Plymouth’s resurgence in the late 1960s was fueled by numerous high-profile victories on the racetrack. In 1964, Plymouth’s Richard Petty claimed victory in the Daytona 500, and three years later, he secured the NASCAR Championship, providing significant exposure for the Mopar brand.
Introducing the Superbird in 1970, Plymouth aimed to dominate the competition, basing it on the medium-sized high-performance Road Runner platform. This remarkable American car from the post-war era boasted an elongated ‘droop snoot’ nose and a tall, boot-mounted spoiler, specifically designed with NASCAR Superspeedway racing in mind, optimizing aerodynamics.
Under the hood, the Superbird featured a potent 440ci (7.2-liter) V8 engine, churning out an impressive 375bhp. NASCAR required a minimum production of 2,000 units for homologation, though slightly fewer were actually manufactured. The Superbird’s racing prowess was evident when Pete Hamilton triumphed in the 1970 Daytona 500 driving one of these remarkable machines. Throughout that year’s 38 Grand National races, Plymouth’s ‘Winged Warrior’ secured an impressive 21 victories.
However, the Superbird’s glory was short-lived, as NASCAR banned such extreme aerodynamic features at the end of 1970, turning the Superbird into a one-year-only model. This rarity and its exceptional racing heritage have made the Superbird even more desirable and sought-after by collectors.
Source: Bonhams
