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440 4BBL, 3.54 Dana 4 Spd. |
The End Of The Era
| In 1972 Performance was winding down for Chrysler Corp. The GTX was gone as its own model. The Hemi was no longer an option on any model Plymouth made. Only a handful of 440+6BBL were produced in the first weeks of production for the 1972 model year. The only saving grace was the new Satellite Body that was carried over from 1971 and some devoted designers. In 1972 Plymouth Designers took the car of the year for 1971 and turned up the volume on the cool knob. They kept the great curves of the 1971 body and redesigned the nose and tail panel. Many Mopar gurus argue daily whether a 1971 Road Runner is better looking than a 1972 Road Runner. And most would agree that a 1972 has a cooler grill and taillight panel over the 1971. |
| The 1972 Road Runner did get one option that was never offered on previous year Road Runners, a 440 cubic inch 4BBL engine (E86 - GTX Drive train). This motor was reserved for the BOSS. When Plymouth offered the GTX model in 1967 they gave the GTX sole possession of their 440 Super Commando V-8 with 4BBL induction. And through the High Performance years they stuck to their guns and would not allow a 440 4 BBL to be used in any of their other Plymouth High Performance B-Body Muscle Cars. |
| 1972 may of been the end, but the rules stayed the same at Chrysler Corp. If you wanted a 4 speed behind the great 440 mill you got a Super Strong 18 spline HEMI 4 Spd, and the indestructible Dana Rear End with 3.54 gears. King Kong was gone but the parts that made King Kong a legend were still in the bins. |
| Many think that in 1972 Performance
had dropped off. To the surprise of many, a 1972 440 would run hard. Horsepower
was no longer measured at the fly wheel. In 1972 they measured Net Horsepower.
Which was Rear Wheel Horsepower. This fooled the insurance companies in
1972 but they caught on by 1973.
This Roadrunner / GTX is 1 of
219 Road Runner / GTX's Built with the 280 Net HP 440 4BBL Mill, Hemi 4
Spd. with Pistol Grip Shift, 3.54 Dana Rear End. This
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