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

6

68-70 Charger

Active member
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.

Performance Hood.jpg


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.

Pic 1973 RR 1.jpg


Pic 1973 RR 2.jpg


Pic 1973 RR 3.jpg


Pic 1973 RR 4.jpg


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.

Pic 1974 RR 1.jpg


Pic 1974 RR 2.jpg


Pic 1974 RR 3.jpg


Pic 1974 RR 4.jpg


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,
 
The only designation for the GTX was the "U" in the vin #. RM21U (coupe) or RM23U (hardtop). The "U" being the code for the 440. The hood had the 440 tape type logo with GTX over the top of it. In 1973, the Lemon Twist paint (FY1) had to be special ordered. It was option only and at additional cost. There are almost no differences in the 73 and 74. The only things I know of are:
1) In 1973 340 through 440 got the 8 3/4 rear. The 318 came standard with the 8 1/4 rear.
In 1974 the 360 through 440 got the 9 1/4 rear. There are a few exceptions to this (as usual). Some of the early 74 RR came with the 8 3/4 rear.

2) In 1973 the hood had 2 small grilles over the top of the cowl. In 1974 they did away with the grilles. There are a few exceptions to this (as usual). Some of the early 74 RR came with the 73 hood.

3) In 1973 the stripe over the roof was a strobe stripe. In 1974 the early RR came with the strobe stripe, but was changed to a solid stripe around mid-year. Year One offers both btw.

The difference between the coupe and the hardtop was the quarter glass. On the coupe they don't roll down.

Also, on the Rallye gauges...in 1973 they added the little insignia for the headlights and wipers next to the switches on the bezel. The early 73s came with the 71 and 72 style bezel w/o the insignias. Guess they were using up what was left from the previous model year.
 
Dang very cool. *Right click copy and paste into word* Save GTX RR info. If you don't mind I am gonna use this info for my site.

Arthur
 
Help yourself Arthur. Also worth noting....the production figures you posted show that in 1973 they were all hardtops and in 1974 they were all coupes. Hardtops and coupes were made in both model years.

That is the first time I have ever seen those numbers compiled. My source book says that 19,056 Road Runners were built in 1973 and 11,555 in 1974. Those totals include both coupes and hardtops, but it doesn't tell you how many of each. Sure wish I could find some accurate numbers....but in the mean while, those we have will have to do. ;)

Keep up the great work. I really have been enjoying your articles. Thanks!
 
I got the Chrysler Corporation Production Option Code book by Galen Govier Fourth Edition Feb. 1998.

It lists all the 1973 Road Runner's as 2 door hardtops and all the 1974 Road Runner's as 2 door coupe's. What's up with that?

Arthur
 
Couldn't tell ya. If Galen says it's a duck, it's a duck....and don't even think of argueing with his royal HINEYness.

Of course I'd be more than happy to tell the self proclaimed MOPAR Guru ass His book is wrong. Mine is a 1973 340 Coupe (RM21H). Trust me they made both coupes and hardtops in both years.
 
73 74 road runner

Hi, the 73-74 road runner based on a 72 shell?
, the 73-74 rr doors are different, quarters are different, the front fenders are different, the hoods different, and the inner fenders are totally different. The floors are the same and so is the trunk floor [smilie=new_Eyecrazy.gif] .
when you ordered the Gtx package you got the 440 and you got boxed in springs which the 340,360,400,318, did not have, [smilie=new_color_.gif]
 
A few more notes:

The '73 was a heavily-revised shell--nearly all new. It was designed with different frame rails up front for the new, larger, rubber-isolated "Cordoba" K-member. The front suspension is completely different, and the cars gained considerable weight because of it. However, they were much more quiet and smooth in daily driving.

Rear suspension was revised with the introduction of the "iso-clamp" rear springs, where the axle's clamping areas were heavily insulated with rubber.

Every original, unmolested 1974 400/4-speed B-body (Road Runner or Charger) I've seen has had an 8?", which I found quite puzzling--particularly since every 360/4-speed car I've seen was an 8?" axle, including a 100%-original March-build Lemon-Twist one-owner '74 Chicken that I checked out about 12 years back. It was an RM23 car, too... backing Wingnit on the hardtop/sedan thing. Anyhow, the 8?" thing seemed like a warranty nightmare to me...

The trunk floor is the same as the '72, but the trunk extensions are not. Every outer body panel with the possible exception of the roof is different between a 1972 and 1973 model. The trunk lock is the only panel will correctly fit and line up, but the trunk-lock opening was enlarged for the higher-sercurity nut-retained lock cylinder ('72-down locks were clip-retained, like the door locks).

Some '73s have a 120MPH speedometer in the Rallye cluster; others had 150s (maybe another leftover thing?). I've never seen an unmolested '74 with an original 150MPH speedo.

All 1973-74 Road Runner GTX models were automatics. There were no 4-speed 440s built after 1972, as the Dana was no longer being produced for passenger-car use.

1974 models had a seat-belt interlock system. If there was a butt in either front seat, and the seatbelt wasn't latched, the car wouldn't start... but there was an override button on the underhood relay.

Very-late '74 automatic-trans console models reverted to the hideously-ugly walnut-knob Slap Stik shifter used on '70 E-cars, rather than the usual 1971-74 T-handle piece. This is also true of late-production 1974 E-cars, which were killed at about ?-year. I have no idea why the shifter changed... maybe too many warranty claims from sheared-off T-handles, which were/are notoriously flimsy.
 
Thanks all great information. I don't like Galen either, but most of the time he got correct info. Good to see he is wrong too.

Thanks for all the information Jass, if you don't mind I saved it for the site too.

Arthur
 
Galen's info all come straight from Mom, or cars he's documented, so it's usually pretty good.

Unlike His Numberness, I don't pretend to think this information is somehow privileged, or can be copyrighted, and what you do with it is fine by me. It's all public-domain info, the only thing that can be copyrighted is the format in which it's presented. Keep that in mind, folks... but also keep in mind that it never hurts to credit someone like him, who has spent so much time researching and documenting these stats.

You can post any of my info, word-for-word if you like, on your site... goes for anyone here. As long as you don't profit from it... then I want my cut! :lol:
 
I won't put it up word for word I will just put in the article at various places. I have given credit to Galen, though I don't think he is gonna be happy when he finds out I have posted some of his numbers. Actually non of the stuff is scanned or anything and I give him credit for all the info and even say if they want more information they should go out and buy the white books. So I think I got it covered pretty well. Btw non commercial website, maybe one add so I can actually pay the site, otherwise it wouldn't live long.

Arthur
 
Wrong, wrong, wrong. I know this post is extremely old, but I'm telling you and everyone else that there were 749 1973 Roadrunners with the GTX option made in 1973. I have seen too many posts and websites proclaiming the number to be 117, but that is WRONG. I don't know how or where people came up with 117.
 
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