Ryan Brutt uses his Auto Archeology YouTube channel to explore a barn housing a trio of legendary Mopar coupes. It's a brief visit involving a lot of garbage or hidden gems depending on your point of view. But, a look at 1968 and 1969 Plymouth Road Runners and a 1970 Dodge Charger offer hope these classic cars may one day see the road again. Brutt doesn't reveal the location of his barn find, but a glance at a dusty Illinois license plate hints this might be in the Land of Lincoln.
A Building With Stories To Tell
An initial look inside the barn reveals mounds of junk. But as the video rolls along, the rubbish becomes engine blocks, wheels, and even Hemi air cleaners. As they say, one man's trash is another's treasure.
In earlier years, the building accommodated other classic Mopars, including a 1970 Plymouth Superbird. Brutt shares a few images of the storied car but the details get saved for another video.
The One That Started It All: The 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
Brutt's video only gives viewers a quick peek at the 1968 Road Runner which is the first model year for this performance-oriented Plymouth. The automaker developed the model as a budget-minded alternative to its Mopar cousins and the offerings from Ford and General Motors.
There's no word on what's under the hood of this particular Plymouth but a 383 cubic-inch V8 making 335 horsepower was the standard engine for 1968. The 426 Hemi with 425 horsepower was optional.
The B-Body Continues With The 1969 Road Runner
The Road Runner's B-body platform continued for the 1969 model year (the second generation didn't appear until 1971). There weren't many body changes for the '69 but the horizontal slats in the grille are an easy identifier. Plymouth also introduced a Road Runner convertible.
The 383 engine carried over for 1969, but a limited number of examples got built with the 426 Hemi or newly optional 440 cubic-inch V8, with the latter offering up to 390 horsepower. We can only guess what’s powering this tired Plymouth.
A Buried 1970 Dodge Charger
Underneath piles of parts and books sits a 1970 Dodge Charger. While it's not a higher-end 500 or R/T, it's still a noteworthy classic waiting for another chance. Also sharing B-body underpinnings, the 1970 model marked the last year of the second-generation Charger. Unlike the split grille of the '69, the 1970 front end has an open design framed with a wide chrome bezel that served as the bumper.
Similarly, there's no info on this car's powerplant, but the stock engine can range from Chrysler's trusty slant-six to one of several V8 options.
Sources: YouTube/Auto Archeology, allpars.com, hagerty.com, hemmings.com