LS-Swapped 1970 Road Runner Superbird Replica Was Built to Drive: Track Time Tuesday
This 1970 Road Runner Superbird replica was slapped together on an extreme budget and then driven 1,000 miles with no real issues.
Anyone that’s even vaguely familiar with muscle cars is aware of the Plymouth Superbird, a highly-modified, super rare, and incredibly valuable version of the Road Runner that was developed specifically to dominate NASCAR. Most love the Superbird’s iconic looks, but few can afford to actually buy one. Regardless, you can build your own from scrap parts on an extreme budget, as is clearly evident from this 1970 Road Runner put together by Shawn Jones of Schweaty’s Speed Shop, which was recently featured over at Hot Rod.
This wickedly cool 1970 Road Runner – the subject of this week’s Track Time Tuesday presented by Nitto – was built to drive, and that much is obvious from the fact that it scored a Long Hauler plaque at the 2021 Hot Rod Power Tour. Traveling 1,000 miles in a slapped-together rig like this is no small feat, but it’s a testament to Jones’ hard work and dedication to the project, especially when we consider the scrap pile he started with.
Jones’ dad owned a roof off an old Road Runner along with a bunch of other parts, and that’s precisely where his son began his ratty build. “After collecting all the parts, we were in the process of building a chassis for it when I found an old NASCAR Cup car chassis, from a Toyota team, for $1,600,” Shawn said. “I added some used NASCAR brakes for $300 along with a fuel system then started slamming the body on the chassis. Kind of like Lego, but with a welder.”
Jones found a fiberglass Superbird replica nose and wing on eBay and saved a bunch of money on his engine choice as well. The Road Runner is powered by a 6.0-liter LS V8, which is backed up by an AR5 five-speed transmission. The mill has been treated to a Holley Terminator X ECU, which proved to be a very reliable combination on the Power Tour, as Jones had zero problems outside of a blown A/C line.
Altogether, this super cool ratty Superbird replica cost Jones a whopping $8,500 to put together, which makes it incredibly impressive in terms of its dollar-to-fun ratio, especially since it’s capable of eating up highway miles without breaking a sweat.
Photos: Hot Rod
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