1973 Plymouth RoadRunner

[Bad B-rad]

I have the ability to trade a dodge truck I don't use for a 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner,with no engine or transmission,but it was a 4 speed rallye dash car with a stripe and some kind of hood vents in it. The car needs work but it looks solid, It would be for my 14 1/2 year old son,as a father son project first car.
It has to be one of the ugliest Roadrunners next to the 75 and up kind,but its a Mopar Muscle and I am not rich were I can just buy him anything he wants.
I am a mechanic so to slap any run of the mill 318 or 360 in it with automatic isn't a big deal.
What is the value on a solid 73 Roadrunner? I will try and get pictures.And in 73 were they still big block only cars?(Maybe org 400)

[Bad B-rad]

340   4 speed  seafoam green originally

[Bad B-rad]

Not a Charger but the kid likes Roadrunners an 1982 era Trans am(Knight Rider style)

[Nacho-RT74]

I'd say $2000-2500

340 was in Charger a Rallye by default, so I guess a 340 on a Satellite would be a RoadRunner by default

[Nacho-RT74]

look it to the future:

[Bad B-rad]

My Truck books for $5K even in poor shape. I had thought about pulling the 5.7 Hemi from the truck for myself then I saw this. So If its only worth $2K then I might be better off just buying it.

[Dino]

That's indeed not the best looking car. If he likes Trans Ams then why not get him exactly that? They're not too expensive and parts are cheap enough. Much better looking car as well. Building a KITT clone is not cheap, especially getting all that electronic interior stuff, but just getting that bumper and hood would make it look pretty sweet!

[Nacho-RT74]

My Truck books for $5K even in poor shape. I had thought about pulling the 5.7 Hemi from the truck for myself then I saw this. So If its only worth $2K then I might be better off just buying it.

is just an opinion. If it had the engine and transmission maybe could be on $5-7K. Once restored can be valued into $12-15K rate

Being a 340 makes a cool factor. So try to get a 340 for it could be nice

once again, just an opinion.

maybe more ppl would say something different?

[70 sublime]

If that car was in Canada and looks as good under side as top side it would get $4000 easy the way it sits if it has all the ownership papers

[Nacho-RT74]

I don't think is a bad looking car.

[JR]

That seems like a good solid car to build from. Your kid would learn alot from building it, and would probably respect of alot more after working with his own hands.

The flip side is, he probably would appreciate spending his free time hanging out with his friends and doing the other fun teenage stuff we all did.

I vote buy him a decent, reliable 3rd gen TA he can drive and modify as needed. That way he has something he likes, and doesn't have to spend all his time and money on a car he just settled for.

[Bad B-rad]

My son likes the Roadrunner and the Trans-Am, Its not that he LOVES one more then the other,My wife  once had an 82 Trans -Am and it was an ok car.
I don't have any problems with getting him a Pontiac, This just popped up. And I kinda think a RR is cooler then a Trans Am(but that's me not him). But to just do a black Trans -AM with the buldge hood and buy that bumper with that red swish thing would probably be cheaper then the Roadrunner.
My wife HATES the Roadrunner,she votes for the Trans-Am. I will have to talk to him about it more but as of now I think he doesn't care one way or another. Lot of thinking must be done,I kinda like if he got a Duster,or Roadrunner,any Mopar.
I was thinking a slant six Duster would be perfect, You just can't kill "the leaning tower of power". It is a great,simple engine to work on/learn about engines on.It's a Mopar, and will get ok fuel economy.
I bet you can find a Trans-Am with a low miles 305 OD auto in good shape for cheap.I think in stock form the transmission is the weak link for the T/A. But,god forbid in a wreck I would rather be in a Roadrunner or Duster.

[Bad B-rad]

Also The Trans-Am can't go ANYWHERE in the winter on ice or snow covered roads.

[Dino]

I didn't know the TA was worse on ice than a RR. I thought they would be comparable but you seem to know more about it than I do and safety would be a major concern to be sure. If you do decide on a TA, they are cheap but the 82 models with t-tops can get a little high because of the KITT thing. I don't like T-tops so personally I'd go with any 3rd gen TA, install the bulge hood and bumper, the tail panel black out piece, and paint the car a midnight blue metallic or something. Slap on some nice rims and done. I wouldn't want the red swooshy thing either though, I got a bit too old for that one. 

[cdr]

3rd gen F body GM cars are some of the biggest PILES OF S__T ever built!!!!   

[ralley72]

I'd say $2000-2500

340 was in Charger a Rallye by default, so I guess a 340 on a Satellite would be a RoadRunner by default

Correct, 340 only available with the Road Runner in 73 and 74.

Mike

[Bad B-rad]

3rd gen F body GM cars are some of the biggest PILES OF S__T ever built!!!!  

I'am a MOPAR OR NO CAR kinda guy, (2003 Dodge 1500 4X4,1989 Jeep yj,1989 Jeep yj,1993 Jeep yj,1969 Dodge Charger,2016 Dodge Charger R/T,2002 Dodge Ram 3500 Duel rear wheel 4X4 Cummings six speed)but I am trying to get my son what he likes. Hopefully It will be a Mopar!!!

[ralley72]

Can't go wrong with a 73 Road Runner. I have one and I think its one of the best looking cars to come from the Chrysler Corp. From that picture you posted that car doesn't look like it needs much work to get it running and driving.
A few things to know:
1) finding good, usable replacement quarter panels are hard to find.
2) fenders almost impossible in usable conditions.
3) front grill, hard to find and expensive.
4) don't even start looking for a good trunk lid.
5) K members different between small block and big block.
6) most of the glass is interchangeable with 3rd gen Chargers.
If you don't buy this car, PM me cause I would be interested.

Mike

[Nacho-RT74]

I like the TA "Knight driver" generation, but as a first or main car I don't think so. Just as a toy to give some ride around like a bike could be. Honestly a B body Mopar is way comfortable and usefull to be a driver than a TA of those

[Troy]

That body looks solid so you'd be way farther ahead than a lot of guys on here. If you need quarters (or even patches) it could be a huge deal as I don't think there's much sheet metal available for those. I don't know about the availability of any other parts (interior, chrome, trim, etc.). I would also assume it's a small block originally. I cannot imagine that they are highly sought after so I'd be inclined to agree with the above: I doubt I'd go higher than $2,500 (but I pretty much hate those cars too so I probably wouldn't pay $500). There's some difference in the engine mounts/front end starting in 73 but it should be the same as the Charger so there's info here on fixing/upgrading. It should be a relatively cheap first car and it's a tank (but be aware that everyone else these days has ABS, traction control, backup cameras, and air bags). (EDIT: ralley72 posted while I was typing.)

I'd still pick it any day over an 80s Firebird. Horrible! There's a reason you never see them anywhere. Now, I'd take an earlier one - definitely early 70s or older but then the value goes up too.

Which Dodge truck are you thinking of trading? You know those Magnums and Hemis are a fairly easy swap into a Jeep...

Troy

[Nacho-RT74]

Can't go wrong with a 73 Road Runner. I have one and I think its one of the best looking cars to come from the Chrysler Corp. From that picture you posted that car doesn't look like it needs much work to get it running and driving.
A few things to know:
1) finding good, usable replacement quarter panels are hard to find.
2) fenders almost impossible in usable conditions.
3) front grill, hard to find and expensive.
4) don't even start looking for a good trunk lid.
5) K members different between small block and big block.
6) most of the glass is interchangeable with 3rd gen Chargers.
If you don't buy this car, PM me cause I would be interested.

Mike

and all of those notes seems to be decent on this car, so no big headaches to make the resto.

I still vote for the RR getting a nice touched up 340/4 speeds setup like it was. Rallye wheels and I like even the factory color, although dunno what would be the original strip color

you can also make a Daisy Duke RR clone



Nothing great but just a cool factor, since doesn't have anything special but a stock look

[Dino]

Since it's a father/son project, would you not make the TA a better car by dropping in a modern EFI 350 and modern trans as well as upgrade the suspension and really have some fun with it? I wouldn't want to rebuilt anything made in the 80s back to stock. I don't see why either car can't be a reliable and solid driver.

[70 sublime]

Can't go wrong with a 73 Road Runner. I have one and I think its one of the best looking cars to come from the Chrysler Corp. From that picture you posted that car doesn't look like it needs much work to get it running and driving.
A few things to know:
1) finding good, usable replacement quarter panels are hard to find.
2) fenders almost impossible in usable conditions.
3) front grill, hard to find and expensive.
4) don't even start looking for a good trunk lid.
5) K members different between small block and big block.
6) most of the glass is interchangeable with 3rd gen Chargers.
If you don't buy this car, PM me cause I would be interested.

Mike

and all of those notes seems to be decent on this car, so no big headaches to make the resto.

I still vote for the RR getting a nice touched up 340/4 speeds setup like it was. Rallye wheels and I like even the factory color, although dunno what would be the original strip color

you can also make a Daisy Duke RR clone



Nothing great but just a cool factor, since doesn't have anything special but a stock look

Pretty sure any guy would not want his first car to known in school as a Daisy Duke car 

Again father son project for a kid first car does not need a 340 set up in my opinion

I had a clone 73 RR for 7 years
My car was black with white stripe and white interior with a 360 auto set up

Did not know till many years after I sold it my oldest daughter wanted it and still wants one just like it (she will be 27 this year)
Many good times as we took the kids trick or treating in that car every year I had it for Halloween (we live out in the country)

[marshallfry01]

3rd gen F body GM cars are some of the biggest PILES OF S__T ever built!!!!   

I couldn't agree more! Also the ugliest cars ever built. 

[Nacho-RT74]

who would know is Daisy's car? Daisy's car is nothing more than a stock car nothing that really identifies it