Collector Model

One of the muscle cars that bridged the gap between the true early muscle cars and the “tape stripe muscle car” era was the ’73-’74 Plymouth Roadrunner.  Governmental regulations were putting a damper on horsepower, and the manufacturers were still getting a handle on how to deal with all of the new rules and still build in some excitement.  The basic hardware was still there under all the hoses and wires for anyone who was able to do a few sub rosa “workarounds” in order to find it.  And the styling was still quite good, even behind those “five mile per hour” bumpers.

Starting with the 1971 models, MPC was handling all of the scale promotional model business for the Plymouth Division of Chrysler.  They had produced the Barracuda promo models starting in 1968, but now had the midsize Plymouth too.  As in most instances, what was offered as a promo usually made it into kit form, and the Roadrunner was no exception.  The Roadrunner was pretty typical of the MPC promo-turned-kit in those days: accurate body styling, good engraving, and standard interior and chassis detail including the molded-to-the-chassis exhaust system.  The ‘Runner had been reissued a couple of times before Round 2 Models entered the picture, but some of the details weren’t quite right. Some parts were altered for use in later kits and not backdated to correct ’73-’74 spec for the reissues.

Until now!  The box might read “Dukes of Hazzard“, but what’s inside is 100% stock Roadrunner, with stock stripe decals in three colors so you can lay the body color of your choice over the white plastic.  There are even extra air cleaner decals in case you want to do some parts swapping and use a different Mopar engine from some other kit.  For the first time since 1974, you get not only a chassis pan with dual exhaust detail, but also the correct instrument panel.  So, if you aren’t a Dukes fan, you can still add this generation of Mopar muscle to your collection!