Plymouth Road Runner Superbird
Once a cartoon, always a cartoon.
The story of the Plymouth Road Runner.
In the late 1960s, car manufacturer Plymouth made a decision: we are going to take part in the American car race, the NASCAR race.
But with which car?
At that moment, the Plymouth Road Runner has the best prospects.
The name Road Runner is inspired by a character from the Looney Tunes series. Also known as Beep Beep. The roadrunner that honks and speeds away whenever it sees a coyote.
"Meep meep, pfff yooo weff".
![[object Object]](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/3wrw9ho1/production/55ff2a13f717ff3eed3c9bd29d7de5ad8e501f82-1024x683.webp?q=75&fit=crop&auto=format)
To take part in the NASCAR race, the Road Runner needs a few modifications. Plymouth uses computer technology for that. That is new. So new, in fact, that they are the first in America.
In 1969, the Superbird is born. With proportions you only see in cartoons: a 7-liter engine, a long pointed nose, and an immense rear spoiler. It is not just a technically improved version of the Road Runner, but above all a faster one.
The Superbird is whining with three engines
The fastest one, with the V8 Hemi engine, reaches 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. That promises something for the race.
More about the car
And there she goes: the Superbird.
But just like in cartoons, there is an unexpected twist in the story of the Superbird. In 1970, NASCAR bans the aero cars, including the Superbird. Plymouth stops production. Thats all folks. Or not? No way, the Superbird keeps on going. Maybe no longer on the asphalt, but still as a cartoon. Or even as a Disney character. For example, Superbird lands a great role in Cars as The King. Based on the blue Superbird in which Richard Petty (a.k.a. The King) raced.
