Mechanic gets lucky with the rarest HEMI Road Runner ever built and takes it out for a spin
- Check out this rare Plymouth HEMI Road Runner
- Chrysler decided America needed affordable muscle cars
- 1971 was the final year for its coveted and punchy powerplants
Published on Dec 26, 2024 at 8:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 27, 2024 at 2:21 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Check out this lucky mechanic who enjoyed a joyride in the purest sense of the word in a rare Plymouth HEMI Road Runner.
The Road Runner came to be after Chrysler decided that the American market needed more affordable muscle cars.
Sadly 1971 was the final year for these coveted and punchy powerplants.
The muscle car lost its six-barrel 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) and the iconic 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI for 1972.
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The Plymouth HEMI Road Runner
When Dodge unleashed the Super Bee, Plymouth developed the Road Runner.
However, it was the Road Runner that stood the test of time beyond 1971 until Chrysler discontinued high-compression V8 engines
Low sales coupled with high insurance rates muscle cars in 1971 resulted in only a small percentage being equipped with the HEMI and Six-Barrel.
In fact, the Plymouth HEMI Road Runner was ordered by only 55 customers, making it the rarest model and HEMI ever.
In similar news, this 1972 Plymouth Road Runner is hiding a huge secret people are missing.
The mechanic who took it for a spin
This red example is one of only 27 units with a three-speed automatic gearbox.
Canadian mechanic and content creator at Nick’s Garage, Nick Panaritis, was lucky enough to get one roll into his garage earlier this month.
He is best known for working on iconic golden-era muscle cars and taking them for a cheeky test drive.
This Plymouth HEMI Road Runner. came into the shop for a check-up on an oil leak.
It was the first he’d ever had in his garage – and the world’s most expensive example sold for a whopping $500,000 in 2023.
That’s why after giving it the all-clear he decided to take it for a spin.
While it runs like a dream, Panaritis concludes that grippier tires are needed to cope with the punch packed by the 426 HEMI.
In similar news, this 1969 Boss HEMI Fastback Mustang is now incredibly unique thanks to 5,500 hours of work.
Meanwhile, this 1969 Dodge Daytona Charger’s 426 Hemi creates a hood-lift phenomenon that modern car owners wouldn’t believe.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
