"Many people thought I was crazy for not driving it. But I'm happy I did what I did; I'm glad to have a survivor."--Mike Foster
Fast Facts
'72 Plymouth Road Runner
Owned by: Mike and Paula Foster, Toledo, Ohio
Mileage: 9,820 original miles
Mopar Power
- Engine: The factory-installed 340 was down to 8.5:1 compression for 1972, but retained the big ThermoQuad four-barrel. The engine, factory-painted that year in a Corporate Blue rather than the orange of previous years, has never been apart, having never been raced hard and always well-maintained. So, other than cleaning, this is as unmodified as you'll ever see in these pages.
- Transmission: Factory 727 TorqueFlite, shifted using the floor-mounted Slap-Stik.
- Rear: Sure Grip with a 3.55 gear set in an 8-3/4 housing.
Sure Grip
- Suspension: This one is all Detroit, all circa 1972 (Heavy duty torsion bars and rear leaf springs, tubular shocks, front and rear sway bars)
- Brakes: Power front discs and rear 'stand on 'em' drums.
- Wheels/Tires: Five-spoke forged Cragar wheels with BF Goodrich Radial TA tires on all four corners. The original Rallye wheels and tires were stored when the car was new.
High Impact
- Paint/Body: Original '72 Plymouth B-Body unibody is unchanged; one touch-up job to one door; options to the outside included the Decor Group, hood "340" callouts, dual racing mirrors, wheel and door moldings, and rarely-needed dealer undercoating.
- Interior: Options like bucket seats, console, "Tuff "wheel, AM radio with rear speaker, A/C and rear window defogger helped push the Bird's sticker price when new up to $4,562.60