1970 Plymouth Roadrunner for Kenny

When I see a 1970 Roadrunner it brings back some of the best memories of my later teen's.

My best friend's boyfriend, Kenny, had a car just like the one pictured except it was yellow with black stripes but the top was yellow not black. I also remember it was a 4 speed with this very cool Hurst shifter, an Air Grabber on the hood, Mag wheels and raised white letter tires.

We used to grab Kenny's keys on our lunch break and I would drive up and down our main street in town. We lived in a very small town, population about 700, so everyone knew that was Kenny's car! We could not get away with much, Tracy and I never let Kenny take the blame on purpose, for our joy rides, we always tried to speak up since I was a student aide in the office, it's amazing the principal continued to let us leave the building at noon!

On my Christmas vacation to Florida during my Junior year in high school, I found a Roadrunner license plate, with the cartoon bird that the car was named after and bought it for Kenny. I don't remember if he put it on the car or just put it in the back window, but I bet it is still in some of his things at his mom's house. Kenny has promised to try to find his old pictures to share with us. Sweet friend he is!

We are all still good friends although, we don't see each other often enough. To this day Kenny wishes he had never sold his Roadrunner.

This car could really move too. It came with Mopar's 383 V-8, with heads, manifold's camshaft, valve springs and crankcase windage tray from the big 440 Magnum. A four barrel carburetor and unsilenced air cleaner, the new mill made 335 bhp! For an extra $714, Plymouth would install a 426 CID Hemi rated at 425 bhp (317 kW) and 490 lb·ft (664 N·m) of torque. Kenny's didn't have the Hemi.

There was also an Air Grabber option that consisted of an air duct assembly bolted under the hood, that connected to twin rectangular scoops in the hood. (Kennys might have been a little different, but these were the factory details). When the hood was closed, this assembly fitted over a special air cleaner assembly to force air directly into the engine. The scoops in the hood could be opened and closed via a lever under the dashboard.

In 1968 you could pick this baby up for a base price of $2,896.
(picture found here)

Thanks for all the great times Kenny,

Tracy and I love you!
MHL