414

1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe: 9,646
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 318-2: 6,453
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 318-2 with 3 speed manual: 772
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 318-2 with 4 speed manual: 212
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 318-2 with automatic: 5,421
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 360-4: 1,688
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 360-4 with 4 speed manual: 347
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 360-4 with automatic: 1,350
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 400-4: 1,109
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 400-4 with 4 speed manual: 280
1974 Plymouth Road Runner 2 door coupe 400-4 with automatic: 830
1974 Plymouth Road Runner GTX 2 door coupe 440-4: 386
1974 Plymouth Road Runner GTX 2 door coupe 440-4 automatic: 386

That's all for this week,

My first car was a 73 Roadrunner 340 automatic. I was surprised to see your colors by year. My car color was the Silver frost metallic. I ordered the car (with my Dad's help) I also had a black vinyl roof and black vinyl interior with a bench seat up front. I added the stripes as they were deleted because of the vinyl roof. Added air shocks and L60's on the back, along with a Panasonic quadrophonic 8 track stereo system. I loved that car But the Silver frost was available on 1973 models. It was kind of a gun metal grey and definately metallic.