Why They Got Canned #1 The Plymouth Road Runner.
#whytheygotcanned

Overview:

The Plymouth Road Runner was built from 1968-1980 by Plymouth (Chrysler). Between this time there were a few generations but all of the stayed similar to each other. Sticking with the simple FR layout this iconic muscle car had a few different types. One of the includes the Superbird but that will get a list by itself. Plymouth was allowed to use the name Road Runner after paying Warner Bros Steven Arts to use the name. Iconic isn’t it. How a simple name can make a car even more enjoyable. Built on the Chrysler B-platform that was used for the Belvedere and Satellite. This mid-size performance could move. Hence the name given to it.

1969 Road Runner Hemi

First Generation Road Runners (1968-1970)
The First Gen Road Runners were offered with three different body styles, 2-door Coupe, 2-door Hardtop, and 2-door Convertible. Three different engines were available to consumers. The 383 cu in (6.3L) 335 bhp and 425 lb-ft V8. 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi 425 bhp and 490 lb-ft V8. 44o cu in (7.2 L) 390 bhp and 490 lb-ft V8. All of them came with two transmissions, the 3-speed auto or 4-speed manual. With this Pony car coming out later compared to its competitors it had to make a name for itself fast, and it did. It didn’t offer much for interior. A bench seat with some vinyl, some of the earlier ones lacked carpet. Power steering was an option and so was air conditioning. Front disc brakes were an option. Option to have AM radio. Actual sales in the 1968 were above 45,000. In 1969 they gave more options. Bucket seats, and Road Runner decals. Production of the 1969 one were 81,125 models (they doubled production from the previous year). in 1970 this is where the Road Runner took a hit. They had single-piston disc brakes compared to the four-piston drum brakes. Total sales of the 1970 one were 41,000 (50% less that the previous year).

1971 Road Runner

The second Generation of Road Runners: 1971-1974

The Motors:
318 cu in (5.2 L) V8
400 cu in (6.6 L) V8
340 cu in (5.6 L) V8
440 cu in (7.2 L) V8
426 cu in (7.0 L) V8
383 cu in (6.3 L) V8

This generation had a whole new body style to it compared to the first generation.
The Options:
6-way power leather seats
Thick deep-pile carpet
Additional sound-proofing
A/C
Power steering
All models except the Hemi could have these. Well most motors had their power out put decreased due to emissions and regulations. After 1972 no one could get a Road Runner with the 440 due to regulations (so this was near the end of the iconic Road Runner but there is more horror for this generation). In 1972 all models had less power than in 1971, so that meant slower 1/4 mile times. The famed 426 Hemi was discontinued from the line up. In 1973 all models again were redused on power outage again (Noooo! is what most Drag racers probably said) with a 1/4 mile reaching the 16 second range (hey my little Mazda could beat that, wait no it can’t). So this was the end of the Road Runner, no there was one more year but it isn’t what you expect.

The 1975 Road Runner

The last Generation of the Road Runner: 1975

This is where an iconic muscle car dies. Started out in pure muscle power and ends up with this ugly looking Road Runner. I guess my friends Dodge Monaco was similar to this.
Motors:

318 cu in (5.2 L) V8
360 cu in (5.9 L) V8
400 cu in (6.6 L) V8
440 cu in (7.2 L) V8
Only the police got the 440 cu in but they produced only 255 hp. Top speed 121 mph (195 km/h). This was the end of the Road Runner as all the models had less than 240 hp and all ran slower than 16 seconds on the 1/4 mile. This is the end of this but why did it happen?

Why the Road Runner got canned:

Emissions and regulations are the problem here. With the USA government creating more safety for people they staerted making the Muscles cars pay first. As these cars were fast from day 1 but by day 10 they were in rough shape. Since no car company in the US started making more powerful V6 models we were given these declining power editions instead. But one question remains, will Chrysler revive the Road Runner name and will it complete the legacy or will if be another failure to capture the crown.

So this completes the new blog series Why They Got Canned. Suggest below what cars/trucks/SUV should be next.