The story of the Plymouth Superbird is more than just a simple rule change. It all started when the Daytona was introduced in 1968 as a 1969 model. However, Richard Petty, a fan of Plymouths, was disappointed that Chrysler did not provide him with a similar aerodynamic car. As a result, Petty switched to racing Fords. This caught Chrysler off guard, but they were determined to keep their champion.
In response, Chrysler took the Plymouth Road Runner to the wind tunnel and added a nose cone and wing, creating the Superbird. Richard Petty was impressed and returned to racing with the Superbird. However, his engine blew during the opening race of the 1970 season, the Daytona 500. Despite this setback, another Superbird from Petty Enterprises won the race.
While the Superbird is often credited as Chrysler’s first aerodynamic car, the corporation had actually used wind tunnel testing in the 1930s with the Airflow. However, by the 1970s, Chrysler had gained enough experience and expertise to build missiles and rockets. John Vaughn, an aerodynamicist at Chrysler Corporation Space Division, had worked on the Mopar space rocket program before lending his expertise to NASCAR racers.
Vaughn played a significant role in the development of the Dodge Charger 500 and its Daytona counterpart. When Plymouth started planning the Superbird, Vaughn was invited to contribute his knowledge. Around 1,920 Superbirds were assembled to meet NASCAR’s homologation requirements for the 1970 season, and it is believed that a few more were built beyond that.
It is difficult to determine the exact production numbers of the Superbird, but it is generally agreed that fewer than 2,000 units were made for street use. One of these belonged to John Vaughn himself, who owned the car for several years before selling it to a man in Tennessee. The car went through several owners before one of them decided to undertake a complete restoration of this iconic vehicle twenty years ago.
Photo: bringatrailer.com
The project to restore this car was completed in 2005. Every piece of the car was carefully inspected, repaired, rebuilt, or replaced, with the exception of the left rear quarter which was simply inspected. The car still retains its original engine, Torqueflite transmission, and 3.55 Sure Grip rear. It has a total of 91,000 miles on the clock, which is equivalent to 146,000 kilometers. The current owner purchased the car in January 2010 and has not driven it much since then, with only 1,165 miles or 1,875 kilometers added to the odometer. This averages out to approximately 83 miles or 134 kilometers per year.
While Superbirds are generally rare, not all of them are created equal. This is because they are part of the larger Chrysler family of automobiles. In the 1960s and 1970s, Mopar’s high performance was mainly defined by having a 426 Street HEMI V8 engine, which this particular car does not possess. Instead, it is equipped with the entry-level 440-4 Super Commando eight-cylinder motor, which is still quite powerful.
Out of the Superbirds, this example is considered to be the ordinary version. It is powered by a 375-horsepower, 7.2-liter V8 engine, generating 480 pound-feet of torque. This engine is fitted with a single four-barrel carburetor. Additionally, this particular car has an automatic transmission, one of only 618 Superbirds built with this configuration during the NASCAR homologation batch. Interestingly, the total number of automatic-transmission Plymouth Superbirds, across all engine options, also amounts to 1,084.
Despite being the least rare version, this Superbird still commands a high premium in the current buyer’s market. The car has been meticulously restored and looks stunning. However, it is worth noting that it is not in its original survivor state. Various modifications have been made to improve its performance and reliability, including the installation of an electronic ignition, an aluminum radiator with a 16-inch fan, an overflow tank for the coolant, and a clear fuel filter.
It is important to highlight that all the original factory-installed parts are still available and will be included with the car for the next owner. The documentation accompanying the vehicle is extensive, resembling a library. It includes detailed maintenance records, as well as photos from the restoration process. As an added bonus, the sale also includes a collection of photographs taken by John Vaughn during the development of the aero cars. These photos provide a unique glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work that went into creating these iconic vehicles.
The online auction for this Superbird will conclude in six days. Currently, the highest bid stands at $185,000, which is considered relatively low for a Superbird in prime condition.
As a fun fact, the aerodynamicist responsible for designing the Superbird went to great lengths to gather information about the competition. He even visited the racetracks and garages of Ford and Mercury, disguised as a tourist, in order to take spy photos of their cars. One of the photos included in the sale is a picture of the Mario Andretti Ford Torino fastback, signed by John Vaughn himself. This serves as a testament to the aerodynamicist’s dedication and curiosity about what the competition was doing during the intense horsepower arms race of that era.
