The new toy

Been looking for a nice, original '69 Road Runner since the restoration of my '68 is done.
Wanted a 4-speed car that didn't need too much work.
A Q&A here with "hotairballoonpilot" Corey a few months back led to me hauling out to SD with a buddy to bring this home.
I'm stoked about the car:
17,000 original miles, 3 owners who all knew each other, extremely original & stock, except for some engine work when new for a brief career in F/Stock.
Numbers, codes, original markings, etc, and as tight & snappy as it should be.
It's a freakin' time capsule that just needs a little cleaning & detailing. Not gonna repaint/replate anything, just put its original valve covers back on..
Had to step up, but I'm OK with that to be 18 again
There's a wheel & tire decision to be made, haven't settled on that yet.

That's a cool new toy!

Back in a late 70's my younger brother bought a 69 Road Runner that was that color.
It was a 383 auto a/c car with 50k miles on it that he bought from the original owner.

Wow great looking car! Rare find with the low miles! Congrats!

The original valve covers will look much better

Nice car!

I like that one! Very nice!

A creampuff survivor. Absolutely beautiful. Congrats.

I like it.

15" chrome magnum 500's and redline radials is what I'd do with it.

Mellow yellow .. I'll have to dig up the pic with lettering on it

Thats nice man

here

Very cool pic bigdad. I love old pics like that.

Congratulations! Awesome car!

Thanks, brothers; I'm happy to have it.
Cleaned up the tach mount today, fixed the choke, and gave it a bath.
Then went through my 40-year stash looking for stuff like a stock ballast, PCV & hose, VC gaskets.
Naturally, of all my stuff, I don't have any of those items; go figure.
Yeah, thought about Magnums, but my '68 has those.
The Welds in the one photo are a bit too street-rod for me, but came with the car.
Fun fact: its SPD is exactly 1 year after my '68; what are the odds of that ?!

about 1 in 365

Wrong, how many days do the factories shut down for model year end change over how many federal holidays and other holidays do the U.A.W. workers get off when they shut the factory down for those holidays?
I don't think they make any cars in American big three factories from 7/1/ to close to 8/30 of each year
Me thinks they may have around 220 days a year that they actually make cars

Depending on the given year and actual vehicles sales it gets even tougher to calculate.
Some years we worked 6 days a week building production.
Some years model change was nothing more that parts getting swapped out and the production line line never really stopped.

Unless it was a major retool of the vehicle which could take months sometimes most model changes could be no time off to maybe two weeks off.

my answer was more tongue-in-cheek than factual intentionally it would be a needle-in-a-haystack coincidence

but since you went here - many cars built after 7/1 & before 8/30 of each year - zero production was closer to 2 weeks than 2 months, but your 220 days of production is probably pretty close
.....but, since the calendar dates rotate ~20% of the production days from '68 became a weekend non-production date for '69
- - - - - - now we are down to about 175 days that it would be possible (plus '68 was a leap year, does that help or hurt?? )

but it is not an easy feat - I know of a couple people looking for a "cool" car to pick up "scheduled" on their birthdays (one day / one year) & it is not happening

Love that car!

cragar ss or american 5 spokes, and keep the valve covers !
VERY nice car !

By "the odds", what I meant was the odds that I'd have 2 RRs with SPDs exactly one year apart.
I just find that amusing.
Of all the Mopars I've owned, I don't recall any having the same SPD.
I've only seen two in 40+ years with my birthday...almost bought one of them but that was the only attraction I had towards it.
Kinda leaning towards the Vintage V45, American TTD, or the Jeg's SSR Star wheels (polished).
The TTDs have a spoke color that's too blue/grey for the car, though; I'd have to paint them something more anthracite or pewter.
Or maybe buy something for the '68 & swap its Magnums onto the '69, but then the trim ring thing....aaarrgghhh

This car was definitely a time capsule. It was a car I was very nervous to have my hands on. My dad has a 69 satellite convertible that I have driven along with a few other high dollar 69 B bodies in the last year. This one tops all those. This thing drives so tight. Rode awesome even with the bias tires. It was a true blessing to be allowed to work on it and even more that the locals that told the owner to contact me. I will probably never have the chance to get my hands on something like this car again. Keep me posted on it's travels.

corey

curious, what's the SPD?

I prefer the look of vintage "styled" wheels VS. more modern drag strip inspired wheels

Bench seat screams body colored steelies.

Very nice.

I would lean towards body-color steelies (little wider than stock) or Americans.


Tim

ET makes the best 5 spokes out there and in whatever backspacing you need. They are also very lightweight compared to the torque thrusts.

http://www.etmags.com/production_wheels.html

I think it looks great the way it is.

I agree. Thinking of removing my mag 500's and replacing them with painted steel wheels myself

Great find! My favorite year 'runner

couple pics from few years ago

Corey, where was that indoor shot ?
Dick had different plates on it when I got it. He kept 'em.
Considering some bigger steelies (15x7, 15x8) and would like redlines in 235/60 & 275/60 sizes but haven't seen any.
Or maybe something for my '68 and swap its Magnums onto the '69.
Too bad nobody makes an accurate '69 trim ring, especially in 15", or the "recall wheels".

That was I believe when the car was in the show room at Billion Chrysler for either the mopar show here in Sioux Falls or it was when it was in there promoting the Automania show that was in downtown Sioux Falls. Where it is outside next to the orange peeler(white A12 RR) that is at Automania. Dick had the runner there with Jerry and the A12 and dad parked his 69 satellite convertible next to them. It was neat seeing 3 69 Plymouths all in a row.

South dakota the plates stay with the people selling the vehicles. We use to keep them with the vehicles.

leave the engine as-is.. VINTAGE ONLY cragars or keystones...maybe some american 5 spokes..and enjoy it

Corey, thanks for those photos & info.
Any history - photos, stories, etc - I can get on the car is welcome and appreciated, and goes into the car's file.

what a beauty!! thanks for sharing...its really cool to see the history of a car like that.

Thanks for the compliments.
At the beginning of this deal, a couple guys were sour on Y2 ("lame color", one said), and frankly it wasn't my favorite color.
But it's grown on me a lot, and reminds me of the pastels on '50s cars when I was a kid; very friendly.
Sure, red, orange, black, etc might be sportier, but ya can't quite place an order for a '69 RR anymore.
The car has only required minor detailing, an AG seal, and a couple correct hoses - easiest car I've ever owned.
I got a tote with some take-offs - its original fuel pump, distributor, washer jar & brake shoes - and will continue that with anything that gets replaced.
The plan is to keep it as original as possible, maybe some vintage wheels, but otherwise respect & preserve it.

Im not a body color steel wheel fan persay.

But I have to admit the car looks good that way.
MY opinion means squat on YOUR car. But I say leave it that way. maybe some redline radials and drive it

Love it. You going to get her out to any shows this year? We really should meet someday. LOL

Yeah, maybe we should meet at Scott Smith's sometime and bust his stones

We have a Cars & Coffee in Sandpoint 1st Sat of the month (except when it's require a plow truck), so June 5th I plan to take it there.
Bonner General Hospital parking lot, 6-9 AM. Usually 4-5 Mopars + a pretty cool variety of cars & trucks.
Otherwise, I'm really only interested in our Lost In The 50s show, which isn't being officially held this year.
I've heard rumors of an unofficial gathering, might just have to do it myself or at my buddy Jim's place, maybe Mopar only (limited room).

Either way that is a really nice road runner

my Bench Seat screamed Cragar SS to me...

I love your RR Sunfire Yellow is a great color IMO. For rims...if it were me, I would use either the body colored wheels (15X8) in the rear with a 275/60 blackwall tire...or go with Keystones... If they were good enough for Mr. Sox, they are good 'nuff for me. Also keep the day 2 valve covers, just my Have fun!

Finally got time to drive it around today, and I'm happy to say it's a sweetheart - the way I remember them from 40+ years ago.
Cleaned up some details, gave it correct heater & PCV hoses & clamps, a correct AG seal from member 71TA, correct used ballast resistor from my stash.
Still agonizing over wheels - saw one with Vectors - cool against Y2, different, kinda era-correct - but leaning towards TT Ds, if I paint the spokes anthracite instead of the bluish-grey they come in.
So, color me totally stoked. Another reminder to step up & get the best original car you can find; some things are better than money.
It's also a reminder to pay attention & to treat our fellow heads-up members with respect, one of whom told me about the car.

Isn't it amazing how that thing drives? No slop in the steering. Drives and rides incredible. I was amazed at it. Never rode in a mopar that felt that way. Happy you are caring for it and keeping the preservation going on it. When he said he wanted to sell it I in my head thought someone will buy it and restore it loosing what the car is. Glad that wont be the case!

corey

Yeah, not so much as a wind leak, rattle, or squeak. Steering & suspension & etc tight as a drum.
The bias-plies gotta come off, our roads up here get rutted from studded tires; should be perfect with radials.
Truly a time machine, and I remember them -riding & driving - when they were new (I was 16-17).
I can't imagine anyone thinking it should be restored, it's way too nice & original..
Credit to the prior owners, all I'm doing is minor tweaking.

I knew you were the one to keep it preserved. It does blow minds how some people will take car like that and feel they need to improve it by blowing it apart and restoring it or other ones. Same goes for the ones that have either race history or 70's custom work or paint work history. Leave them be. What you are doing is in my eyes just perfect for what the car is. Enjoying it while not changing really anything much about the car. Keep me posted with it.

corey

found another pic of it from when it was in the dealership on display a few years ago.

Hey, thanks.
Messed with the 1:18 diecast Dick gave me, changing V21 HT to more accurately depict the car.
This is before I put the wipers back on.

Congrats on the score! Yes on the shiny wheels! You can't go wrong with Cragar SS or Keystone Klassics.

thats cool!

Just love the survivors