Richard Petty's 1970 Plymouth Superbird attracts record bids but still fails to sell
Published on Dec 31, 2025 at 5:33 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Dec 31, 2025 at 5:38 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Despite attracting record bids, Richard Petty’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird has failed to sell at auction.
The Alpine White Superbird secured bids for a non-Hemi engine offering.
But they still weren’t enough to convince the owner to sell.
This particular 1970 Plymouth Superbird comes equipped with a 440 cubic-inch four-barrel V8.
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Legendary car comes with even more legendary pedigree
The V8 is paired to a three-speed automatic transmission.
But the provenance associated with the car might be its most impressive feature.
And that is because it was owned by NASCAR legend Richard Petty.
The seven-time Winston Cup champion owned the Superbird from 1982 to 2013.
It was previously displayed at the Petty Museum in Randleman, North Carolina.
This car reportedly underwent a complete restoration worth north of $20,000 prior to being sold.
Richard Petty’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird still hasn’t sold
Surely such an iconic car, paired with such an iconic history, would sell pretty easily, right?
Well, it turns out that the answer is actually no.
As a matter of fact, this Superbird has been offered at auction three times this year.
It was first offered at Mecum Kissimmee in January, where bidding climbed to $550,000.
That figure set an official record for a non-Hemi 440 engine.
But it wasn’t enough to convince the seller to part with the car.
The seller next listed the 1970 Plymouth Superbird privately at Graham Rahal Performance for $699,995.
This price range tends to be geared towards the Hemi-powered examples.
Most recently, the offering crossed the block with Bring a Trailer, with bidding reaching $385,000.
Yet again, this figure fell short of the undisclosed reserve price.
Rumors have persisted about a collapse in the classic car market in recent years.
But the figures reached during these auctions point to strong continued interest.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
