High performance and low cost were Plymouth’s design goals for a brand-new model in 1968. The company believed that the time was right for a factory hot rod for the youth market, and its guess was right on the money. It would have the macho name of Road Runner.

It was also a very “B Body” budget-friendly machine which made it another very important reason for purchasing. The high cost ruled out many of the muscle cars of the era.

Less money meant less chrome on the body, along with fewer options. In fact, those that intended their Road Runner for the drag strip sometimes ordered the Runner with the small hub-cap-style wheel covers and even deleted the radio.

A member of the Belvedere line, the new model came with a stock 383cid engine capable of 335 horsepower. But that was just the beginning, the awesome 426 Hemi and 440 Six-Barrel engines would become available the following model year.

Of course, the Hemi has been a legend for many years, but that triple-carbed 440 engine had adopted a cult following of its own. A significant body change had been planned for the ‘70 model, but that would be put off until the 1971 model year.

The 1970 440 continued to be capable of 390 horsepower when equipped with the so-called Air Grabber induction system. That interesting system provided a solid connection between the hood scoops and engine once the hood was closed. The sides of the pop-up Air Grabber door were eye-catching with evil-looking shark’s teeth etched on the sides.

The front end was menacing-looking with the blackout grille containing twin headlights mounted in its ends. The aggressive bumper contained a pair of round parking lights on either side of the license plate.

When looking at the ‘70 Road Runner, and comparing it with the other garnish MOPAR muscle machines of the era, it appeared downright stripped. Oh, there was a stripe and 440+6 lettering on the hood, but that was about it. About the only eye catcher was the simulated rear-fender-scoop cut-out.

Some of the models did, however, have a dust trail that reached from near the front of the front fender and disappeared into that scoop.

The only sizable name identification externally was the “Road Runner” lettering contained in a stripe located on the rear end of the car, just above the tail lights. As far as engine identification, in addition to the aforementioned 440+6 designations on the hood, there was also a “440” in the rear of a hood bulge.

With that famous name, the company made the most of it with a special horn to sound like that famous cartoon bird. The horn made the Road Runner ‘Beep Beep’ sound which was unmistakable.

Mike Cenky of Huber Heights, Ohio owns this ‘70 Road Runner hardtop with such an six-barrel 440 engine installation. A retired phone company employee, Mike acquired the four-speed model in 1988 in “fair condition.” I redid the powertrain and suspension system which both needed attention.”

As he was restoring the Road Runner, Mike came across some interesting clues that provided firm indications of the car’s early history. “The engine had a scatter shield, there was an indication of once having a drag-style line-lock set-up, and the rear wheelwells had been trimmed for large racing slicks.

“I bet that it made many runs down the drag strip during those days.” He indicated, though, that type of activity is not in his plans for the orange beauty. “Oh, I might get on it once-in-awhile, but that’s about it!”

Cenky did, however, make several minor changes for better driving comfort. “I used a wider eight-inch rear wheel. Then too, I changed the factory 4.10 ratio rear end to a 3.54 unit which makes the car much more streetable.” For a cleaner look, the small Road Runner decals-normally on the front quarters-and small chrome RR emblems on the rear quarters.

The car is coated in a flashy Tor Red color, a color which is carried to the exposed wheels which carry the small wheel covers, and in MOPAR style, also into the engine compartment. It’s highlighted with that broad black hood stripe which contains the hood scoop and is outlined by two narrow stripes. There is definitely a racecar look about this stunning machine.

The car also carries the Super Track Pack which included front disc brakes, heavy duty cooling package, special cooling fan, and the Dana rear end. The interior is done in black vinyl and sports bucket seats.

Cenky explained that even though the car is 36 years old, most people at car shows know exactly what it is. “I am always hearing from them that they owned one or knew somebody that did,” he explained. Mike’s long been a Chrysler fan, and it comes naturally. “My dad worked for the company for many years and all we ever had were Chrysler cars.” And over the years,

Mike has owned a number of vintage performance MOPARs, including a ‘67 440 R/T, a ‘70 Dodge Challenger 440 Six-Pack, a ‘72 340 Plymouth Duster, and a ‘70 Chrysler 300.

There is no mistaking the look of those Chrysler-built ‘60s and early muscle machines, and they are certainly a favorite of mine.”

And ours too!

Copyright © 2005-2006 Muscle car News Magazine Privacy Policy

High performance and low cost were Plymouth’s design goals for a brand-new model in 1968. The company believed that the time was right for a factory hot rod for the youth market, and its guess was right on the money. It would have the macho name of Road Runner.

It was also a very “B Body” budget-friendly machine which made it another very important reason for purchasing. The high cost ruled out many of the muscle cars of the era.

Less money meant less chrome on the body, along with fewer options. In fact, those that intended their Road Runner for the drag strip sometimes ordered the Runner with the small hub-cap-style wheel covers and even deleted the radio.

A member of the Belvedere line, the new model came with a stock 383cid engine capable of 335 horsepower. But that was just the beginning, the awesome 426 Hemi and 440 Six-Barrel engines would become available the following model year.

Of course, the Hemi has been a legend for many years, but that triple-carbed 440 engine had adopted a cult following of its own. A significant body change had been planned for the ‘70 model, but that would be put off until the 1971 model year.

The 1970 440 continued to be capable of 390 horsepower when equipped with the so-called Air Grabber induction system. That interesting system provided a solid connection between the hood scoops and engine once the hood was closed. The sides of the pop-up Air Grabber door were eye-catching with evil-looking shark’s teeth etched on the sides.

The front end was menacing-looking with the blackout grille containing twin headlights mounted in its ends. The aggressive bumper contained a pair of round parking lights on either side of the license plate.

When looking at the ‘70 Road Runner, and comparing it with the other garnish MOPAR muscle machines of the era, it appeared downright stripped. Oh, there was a stripe and 440+6 lettering on the hood, but that was about it. About the only eye catcher was the simulated rear-fender-scoop cut-out.

Some of the models did, however, have a dust trail that reached from near the front of the front fender and disappeared into that scoop.

The only sizable name identification externally was the “Road Runner” lettering contained in a stripe located on the rear end of the car, just above the tail lights. As far as engine identification, in addition to the aforementioned 440+6 designations on the hood, there was also a “440” in the rear of a hood bulge.

With that famous name, the company made the most of it with a special horn to sound like that famous cartoon bird. The horn made the Road Runner ‘Beep Beep’ sound which was unmistakable.

Mike Cenky of Huber Heights, Ohio owns this ‘70 Road Runner hardtop with such an six-barrel 440 engine installation. A retired phone company employee, Mike acquired the four-speed model in 1988 in “fair condition.” I redid the powertrain and suspension system which both needed attention.”

As he was restoring the Road Runner, Mike came across some interesting clues that provided firm indications of the car’s early history. “The engine had a scatter shield, there was an indication of once having a drag-style line-lock set-up, and the rear wheelwells had been trimmed for large racing slicks.

“I bet that it made many runs down the drag strip during those days.” He indicated, though, that type of activity is not in his plans for the orange beauty. “Oh, I might get on it once-in-awhile, but that’s about it!”

Cenky did, however, make several minor changes for better driving comfort. “I used a wider eight-inch rear wheel. Then too, I changed the factory 4.10 ratio rear end to a 3.54 unit which makes the car much more streetable.” For a cleaner look, the small Road Runner decals-normally on the front quarters-and small chrome RR emblems on the rear quarters.

The car is coated in a flashy Tor Red color, a color which is carried to the exposed wheels which carry the small wheel covers, and in MOPAR style, also into the engine compartment. It’s highlighted with that broad black hood stripe which contains the hood scoop and is outlined by two narrow stripes. There is definitely a racecar look about this stunning machine.

The car also carries the Super Track Pack which included front disc brakes, heavy duty cooling package, special cooling fan, and the Dana rear end. The interior is done in black vinyl and sports bucket seats.

Cenky explained that even though the car is 36 years old, most people at car shows know exactly what it is. “I am always hearing from them that they owned one or knew somebody that did,” he explained. Mike’s long been a Chrysler fan, and it comes naturally. “My dad worked for the company for many years and all we ever had were Chrysler cars.” And over the years,

Mike has owned a number of vintage performance MOPARs, including a ‘67 440 R/T, a ‘70 Dodge Challenger 440 Six-Pack, a ‘72 340 Plymouth Duster, and a ‘70 Chrysler 300.

There is no mistaking the look of those Chrysler-built ‘60s and early muscle machines, and they are certainly a favorite of mine.”

And ours too!

Copyright © 2005-2006 Muscle car News Magazine Privacy Policy

You’ve finally gotten your hands on the classic car of your dreams, but wait a minute, now you have to figure out how to get your hands on the car parts you need in order to keep it running. If you’ve worked hard at acquiring the car, then it is probably a safe assumption that finding the parts you need is high on your list of priorities.

However, you can’t just walk into a dealership and place your order for the parts you need because there is a 99% chance they are no longer manufactured by the automaker. Regardless, no matter what your taste in classic cars, whether it is for muscle cars, antiques or vintage models, if you know where to begin looking then with a little digging you can find what you need.

Here are some places where you should begin your search:

Online Auctions

Ebay is a great place to start your search for the classic car parts you need. Just about everything you could ever want can be found on Ebay, or more precisely in the case of cars, Ebay Motors. If you find the parts you need this way you’ll have to pay shipping charges, but this is just a necessary evil you will have to contend with if you want the parts; however, if you are trying to keep your costs down you can try searching the local swap meets.

Swap Meets

Swap Meets can be hit and miss, and are probably not your best bet for finding the parts you need, but it never hurts to look. You may get lucky and find just what you are in need of, and even better, probably get it for a very low price.

Classic Car Part Dealer Publications

You will often find it very easy to find the parts you need in these types of magazines; however, the downside is that it will probably cost you an arm and a leg to get the parts. This is an option you should use only as a last resort, especially if you are trying to avoid breaking the bank. Explore all of your other possibilities first and if nothing pans out, and you really need the part, or parts, than do it, but don’t just make the purchase because it is easier than being patient and looking thoroughly. You may regret your decision a week later when you stumble across the parts for a lot less money somewhere else.

Clubs and Organizations

Where there is a hobby there is usually a club or organization to go along with it, and this couldn’t be truer of classic car restoration. By locating and joining one of these clubs you can improve your chances of finding the parts you need. This also allows you the chance to network and get to know others who share your same interests, and may even own the same car you do. If this happens to be the case, they may be able to point you in the right direction on where to get the parts you are looking for. Finding these clubs is as easy as logging onto the Internet and doing a search, so there is no excuse for you not to try.

Junkyards

Okay, so having to dig through the junkyard is a not so glamorous idea, and one that you probably didn’t consider when you bought your dream car; unfortunately, you may have no choice. But look on the bright side, it may payoff big time, and if you’re lucky, your local junkyard will be entirely computerized so that all you will need to do is make a phone call to inquire about what you are looking for. You may get lucky enough not to have to go to the junkyard after all.

Whatever the case may be, you probably put a lot of time and effort into getting your car, so what’s a little more effort in order to get it running. The moment you hear that engine ignite and begin purring will make all the hard work worth it.

You might think that 6 liters was enough to make the Corvette two-seater fast enough, but not for the competition department lurking inside GM. They wanted to be able to compete head-to-head with the European supercars in the international endurance races for sports cars.

To do so, they took a leaf out of Ford’s book. In the 1960s, when Ford found it could not compete with the smaller Ferraris at Le Mans with the 4.2 (ex-Indy) or 4.7 liter engines, they brought out their 7-liter mill. And it was so much bigger than the competition that they won. So the guys behind the Corvette decided to produce a 7-liter version of America’s favorite and most famous sports car.

By the way, the 7 liter Corvette more than competes with the Dodge Viper SRT-10, which could give the standard Corvette a bit of a run for its money. Of course, this is not just any old engine. This is a very special version of its GEN IV 7.0 liter V-8.

This 2006 Corvette is challenging for muscle car of the year with no less than 500 bhp on tap at 6,200 rpm. Maximum torque from this mammoth engine is 475 lb ft at 4,800 rpm. This is bound to be a stunner with a top speed of about 185 mph and 0-60 in under 4.0 seconds. GM expects the quarter-mile be under 12 seconds.

To give durability, the engine has been beefed up in a number of ways. First, the connecting rods and inlet valves are now made of titanium – these weigh about half as much as steel ones and are used in quite a number of high-performance engines. Because of the low weight, the titanium parts put less load on other critical parts of the engine – the crankshaft, bearings and in this case the valve gear as well. The titanium valves also allow the engine to rev faster safely.

In fact, titanium used to be an aerospace-only material because it was so expensive, but it is now bein gused more in exotic cars and the heads of golf clubs, helping the lesser pros feel not so outclassed by Tiger Woods as they might with ordinary drivers.

You will see that the Corvette 7 liter is intended for the race track by the fact that the engine has a dry sump lube system. A dry sump system prevents the oil in the oil pan from slopping away from the pick-up on fast cornering – the sort you can do only on a track – and thus damaging the main bearings.

Instead of staying in the oil pan, the oil is pumped out to a tank, and then pressure fed from there directly to the engine bearings and other critical areas. Definitely a system for top supercars.

The underpinnings of the car have also been beefed up with a new aluminum perimeter frame which reduces weight. Further weight reduction comes with a new magnesium engine sub-frame. To ensure the car is stiff enough, it will be available only as a hardtop. The front fenders and wheelarches are now carbon fiber composite panels, which also reduce weight.

But there’s more…

To get all that power onto the road, and to get it to stop, bigger wheels, tires and brakes have been fitted. The front brake discs are now 13.9 inch diameter, and 19 x 12 inch wide rims are used at the back; front wheels are 18 x 9.5 inches. Such massive rear tires for a car with 50:50 weight distribution suggest that the car will have a tendency to oversteer – smoky drifts could be the order of the day!

All-in-all, this is a really special car, developed to compete with the best.

For an in-depth look at what consumer publications and opinions are saying about the 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra, we searched the Internet high and low. What we found was that this car is on track to become the most popular and successful driving machine in history.

Mustang enthusiasts are coming out of the woodwork and they are all buzzing about the return of the master Mustang Cobra designed by Carroll Shelby. After an up and down, and sometimes stormy absence, Carroll Shelby has teamed up with Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) once again. “I’ve worked with the SVT guys for several years now,” says Shelby. “And I know they have the guts, the talent and the passion to deliver the best performance Mustangs ever.”

The target goal was to yield a unified rebirth of the consummate and most coveted Shelby Mustang Cobras from the glory days. The objective was not only accomplished, but far exceeded anyone’s expectations. It is now hailed as the most powerful factory-built Mustang in history, surpassing the 1969 Mach 1 (428 Super Cobra Jet) and the classic 1969 Boss 429.

Ford Motor Company is promoting the 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 as a unique and exciting collaboration between the racing and design legend Carroll Shelby and the Ford Special Vehicle Team. “Carroll Shelby is truly a living automotive legend, a Ford performance legend,” says Phil Martens, Ford group vice president of Product Creation. “It’s a dream come true to be able to put the Shelby name on a Mustang again.” There was a time when Shelby and Ford could not see eye to eye on several issues, and a collaborating effort didn’t seem to be in the cards. The stalemate was broken when Shelby agreed to serve as the senior advisor on the specialized team that developed the 550 horsepower Ford GT, and now the newest dominator of the streets, the 2007 Shelby Mustang.

The 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra cranks out over 450 horsepower, some, including Shelby, say as high as 475 horsepower. In spite of producing awesome power and torque, it actually has more than twice the fuel economy rating and 300 times less emissions than its’ legendary predecessors. Four valves per cylinder and a double overhead cam provide ideal proficiency in air and fuel ignition. This beast is equipped with Ford’s 5.4-liter modular V-8 supercharged at 8.5 pounds per square inch of boost. It also features a returnless and sequential force-feed fuel injection system, a cast-aluminum intake manifold, genuine MacPherson struts and large 34-mm tubular stabilizers.

The 2007 Shelby Mustang features very large wheels: 19 by 9 ½ inch machined aluminum, which accommodate massive P255/45R19 racing performance tires. It also comes with Brembo brakes: 14-inch vented, crossed drilled with four-piston calipers up front and thirteen inch vented, crossed drilled with two piston calipers on the back wheels. Ford and Shelby both agree that the new braking system is the best ever designed for any muscle car.

As much as we believe the statements of the manufacturer and designer, we went out and looked at what others are saying about this instant performance classic; Car and Driver compared a production prototype 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 to a 2006 Z51 Chevrolet Corvette. The Shelby Mustang ran a 12.9 second quarter-mile and the Corvette obtained a 12.8. Similar tests by the magazine Road & Track reported a 13.1 second quarter-mile for the Shelby Mustang. Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords (August 2006 issue) were able to run a low-12 second quarter-mile with a pre-production version, with a top speed of over 117mph. http://Carsmart.com ranks the 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra as the most popular and sought after vehicle in the sports car market today. It is the number one search interest by far on their site. We visited a multitude of car finder service sites. Every one of them had some feature on their home page directly tied to the 2007 Shelby Mustang. Some even hinted at a bidding war, stating that some consumers were already offering as much as $20,000 over MSRP to be first to get their foot in the door on the incoming production models. The MSRP is predicted to be under $40,000. http://Carfinderservice.com has the MSRP range listed at $40,930 – 45,755 depending on options selected [ http://www.carfinderservice.com/model/2007-Ford-Shelby-Cobra ]. They also have valuable information about standard features like the primarily leather interior, the six-speed high performance manual transmission, and style options like the Shelby signature LeMans double wide racing stripes. Performance testing on the Shelby Mustang has gleaned a 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds according to the site.

Car finder services sites can provide performance-buying power to the consumer. Some even offer the Shelby Mustang at an invoice price range of $37,008 – 41,302 depending on options. Some even offer deals at below invoice pricing. These sites are streamlined for location and direct dealers that actually have the product or can direct the consumer to a dealer that has it through Email and the phone lines. These are trusted and approved in-network dealers that have a special contract with a car finder service. Their pact is to provide only the highest quality service and the lowest costs to consumers. As a result, the best way to buy your Shelby Mustang at rock bottom prices turns out to be on the World-Wide-Web. Many of these sites offer this service free of charge with no cost or obligation.

The 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 is ready to take its’ rightful place in the lineage of classic and legendary American muscle cars. This one, however, has sighted the top rung of the sports car ladder, and it is climbing fast. Make way for Mustang royalty.

I have written many articles and the ones about cars are always the most popular. I know why it is and it is because cars are just a lot of fun. Most of my articles have been about older muscle cars and newer muscle cars and which is better and why. One thing I think I can safely say is, whatever generation you prefer it is better than being a “ricer”.

A “ricer” is one of those import cars you see cruising around the city streets lowered down to the point the body is almost scraping on the ground. They usually have huge fart pipe mufflers sticking out from under the rear bumper. I don’t even really understand the point of those mufflers because they don’t even sound good. A “ricer” usually has a driver that has the back of his seat leaning way back but the driver is somehow sitting up to be able to see and reach the steering wheel. Coming from someone that lives using his common sense the whole idea of these “ricers” make no sense to me.

Why spend all this money on a Honda Civic with teal green paint and no power. Why spend even more money to lower it down, throw wheels on it that probably cost more than the car and then try to be cool by sitting straight up while the back of your seat is nowhere near your body?

While old generation muscle car owners and newer generation owners disagree over which cars are superior I think they tend to agree about the fact that their love of their cars actually makes sense compared to the people driving around those “ricers”.

I personally like both generation of cars. I would love a late 60’s or early 70’s Mopar. I would really love a 69 Z28. I have owned several 87 turbo Buicks. I just bought myself an 87 Chevy IROC with a 350 TPI. They all have their great things about them. When I see any of these classics drive by I usually like to get a good look at them. When a “ricer” drives by I find myself chuckling because they just look so ridiculous to me.

I certainly don’t mean to offend anyone who may drive one of these imports. It is your money and you can spend it however you like. I understand the fascination with cars, it is a guy thing. I just don’t understand why it is a Civic or an Accord. This is not to say some imports are not impressive cars. Toyota Supra’s, Nissan 300 ZX twin turbos, and the new 350Z�s are nice cars. They are excellent performers, great looking, and they handle far better than the American cars I mentioned above. One advantage they certainly have over American cars is their reliability.

But, when I think of buying a high performance car to have some fun in it is the American cars they come to mind first. They have power, looks, and an intimidating presence about them. They also tend to be cheaper, unless you get into the real collectible muscle cars. There is just something to pulling up to a friend and hopping on the gas with the right foot and holding the brake pedal with the left and taking off a few miles of rubber. You can’t get the same effect from a front wheel drive 4 cylinder.

Bonspeed “the California Speed and Design Studio” started publishing an automotive blog. This blog is everything Bonspeed, from projects to products. It is much more however, the blog also provides a behind the scenes look at the world of hot rods, musclecars and virtually anything mechanical. [PRWEB]

As new sports/muscle cars are entering the world, aftermarket companies need to keep on top with the fast moving industry: Enter Dynamic Motorsports. They have put out great products for the F-body, Mustang and Corvettes and are continuing to research, develop, and test new products. On top of this, they offer many products from all other manufacturers. They are undoubtedly the one stop shop for the auto enthusiast. [PRWEB Jun 12, 2005]