1969 Holley Project Road Runner, Part IX

In the quest to build the consummate cruiser, we’ve encountered massive amounts of torque (“Torque Monster,” Mopar Muscle, April 2000) and ample strength to harness the power thanks to a McCandless-built four-speed (“4-Speed Clinic,” Mopar Muscle, June 2000), not to mention the DTS-supplied Dana (“Special Delivery,” Mopar Muscle, September 2000). Most importantly, the craftsmanship of John Balow’s clan at Muscle Car Restorations has been seen in every article and is readily apparent in the overall quality of the Roadrunner.

So when it came time to decide on the audio system for the Holley Project Roadrunner, we clearly wanted yet another expert. Power Tour-style cruising requires tunes, so we turned to the mail-order audio leader, Crutchfield.

Carl Matthews at Crutchfield helped us determine that we wanted a straightforward approach. Carl recommended that we review Crutchfield’s Car Stereo Starter Kit that includes a MasterSheet for your specific vehicle (unfortunately one wasn’t available for the ’69 Roadrunner), as well as the Crutchfield Guide to Car Stereo Installation. A bargain at $4.95, this beginner kit is refundable if you purchase your entire system within 30 days.

We agreed (of course) that a complete Kenwood system would be best for the Roadrunner. While an audiophile would consider the $1600 of equipment affordable, we recognize that not everyone wants to dive right in with this level of audio performance. The initial investment, however, of amp, head unit, and four speakers is under $700 and can be upgraded to include the CD changer, subwoofer, and additional speakers.

So take a look at ours and decide whether your own A-, B-, or E-Body could benefit from the system Muscle Car Restorations installed in the Holley Project Roadrunner.