Muscle cars can be a funny thing. When we think a model’s time has come, there’s a comeback where a legendary name once more graces our roads - or screens. Today brings back a revered badge courtesy of these awesome renders from HotCars digital artist Rostislav Prokop.
It’s instantly recognizable thanks to its iconic provenance (and huge rear wing), but the distinctive Plymouth Superbird muscle car of 1970 is back as the Plymouth Superbird digital concept. We take a virtual walkaround to marvel at the reimagining of a classic car to see how it might look if it came back today as a Superbird restomod project.
UPDATED FEBRUARY 2023: This article gets updated with new information on the subject of the Plymouth Superbird, plus we take a look at the fastest Dodge cars out there right now, including the heir to the Dodge Demon's throne: the Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock.
The Custom 2023 Plymouth Superbird Restomod Render
Restomods are divisive yet in some cases, necessary for a classic car to live on. This render suggests that the Superbird could get remade for the modern age with little impact on its styling ethos and as such we think it’s awesome.
In a cool midnight blue, the car sports popup lamps up front, LED running lamps below, and a hood scoop for whatever internal combustion engine is thrumming away in the car’s bowls. The obvious choice is the 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 from the Hellcat making at least 707 hp. However, why not go big and throw in the Dodge Hellephant crate engine that makes 1,000 hp?
Modern wheels and wider tires endow the sleek car with a modern vibe while up back, the original design shines through with rectangular lights and dual exhausts below that angular flat trunk, while the LED lights bring this Plymouth Superbird up to date.
While this Plymouth Superbird restomod is just a pipe dream at this point, it is great to see artists coming up with ideas that go against the norms of the car industry.
All About The Original 1970 Plymouth Superbird
Two words sum up some of the groundwork for the modern Superbird: Plymouth and Daytona.
The idea for this car render comes from the real, limited-run muscle car called the Plymouth Superbird – a 1970 NASCAR homologation special - that itself follows the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.
Nowadays, the Daytona name perhaps gets recognized as the appendix to the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT electric concept, but back in the day, the Superbird was a quick mover. Available with a range of V8s, from a couple of different 440 CI motors to the holy-grail 426 HEMI V8, the Superbird could make up to 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque.
How many of these NASCAR homologation specials got made? 1,920 went into production. However, only around 135 received the awesome HEMI V8 under the hood.
If you fast-forward to today, these rare, valuable, and jaw-dropping classic muscle cars are intriguing dinosaurs. They are icons from a golden age now distant but return in today’s Restomod render.
The 2023 Plymouth Superbird: Still Not Forgotten
Plymouth as a brand is unfortunately no more, which by now is not a spoiler alert for most people, though we may want to see iconic names return today.
The original car from the 1970 model year sold for around $4300, but today it commands an average of $263,000, according to Classic.com's historic auction results and 80 sales over 5 years.
Hagerty says you could expect a 'Good Condition' Superbird to be worth around $382,000.
It's rare with only 1920 Plymouth Superbirds initially getting built, and of those, there are presumably many fewer left in possession or circulation. The exact number of Superbirds left is unknown, but you could argue that if 50% survived, we would be lucky indeed.
Nowadays, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcats are the most obvious choice for the successor to the iconic Superbird, and Hennessey's HPE1000 provides a 1000 hp Challenger to remind us of Mopar's great history, minus the wing, of course.
You could also look to another of Dodge's Challengers; the Super Stock, heir to the Dodge Demon throne.
Dodge asserts that "The 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock is the world’s quickest and most powerful muscle car". It can reach 60 mph in 3.25 seconds and has a 1/4-mile time of 10.25 seconds from the factory.