1969 HEMI^® Road Runner

— The formula for Road Runner was “back to the basics,” as in cheap, affordable performance!
— The optional almighty HEMI^® engine: 426 cubes, 425 horsepower, 490 lb-ft of torque
— In its second year of production, the 1969 Road Runner was named the “Car of the Year” by Motor Trend

This fully documented 1969 HEMI Road Runner Hardtop, was factory equipped with 4-speed transmission and 4.10 rear gears (9.75” ring gear). One of the particularly rare factory options on this beautiful brute is the “C14” Rear Shoulder Belts, and along with bucket seats and a factory 8-Track sound system. The car came in the popular color “R4 Performance Red” and what gives the car such a flashy appearance is the addition of the (factory installed) “V1W Pearlescent White” vinyl roof and “M6W White Bucket Seats/Black Carpet”.

THE NAME WAS USED BY PERMISSION OF WARNER BROS

A Chrysler Product Planner employee by the name of Gordon Cherry (who worked for Chrysler/Plymouth product planning manager Jim Smith) was watching the Saturday morning cartoon channel with his young children, and when the Looney Tunes “Road Runner” program came on, the idea hit him. Call the “budget performance car” that the division was working on at the time Road Runner! And with some money changing hands, a deal was made. It was a gimmick, however it was widely accepted by the buyers!

THE HEMI ENGINE WAS OPTIONAL AND RARE: IN 1969, ONLY 234 4-SPEED HARDTOPS WERE BUILT

The base Road Runner engine was a big-block 383-cid “wedge” that was factory equipped with 10.0:1 compression ratio pistons, crankshaft wintage tray, 440 high-flow cylinder heads, a hotter hydraulic camshaft (.450/.465-inch lift, 276/292-degree duration), Carter AVS four-barrel carburetor (#4428S), unsilenced air cleaner, blocked-off heat risers, 440 exhaust manifolds and 2 ¼-inch dual exhausts. This was good for 335 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque. 

However, for those that desired more performance and with the budget available to pop for the optional 426 HEMI engine, that was the ultimate Road Runner! How did the Road Runner test car with 426 HEMI engine perform? M/T got a best run of 13.56 @ 105.38 mph with the car in their 2/69 issue, and that car was equipped with the 4.10:1 ring and pinion and TorqueFlite^®. Other popular periodicals tested other HEMI Road Runners and the results were nearly the same: 13.54 @ 105.14 mph (Car and Driver 1/69 issue, 3.55 gears, automatic transmission), and 13.38 @ 108.00 mph (SS&DI 1/69, 3.55/auto). East coast, west coast, in the hands of the automotive media, the HEMI Road Runner rocked! 

OPTIONAL TACH

Dash-mounted tachometer (N85) was available and a highly sought-after option for Road Runner collectors today.

WHITE BUCKETS

M6W White Bucket Seats (Black Carpet) and C21 Center Seat Cushion (with Folding Armrest) is part of what makes this car so desirable. This center “buddy bucket seat” was a great way to provide the girlfriend a place to sit. 

8-TRACK TAPE PLAYER OPTION

R22 Solid State AM Radio w/Stereo Tape option: $196.25.

BEEP BEEP HORN

There was even a clever “Beep Beep” horn as part of the package, which mimicked the actual Road Runner cartoon on TV. The 1969 Road Runner’s horn got painted lavender and decaled “Voice of Road Runner.”

AIR GRABBER

N96 Air Grabber option was standard with the HEMI engine, optional on 383. The underhood cowling sealed to the base of the air cleaner assembly provided fresh air to the engine.

INNOCENT LOOKING FROM A DISTANCE

By combining a stripped-down intermediate Belvedere 2-door body with a potent engine, the car didn’t stand out as a result of it being devoid of chrome trim pieces. It was a “no frills” car all the way, and rather inconspicuous in outward appearance.

BIG DANA 60 DIFFERENTIAL

With a 4-speed transmission and 4.10 gears, the Dana 60 was used and it featured a 9.75-inch diameter ring gear to handle the power and expected abuse!

DOG DISH HUB CAPS

Many Road Runner buyers installed aftermarket wheels on the cars to save money; these standard-issue wheel covers (AKA poverty caps) were chosen to help keep the window sticker figure as low as possible.

HIGHLY DETAILED RESTORATION

This example had received a complete restoration and detailed to the point where some would say “over restored” in fact, almost like a full-blown show car! Well, each owner can take it to the extreme during the resto process, that’s sometimes typical, especially when deciding for example not to spray the underside with undercoating, as it was originally equipped. 

The second year for the Road Runner was a very successful one, as some 84,429 1969 model year cars were sold. The idea to create and sell a low-cost performance car was a brilliant move by the Plymouth Division, and the Road Runner theme proved to be a winning marketing plan!

Author: James Maxwell