Silver 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Is a Real-Deal Hemi Mopar, Numbers Match

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Photo: West Port Auto Center/YouTube

In 1968, the Road Runner debuted as Plymouth's entry-level muscle car. It became a big hit, moving 44,303 examples in its first year in showrooms. Although this figure was well surpassed by the 1969 version, the 1968 Road Runner is quite the common classic. But you won't see many like this silver example here.

I could argue that the silver paint is relatively rare, and that the blue interior makes this Mopar even scarcer (most Road Runners were ordered with black upholstery). But it's mostly the engine that makes this vehicle rare. I'm talking about the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Hemi V8.

Chrysler introduced the Street Hemi for the 1966 model year, about two years after its race-spec sibling found its way on the track. The engine quickly found its way into all B-body intermediate vehicles produced by Dodge and Plymouth. The Road Runner became the latter's fourth vehicle available with the Hemi, joining the Belvedere, Satellite, and GTX.

The Hemi was one of only two powerplants available with the first-year Road Runner, alongside the standard 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) V8. In 1969, Plymouth added the six-barrel 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8 to the options list. The Hemi was the most potent of the bunch at 425 horsepower.

However, it was also relatively expensive. Priced at $714 (nearly $7,000 in 2026 dollars), it increased the price of a standard Road Runner by a whopping 25%. It also made the Road Runner significantly more expensive to insure. As a result, not many customers rushed to check the Hemi engine box on the options list.

Specifically, only 1,009 examples of the 44,303 Road Runners sold for the 1968 model year were ordered with the Hemi. That's a ratio of only 2.3%. This figure is split between 840 two-door coupes and 169 two-door hardtops. The coupe you see here is one of 391 cars that were also equipped with the three-speed TorqueFlite automatic.

A numbers-matching Mopar that was restored to factory specifications, this Road Runner looks pristine inside and out. It's described as a collector-grade investment, which is spot on given the condition and the rare drivetrain. The car still has the original sheet metal, as well as the original distributor and carburetor.

It's also a very well-equipped example. The window sticker reveals that the car was ordered with no fewer than 20 options. Highlights include the 426 Hemi V8, the Sure-Grip differential, AM radio, rear-seat speaker, power brakes, power steering, front disc brakes, and the tachometer. The original owner also went with the bumper guards, one of the rarest options out there.

In all, the customer paid a whopping $1,254 for options, which added a whopping 44% to the Road Runner's base price. Today, this restored Hemi Road Runner costs $118,895. It's on sale via West Port Auto Center and comes with a ton of documentation. Is it worth the asking price?