Shannons give US Muscle Car enthusiasts 'The Bird'
If you want to make an automotive statement, absolutely nothing upstages a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird '426 Hemi'.
The wild, winged and wonderful coupe developed specifically for NASCAR stock car racing in 1970, was Plymouth’s response to the Charger Daytona fielded by sister company Dodge in the previous season.
With its extended aerodynamic nose and outrageous rear tail fins, ‘Superbird’ decals and matching ‘Beep-Beep’ horn, it was too extreme for many American customers of the day and made its Australian ‘Bathurst Supercar’ counterparts from Ford, Holden and Chrysler ‘Bathurst Supercars’ look positively pedestrian by comparison.
Adding to its legendary status, Richard Petty's Superbird appeared as a key character in the 2006 Pixar film Cars, with Petty as the voice of seven-time champion Strip "The King" Weathers.
Now Shannons is planning to give US Muscle Car enthusiasts ‘The Bird’ at its upcoming Melbourne Autumn Auction on April 30, when an extremely rare, fully-restored Superbird will be offered in all its NASCAR glory.
The short-lived coupe is one of just 135 fully-fledged Superbirds built by Plymouth in 1970 with the thumping 426-cid Hemi V8 under its long bonnet. It is one of just a handful in Australia and Shannons believe it to be one of the best.
NASCAR's homologation requirement of the time demanded that vehicles to be raced must be available to the general public and sold through dealerships in specific minimum numbers.
However, the Superbird’s distinctive aerodynamic bodywork initially met some sales resistance in the USA. Some customers preferred the regular Road Runner and as a consequence, many of the required 1,920 examples built for racing homologation still sat unsold on the back lots of dealerships as late as 1972.
Some were even converted into more conventional-looking 1970 Road Runners to move them off the sales lot.
The left-hand-drive Superbird being auctioned by Shannons has been in Australia for a number of years and was previously restored by marques specialists in the USA.
Given its extreme rarity, standout appearance and the quality of its restoration, it is expected to sell in the $520,000-$580,000 range.
View all Shannons April 30 Melbourne Autumn Classic Auction Lots
For more information on the auction contact the Melbourne Auction Team on (03) 8588 0809 or email auctions@shannons.com.au.
Protect your Classic. Call Shannons Insurance on 13 46 46 to get a quote today.
