The original Plymouth Road Runner was supposed to deliver serious muscle without the luxuries that pushed other performance cars further up the price ladder. Someone ordering this particular 1968 example apparently didn’t get the memo, because its original buyer loaded it with an unusually long list of options.
That would already make it an interesting survivor of the muscle-car era, but what’s underneath the hood makes it considerably more desirable. This is a genuine 426 Hemi Road Runner, complete with its numbers-matching engine and TorqueFlite automatic transmission.
The car has since undergone a rotisserie restoration and is now being offered for sale by West Port Auto Center in Fenton, Missouri. Its factory Silver Irid exterior and blue interior also make for a combination you don’t see nearly as often as the darker cabins typically associated with these cars.
Documentation is another major part of the package. The seller says it retains its original broadcast sheet, window sticker, and fender tag, providing plenty of evidence for collectors interested in verifying exactly how this Road Runner left the factory.
A Road Runner With A $714 Hemi
The Road Runner’s basic formula was deliberately straightforward when Plymouth introduced it for 1968. The advertised car carried a base price of $2,870 and came standard with a 383-cubic-inch V8, four-speed manual, and heavy-duty suspension and braking equipment.
Selecting the legendary 426 Hemi brought it to the next level. According to the car’s documentation, the dual-four-barrel V8 added a substantial $714 to the bill, while the TorqueFlite automatic cost another $38.95.
The seller says this is one of 391 Hemi-powered 1968 Road Runners produced with the TorqueFlite. As an early-production example, it’s also a two-door post sedan, while its VIN identifies it as a factory Hemi car rather than a later conversion.
Most importantly, the Hemi currently between its fenders is claimed to be the numbers-matching unit. It has been completely rebuilt while retaining its standard bore, and the seller also says the car retains its original carburetors and distributor.
Its Original Buyer Didn’t Hold Back
The expensive engine wasn’t the end of the options list. This Road Runner was ordered with a Sure-Grip differential, power steering, power brakes, front disc brakes, an AM radio, rear speaker, tachometer, and light package.
Other selections included bumper guards, tinted windshield glass, custom sill moldings, additional seat cushioning, and F70x15 red-stripe tires. Even the exterior received extra-cost buffed paint and the performance hood treatment.
Altogether, the seller lists 20 factory options. Once everything and the $70 destination charge were included, the original total reached $4,193.85 — that’s 46 percent above the car’s $2,870 starting price.
Restored Back To Its Original Specification
The Road Runner has received a complete bottom-up rotisserie restoration, with its factory-correct Silver Irid finish reportedly repainted two years ago. The seller also claims the original body panels remain with the car.
Its blue bench-seat interior provides a particularly striking contrast with the silver body. Bench seating and a column-mounted automatic are correct for 1968, as bucket seats and a center console weren’t available on that first-year Road Runner.
The odometer currently shows 77,183 miles, which the seller describes as actual mileage. During its video walkaround and road test, the Hemi appears eager to run, while the gauges, tachometer, radio, rear speaker, lights, and other equipment are said to function properly.
A Serious Piece Of Mopar History
Restored muscle cars aren’t difficult to find, but originality, documentation, and the right drivetrain can dramatically separate one example from another. This Road Runner brings all three together, right down to its distinctive factory colors and lengthy options list.
West Port Auto Center describes it as a collector-grade “investment piece,” and it currently has the Hemi Road Runner listed on its website for $118,895. That’s serious money, though documented, numbers-matching Hemi cars occupy a very different corner of the collector market from the typical restored Road Runner.
For someone looking for a properly restored example with its original drivetrain, extensive documentation, and an unusually long factory options list, this 1968 Road Runner certainly checks plenty of desirable boxes. The silver-over-blue color combination doesn’t hurt, either.