Plymouth Superbird history: the 1970 winged Road Runner

Plymouth Superbird history

Plymouth created the Superbird for 1970 after seeing the Dodge Charger Daytona's success on NASCAR's superspeedways, and to lure Richard Petty back from Ford. A nose cone with pop-up headlamps added 19 inches to the Road Runner, and a rear wing was mounted high enough to sit in clean air above the roof.

NASCAR's 1970 rules required one production car for every two U.S. dealers — about 1,920 Superbirds for Plymouth. The accepted total is 1,935 for U.S. dealers, with an estimated 34 to 47 shipped to Canada.

Petty won 18 races in a Superbird in 1970. For 1971 NASCAR limited aero cars to engines of 305 cubic inches or added weight, ending the winged-car era after a single season.[1]

Years and production numbers

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The 135 Hemi cars split 58 four-speed manuals and 77 automatics.
• Chrysler planned for 1,920 cars in September 1969; some published figures run as high as 2,783, but 1,935 is the generally accepted U.S. total.

Sources:[1],[2]

What changed over the years

1. 1969Dodge races the Charger Daytona; Plymouth plans its own aero car.
2. 1970Superbird built for one model year; Petty wins 18 races.
3. 1971NASCAR engine-size limits for aero cars end the winged-car era.

Sources:[1],[3]

What to check before you buy one

• Provenance is everything: confirm the fender tag, serial number and documentation, and have an expert check the nose, wing and body modifications — recreations exist.
• Verify engine claims (Hemi, Six Barrel or four-barrel) against stampings and paperwork.
• Inspect the fiberglass nose, wing mounts and the rear window plug for repairs.

How to verify a Plymouth Superbird's factory options

Standardized 17-character VINs began with the 1981 model year, so every Superbird predates them. These cars are identified by their original 13-character serial number, fender tag codes, engine stampings and the documentation that survives with them.[4]

For vehicles built before the 17-character VIN, identification rests on the original serial number, the body (fender or data) tag, engine stampings and the paperwork that survives with the vehicle. A VIN-based build lookup does not apply. Researching a later model? Start at the Dodge history timeline.