Plymouth Superbird

Plymouth Superbird
Overview
Manufacturer	Plymouth
Production	1970
Body and chassis
Class	Muscle car
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Platform	B-body
Related	Plymouth Road Runner, Dodge Charger Daytona
Powertrain
Engine	426 in³ Hemi 440 Super Commando 440 Magnum Six Barrel

The short-lived Plymouth Road Runner Superbird, a sister design to the Dodge Charger Daytona, was designed to beat the Ford Torino at NASCAR stock car racing and to lure Richard Petty back to Plymouth. Both cars famously featured a protruding, aerodynamic nosecone and a massive rear spoiler.

History

Developed specifically for NASCAR racing, the Superbird, a modified Plymouth Road Runner, and the Charger Daytona, a modified Dodge Charger 500, were among the first American cars to be designed aerodynamically using a wind tunnel and computer analysis. The Superbird's smoothed-out body and nosecone with retractable headlights added nineteen inches to its length. A rear wing (spoiler) was mounted on tall tail-fins that put it into less disturbed air reducing the car's lightness by keeping the rear tires firmly on the ground at at high speeds. The extreme height of these fins was also gave clearance for the trunklid. The rear-facing fender scoops were used for releasing trapped air from the wheel wells.

File:SuperbirdDecal.jpg

Detail of Road Runner decal

However, NASCAR's homologation requirement demands that vehicles to be raced have to be available to the general public and sold in sufficient numbers. In 1970, NASCAR raised the production requirement from 500 examples to one for every 2 Manufacturer's dealers in the United States; for Plymouth, that meant having to build 1,920 Superbirds. 1970 would be its only production year.

"Superbird" decals were placed on the outsides of the spoiler's vertical fins featuring a picture of the Road Runner cartoon character holding a racing helmet. A smaller version of the decal appears on the driver side headlight door. All Superbirds used for racing were fitted with the 426 Hemi engine. Street models used the 440 Super Commando with a single 4-barrel carburetor, the 440 Magnum Six Barrel with three two-barrel carburetors while only 135 models were fitted with the 426 Hemi. As the 440 was less expensive to produce, the 426 Hemi engine was homologated by producing a minimal number that was optioned in several different Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth vehicles.

On the street, the nosecone and wing made quite an impression, but the aerodynamic improvements hardly made a difference there or on the drag strip. In fact, the 1970 Road Runner was a slight touch quicker down the quarter mile. At 90 mph or greater, though, things were quite different.

NASCAR

Petty's famous Roadrunner Superbird, on display at the Richard Petty Museum, courtesy of flickr contributor

In Fall 1968, Richard Petty left the Plymouth NASCAR Racing Team for Ford's. Charlie Gray, director of the Ford stock car program felt that hiring Petty would send the message that "money rules all". However, the Superbird lured Petty back to Plymouth for the 1970 season. Petty did reasonably well against strong Ford opposition on the NASCAR tracks that year, winning eight races and placing well in many more. It didn't hurt, of course, that Richard Petty, known as one of the greatest NASCAR drivers, was behind the wheel of a Superbird that year. A recent tribute Petty's Superbird was seen in the 2006 film Cars with Petty voicing "The King", a stock race car bearing a strong resemblance to a Superbird.

NASCAR's rules implemented for the 1971 season limited the "aero-cars" to an engine displacement of no greater than 305 in³ (5.0 L) or they had to carry much more weight compared to their competitors. While they were still legal to race, the extreme loss of horsepower which would come with the smaller engine or the increased weight rendered the cars uncompetitive. This was the start of a trend of rules slowing down NASCAR, because the races were exceeding the technology of tires and safety over 200 mph. Ford in response also designed a 1970 Torino with a 240Z-like nose, but it was abandoned. A 1971 Superbird was designed around the new Sebring body, complete with wedge nose and goalpost wing and only a few prototypes now exist.

Market Impact

File:2006 Hot Wheels car First Edition `70 Plymouth Superbird.jpg

The 2006 Hot Wheels car First Edition `70 Plymouth Superbird

The Superbird's styling proved to be a little extreme for 1970 tastes (many customers preferred the regular Road Runner), and as a consequence, many examples sat unsold on the back lots of dealerships as late as 1972. Some were converted back into 1970 Road Runners to move them off the sales lot. In recent years, however, the Superbird has become quite valuable. A Superbird can fetch anywhere from $80,000 to US$300,000. On eBay, bids for original Superbirds crossed $800,000. Some manufacturers produce Superbird conversion kits for 1970 Road Runners and Satellites. Kits are also available for unproduced 1971 and 1972 bodies for the Superbird.

The Superbird and the Dodge Charger Daytona were each built for 1 model year only (1970 and 1969 respectively). Appearing at the peak of the muscle car era, it is certainly one of the rarest and most desirable of muscle cars.

External links

• Plymouth Superbird
• 1971 Superbird
• Superbird and Daytona aerodynamics and history