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101 Cars: Plymouth Superbird
The King's Horses
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SPEED Staff  |  Posted June 23, 2008   Charlotte, North Carolina
Plymouth engineers adapted fenders from the 1970 Dodge Coronet. (Photo: SPEED)

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Plymouth was really impressed by the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. Build as a direct response to the aerodynamic Ford and Mercury NASCAR racers, the Daytona had a bullett nose, convex rear window, and a towering rear wing. It owned NASCAR late in the 1969 season. Plymouth borrowed Dodge's data to make the Road Runner just as slippery. But making a "Superbird" wasn't all that easy. The Road Runner's fenders didn't align well to a nose cone, so Plymouth engineers adapted those from the 1970 Dodge Coronet. Radiator ducting differed to avoid the Daytona's engine-overheating problems, and the rear wing was swept further back. Like the Charger 500 and Daytona, the Superbird's conversion was by Creative Industries, who had to crank out 1,920 cars, one for every dealer, to meet NASCAR's latest homologation rules. Whatever, the Superbird did what it was supposed to - lure Richard Petty back to Plymouth and make Plymouth competitive in NASCAR. Imitation just wasn't quite enough for Plymouth, however, as Bobby Isaac won the driver's championship... in a Daytona.

Specifications
Engine: OHV V-8: 440 ci four-barrel; 440-ci three two-barrels; 426-ci four-barrel
Horsepower: 375, 390, 425
0–60 mph: unknown; 5.9 seconds, 4.8 seconds
Top Speed: 140-plus miles per hour
Price New: $4,298; $4,548; $5,139
Value Now: $85,000; $115,000, $160,000
Plymouth Superbird Photos



Claim to Fame

The ultimate and last of the NASCAR aerodynamic specials.


Soundtrack

“Runnin' Wide Open" by Joe Diffie


Perfect Passenger

Who else but Richard Petty?!


Behind the Wheel
The Winged Warriors/National B-Body Owners Association has the skinny on these cars.


Did You Know?
Like the Charger 500 and Daytona, a convex rear window was also installed, but to save expensive hand finishing of the bodywork, all Superbirds had vinyl tops.


The Perfect Drive
Anyone for a road trip to the Richard Petty Museum in Randleman, North Carolina?



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Is the Superbird your favorite NASCAR model ever, if not which? Leave comments below!
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