Born on NASCAR's banked ovals, its pointed nose cone and three-foot rear wing made it the most aerodynamically radical production car America had built.
The 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird was a homologation special built to qualify for NASCAR superspeedways. Fewer than 1,935 were built, topped by the legendary 426 Hemi, and defined by a pointed nose cone and a nearly three-foot-tall rear wing.
The Superbird's origin was political: Richard Petty had left for Ford after Plymouth failed to give him a winged car for 1969. For 1970, Chrysler adapted the Charger Daytona's aero into a Road Runner body with a 19-inch nose cone and a towering wing tall enough to clear the open trunk. To homologate it, roughly 1,920-1,935 street cars were built.
Three powertrains were offered: the 440 four-barrel (375 hp), the 440 Six Barrel (390 hp), and at the top the 426 Hemi with dual quads, a factory-stated 425 hp and 490 lb-ft — almost certainly underrated. Just 135 Hemi Superbirds were built.
On track it proved itself immediately — Petty returned to Plymouth and won 18 of 40 races — and the winged cars' advantage was so great that NASCAR banned them after 1970. On the street, dealers struggled to sell them; some were converted back to standard Road Runners, thinning the survivors further.
The numbers that matter, each cited to its source. Where a figure is disputed or unconfirmed we hedge or leave it out — never guessed.
Hydraulic lifters for 1970 street use; factory rating held understated; only 135 Hemi Superbirds.
716 built with this engine.
Base engine; ~1,084 built with it.
| Year | Trim | Body | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Superbird 426 Hemi | 2-door hardtop | 135 |
| 1970 | Superbird 440 Six Barrel | 2-door hardtop | 716 |
| 1970 | Superbird 440 4-Barrel | 2-door hardtop | 1,084 |
Approx (~1,935 total minus Hemi minus Six Barrel).
Numbers-matching engine, factory options, the day it was built — these are the people who can confirm what your car left the factory as. We point you to the marque authority; we never reproduce their records.