It's the late 'Sixties, and putting a man on the Moon is just the beginning. America is #1 in just about everything, and thinking big is not an option but the prevailing modus operandi. In order to gain an advantage at the new super high speed NASCAR tracks in the Southeast, the MoPar boys manufactured a limited number of homologation specials, the immortal winged warriors. First, for the 1969 season the Dodge Charger Daytona, then, for 1970, the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.
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Creating a vehicle so outrageous was a big stretch back then and wouldn't even be remotely possible in today's corporate culture. Exactly 1,933 Superbirds were built, two for each dealership, of which 618 were powered by the mighty 440 Super Commando engine, mated to the bulletproof 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission.
The car prominently featured here is one of those rare . . . um . . . birds. It spent the past 30 years with its second owner, most of those down in Dallas, Texas.
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Few people can truthfully claim that they have seen a winged warrior in traffic, not only due to the limited production numbers and normal attrition, but the fact that those cars have become such blue chip collectibles that most of them unfortunately have been stashed away in prominent collections, only seeing the light of the day when headed to a car show, on a trailer.
Which is a shame, really.
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Our bird, VIN *RM23UOA174567*, is a 100% matching numbers survivor. Dash VIN plate, door sticker, and fender tag are all original and undisturbed. The Pentastar Corporation officially gave all Superbirds a build date of November 30, 1969, with the vinyl door sticker reading 12/69.
The original fender tag contains crucial information. Let's put our Galen hat on and go into a bit of detail here, so there'll not be any unanswered questions:
- Fender tag, line one:
- 29106 Gate number
- 175770 Assembly plant Superbird number
- Line two:
- 115 440 4-bbl Automatic
- 052 8-3/4 rear axle 3.55:1 ratio
- 670 440 4-bbl Automatic trans
- Line three:
- 26 26in. radiator (found in all Superbirds)
- C16 Console with woodgrain panel
- Line four:
- V19 Full vinyl top, special order (V19 - black on Superbird)
- V88 Transverse stripes, deleted
- Line five:
- EW1 White exterior color
- P6XA Premium trim - Vinyl bucket seats, charcoal/black
- TX9 Black interior door frames
- B30 Build date - Nov 30, 1969 - all Superbirds show this date
- J98299 Order number, also called "J number." Superbird specific - this car is the 1,299th Superbird built
- Line six:
- Z86 Unknown
- D32 Heavy Duty auto trans
- RM23 Plymouth Belvedere Satellite, medium price range, Road Runner 2dHT
- UOA 440 375hp 1-4bbl 8 cylinder, 1970, Lynch Road, MI, USA assembly plant (all Superbirds were built here)
- 174567 Sequence (serial) number
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The engine compartment housing the massive 440 big block looks unrestored and very tidy. We note various factory decals, a dual snorkel air cleaner with the correct pie plate, cast iron exhaust manifolds, and a plethora of correct details -- and a few incorrect ones, such as the aftermarket radiator cap and coolant overflow reservoir -- easily rectifiable, no biggies.
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This Superbird is loaded with power steering and power brakes. The compressor for the -- dealer-installed -- A/C system is still visible. Under dash A/C components have been removed but are included with the sale.
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Most importantly, this engine is the original one installed at the factory, as evidenced by the VIN stamped into the block on a pad above the right side oil pan rail. Matching numbers all the way, baby!
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Superbird's coachwork has remained remarkably straight and rust free. It has been repainted once, decades ago, it its original Alpine White. Finish has a few nicks and dings, but nothing dramatic. Aged to perfection! We've sourced the correct, quite expensive Boar-grain material from SMS in Oregon and had the vinyl top replaced; we didn't find any rust underneath.
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Big Bird's unique stance is evident in this side shot. Nose cone and wing fit very well, indeed. Car came factory-equipped with Magnum 500 wheels (three are included) but acquired a beautiful set of wheelwell-filling Centerline alloys in period. New Magnums, steelies or Rallyes are available everywhere these days, but we wouldn't trade those Centerlines for the world!
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Turning our attention to the car's cockpit, we are amazed by its originality, which speaks volumes about the love Big Bird has received during the past 45 years.
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Original headliner and sunvisors. One open seam (above driver's head). Working interior lights. In fact, apart from the clock, every gauge, switch and light on this Superbird works.
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Dashboard looks fully intact. The factory Chrysler Solid State AM thumbwheel radio was replaced with an AM/FM 8-Track stereo but comes with the car, as well as the original faceplate.
Note original steering wheel.
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Perfectly preserved instruments. Odometer reads 97,756 miles, believed to be actual, and stated as such on the Certificate of Title. Horn button and the lavender-colored, original beep-beep horns which work as they should.
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Front bucket seats feature all of their original charcoal/black upholstery, look to be very nicely preserved, with just minimal seam separation. Big Bird comes with its factory-installed seat belts, front and rear.
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Rear seats appear to be unused. Door and side panels as well as arm rests look beautiful. Even the factory loop carpeting is still intact. You just can't duplicate originality. Period.
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The incredible wing -- combined with the aerodynamic nose cone -- helped to achieve 200mph on the race track while keeping the big B-body stable.
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Clean trunk -- factory mat is still present.
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Original trunk floor; only very minor surface scaling is apparent, no rust through.
Parts galore, including:
- Three (3) Magnum 500 wheels
- Original Carter AFB carburetor
- Original radio and faceplate
- Original fuel pump
- Original water pump
- Original jacking equipment
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The Superbird's undercarriage is beautifully preserved, without any signs of rust or previous rust repair, nor any spray-can artistry to hide any sins. What you see is what you get, and it's pretty darn fantastic for being close to half a century old! Click on the image to the left for an XXL-sized view |
Let's drive!
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Monday, February 16, turned out to be another fine "winter" day here in our sleepy mission town. While much of the country was suffering from cold and snow, we enjoyed blue skies with not a cloud in sight and mid-day temperatures of 82 degrees in the shade. We've been enjoying the Super Bird as a bit of a Cafe Racer lately and were looking forward to exercising it while taking these photos.
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Prime the carb by puttin' the lead foot down a couple of times, turn the key, and the mighty Mopar instantly comes alive, rumbling like a race horse that's anticipating the gate to spring open. Put' er in drive, step on the loud pedal, and you'll find yourself in a cloud of smoke. Officer . . . I swear . . . I didn't do it on purpose!
There is so much torque available just slightly above idle rpm that gentle caressing of the gas pedal will save a lot of tire tread in the long run.
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Once rolling, the danger of burning rubber slightly decreases, but never totally disappears. This ain't no Slant 6, and no 318 either, and you'll be reminded of it every time you accelerate. Holy smokes, does this thing scoot! Road handling, thanks to special springs, is remarkable, steering precise. The brakes anchor the flyin' bird with authority, and all together it's a wonderful experience to pilot such a legendary car on public roads.
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Even more impressive is the impact the Superbird has on other motorists and bystanders alike. It makes a Ferrari disappear -- for one, because it's so big -- and secondly, because it's so mesmerizing. We've received more thumbs up driving this car than any other, and were in constant conversation every time we parked the car in public. On the freeway, other drivers constantly seemed to want to show us their cell phones.
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Rarely, if ever, arises the opportunity to acquire one of these legendary beasts outside of a major classic car auction. A wonderfully original car that has been used and enjoyed, this Big White Bird is ready for its next caretaker, who'll hopefully continue to drive it so that at least some of the young ones will be able to see what amazing cars this great country built, long before Al Gore invented the Internet.
Addendum:
We sold this fabulous Superbird in Spring of 2015 to an enthusiast in Florida.
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