1971 Plymouth Road Runner - GTX - Overview

1971 Plymouth Road Runner Ad – It Still Goes Beep Beep

The coupe bodywork was completely changed. It designed a "fuselage" that more rounded in accordance with the then-current Chrysler styling trends, including a steeply raked windshield, deeply inset grille and headlights and hidden cowl in 1971. Such as the previous thinking, the body and two-door B-bodies shared no or little plate, trim or glass with the four doors bodies. The convertible was canceled. 

1971 Plymouth Road Runner Racing Model  - Richard Petty’s 1971

1971 Plymouth Road Runner Interior Gauges  - Driver Control View

In 1971, the ride and handling for the Road Runner was designed to pass high water. The wheelbase was increased, and a rear stabilizer bar was used instead of staggered rear springs, resulting in better handling and cornering without the harsh ride. The total length was decreased. It also shown the introduction of a detuned 383 "Road Runner" engine with 8.7 compression and 340-4bbl option, the exhaust valve seats hardened, and power drops to 300 HP. 

Bronze 1971 Plymouth Road Runner with Magnum 500 Wheels.

 

Gold 1971 Plymouth Road Runner with a Black Vinyl top

Road Runners with the engine 340 and 383 received an assessment of standard premiums insurance without expensive. It is usually attached to muscle cars. The 383 now run on regular gas. Aerodynamics were much improved over the first generation of Road Runners, resulting in much better handling at high speeds. New emission regulations drive power down and 1 / 4 mile times up was saw in 1972.

1971 Plymouth Road Runner Hardtop Coupe  - Front Left View

1971 Plymouth Road Runner Hardtop Coupe  - Engine Component View

There are only little different between model 1972 with 1971. There were only some minor changes. The taillights were changed to match the new aerodynamic look of the grid and the grille design was clean. Side marker lamps changed from the stylish, attractive, flush-to-the-body surface markers for the raised, cheap side, smaller "Chrysler Corporate Generic" tack-ons for the 1972 model year. 

1971 Plymouth Road Runner Hardtop Coupe  - Rear Right View

Grass Green 1971 Plymouth Road Runner

The optional bumper guards for 1972 included a rubber band around the tail lights and a rubber strip below the grid. The big differences come in the suspension, tire sizes, rear axle relations, and finally the engines, with the big-block 383. After replaced by a larger diameter 400 CID version, A 440 CID engine with a 4 barrel carburetor was available.

Plymouth Road Runner 440 photographed in Montreal Quebec Canada

Warner Brothers Road Runner's Logo

All engines suffer a drop in compression ratio to allow the use of gas low-lead/no-lead as well as to meet the first round of emissions regulations. The 280 horsepower engine 440 was the basis for the "GTX" package (like the GTX was no longer available as a separate model) that was available on Road Runners 1972-1974.