Chrysler may have been one of the last automakers to introduce an intermediate-bodied muscle car when they introduced the 1967 Belvedere GTX, but was the first automaker to fill the market niche for a low-price performance car with their mid-year 1968 Plymouth Road Runner.
The concept was simple: use a lightweight car that was inexpensive and fit it was a powerful engine.
It was a simple concept, but was nothing new for the American public.
What Plymouth did with their Road Runner was to create a muscle car for the public and cloth it in an attractive body.
It was a solid car and a favorite among moonshiners. It was faster than most police vehicles and due to its sturdy construction, was very reliable.
The Road Runner used the Warner Bros. cartoon graphics on their car which made it easily identifiable. Not only did it feature the Warner Brothers cartoon character's name and image decals, but the horn also went 'beep-beep!'
Plymouth paid Warner Brothers $50,000 to use the Road Runner cartoon image.
Named Car of the Year by Motor Trend Magazine for 1969, the Road Runners were built to be the fastest cars ever produced by Chrysler.
While there were not many convenience options included, Road Runners had a long list of standard and optional performance features including a removable fiberglass hood.
This Road Runner is powered by the 440 'Six Pack' - a 440 cubic-inch engine developing 390 horsepower!
In 1969, bucket seats became available. The decals were now in color.
Nearly 90,000 RoadRunners were sold during 1969.
