Pink probably isn’t the first color that comes to mind when picturing a Plymouth Road Runner. Yet in 1970, anyone feeling particularly adventurous could order one wearing one of the wildest colors in Mopar’s High Impact palette.
That’s exactly what happened with this Road Runner convertible. Its factory FM3 paint is called Moulin Rouge, a vivid pink that Dodge buyers of the period knew by the equally memorable Panther Pink name.
Finding a Road Runner convertible is already difficult, and good luck finding another one in this color. Mecum estimates that only 44 Road Runners were finished in Moulin Rouge for 1970, with just six of those being convertibles.
This example is now part of the Waters Mopar Collection and will cross the block at Mecum’s Dallas/Fort Worth auction on October 24. Underneath all that pink is another major selling point: its original drivetrain is still accounted for.
Pink Was Apparently A Tough Sell In 1970
The Road Runner convertible itself didn’t exactly fly out of showrooms. Plymouth offered the body style for only 1969 and 1970, with just 658 reportedly produced during its final year.
Moulin Rouge made this particular car considerably less conventional. The attention-grabbing FM3 color was a limited-availability Spring Color for 1970, and relatively few Road Runner buyers apparently decided that bright pink was the perfect match for their muscle car.
Mecum says approximately six 1970 Road Runner convertibles were originally painted Moulin Rouge. Only three are believed to remain today, making this restored example an unusual sight even among serious Mopar collections.
The Original 383 Is Still Under The Hood
Its engine isn’t a Hemi or 440 Six-Barrel, but originality provides its own appeal here. The car still has its matching-numbers 383-cubic-inch V8, complete with a four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust.
That engine is paired with the matching-numbers 727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission. Mecum also lists the rear end as matching numbers and says this is believed to be the only surviving Moulin Rouge 1970 Road Runner with its matching-numbers drivetrain.
Other equipment includes power steering, power disc brakes, and Rallye wheels. A white convertible top and deluxe white vinyl interior create quite the contrast against the pink bodywork.
Restored And Ready For Another Garage
The Plymouth underwent a comprehensive restoration completed by Hot Bodz and Custom Rods in Lewiston, Idaho, in 2021. It also comes with its broadcast sheet and owner’s manual, along with appropriately period entertainment courtesy of an AM radio with an 8-track player.
Mecum hasn’t published a pre-auction estimate, so it’s anyone’s guess what it’ll bring. The combination of a matching-numbers drivetrain, convertible body, and exceptionally uncommon factory color should at least give Mopar collectors plenty to consider.
Let us know what you think of the color—and how much you think it’ll fetch at auction—in the comments.