-
Plymouth Volare Road Runner
Back in 1976, Plymouth introduced the Volare. It was a successful mid-size model they produced in many variants, exporting it worldwide. It was a twin to the Dodge Aspen featuring a rear-wheel drive platform. Also, it had a wide arrange of engines and a sleek design. Dodge and Plymouth had successful muscle cars models in the past.
So, the heritage was still strong when they presented the Volare. It was the perfect platform for a muscle car if it wasn’t for the grueling emissions and safety regulations that killed the performance. But Plymouth tried by introducing the Volare Road Runner with a 316 V8 engine pumping out a measly 160 HP. However, what it lacked in the performance department, the Volare Road Runner compensated in looks.
It had a full body kit with rear window louvers, a spoiler, graphics package and sports wheels. Some versions even featured a T top roof, which was a cool choice back in the day. Later, Plymouth introduced the 360 V8 delivering 175 to 196 HP. Although it improved the performance, it still was slow.
They ceased production in 1980 after just four years on the market, so they didn’t produce many models. Today, it is a collector’s car since it looks cool and has an interesting history. And that is despite the fact muscle car fans regarded it as a disgrace. They thought the Road Runner name should go on a better performing machine. Even worse, the Volare had rust issues, so the number of surviving cars is low.