The 1970 Plymouth Superbird 440 Six-Pack paired a 390-hp 440 V8 with the radical nose and high rear wing that made Plymouth’s Road Runner derivative a NASCAR homologation special. Its three two-barrel carburetors put it between the 375-hp 440 four-barrel and the optional 426 Hemi in the lineup. Production totals for the Six-Barrel version remain disputed among published sources, so any count needs attribution.
What is a 440 Six-Pack Superbird?
It is a 1970 Plymouth Superbird equipped with the 440-cubic-inch V8 using three two-barrel carburetors. “Six-Pack” is the familiar Chrysler term; “Six-Barrel” also appears in period-oriented and auction descriptions. The Superbird was based on the Road Runner, but its protruding nose and elevated rear wing set it apart as an aero-bodied car developed in a NASCAR competition context. Audrain Auto Museum describes the Superbird as Plymouth’s response to competitors’ 1969 NASCAR success and places its arrival in the 1970 model year, after homologation rules had changed.
What did the 440 Six-Barrel produce?
Aero Warriors’ specification page lists the 440 Six-Barrel at 390 brake horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. The same page describes the TorqueFlite automatic and optional A833 four-speed manual in its specification tables. Newport Car Museum also gives the Six-Pack a rating of 390 hp and 490 lb-ft, and describes a four-speed example.
| Superbird engine configuration | Published output | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 440 four-barrel | 375 hp | Audrain Auto Museum |
| 440 Six-Barrel (three two-barrel carburetors) | 390 brake horsepower; 490 lb-ft | Aero Warriors |
| 426 Hemi | 425 hp | Aero Warriors |
Those figures describe different engines, not interchangeable versions of one output claim. The Six-Barrel’s three-carburetor setup and its place between the standard 440 four-barrel and the Hemi make it the distinctive middle choice in the range.
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Why did Plymouth build the Superbird?
The Superbird’s unusual bodywork made sense in the context of stock-car racing. Plymouth wanted an aero-focused contender and, according to Newport Car Museum, sought to bring Richard Petty back to Plymouth after his move to Ford. The museum says Superbirds won eight races in the 1970 season upon Petty’s return.
The eligibility milestone is recorded in an ACCUSFIA telegram dated January 14, 1970, reproduced by Aero Warriors: “Completion of dealer survey by ACCUSFIA covering the Plymouth SuperBird indicates that Chrysler Plymouth has complied with the production requirements established for 1970 stock car racing. The Plymouth SuperBird as delivered to dealers is therefore eligible for competition as of this date.” This is the telegram’s wording as reproduced on the specialist page, not a claim that the webpage is the original archival document.
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What the aero features did
- Protruding nose and high rear wing: Newport Car Museum describes these as features intended to improve high-speed downforce.
- Hood extractor scoops: Audrain Auto Museum notes that the scoops were nonfunctional on the road car. They provided extra tire clearance for racing and were cosmetic on street versions, rather than working street-car air extractors.
Newport Car Museum says NASCAR later restricted aero-car displacement to 305 cubic inches for 1971 because of concerns about cars exceeding tire technology, and says the rule change ended Superbird production after one model year. That is the museum’s account of the change, rather than a quotation from NASCAR regulations.
How many 1970 Superbirds had the 440 Six-Barrel?
Published estimates vary. Aero Warriors lists 665 440 6-bbl cars, while Newport Car Museum gives 715 Six-Pack cars and Hagerty’s November 11, 2024 configuration report lists 716 for the 440/390-hp three-two-barrel version. Aero Warriors explicitly warns that production numbers vary by source; the cited references do not establish why their totals differ. None should be presented as a definitive factory count.
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Hagerty’s report also records a most recent sale of $220,500 for that configuration as of its November 11, 2024 publication. That is a historical report datum, not a current asking price, valuation, or prediction. Any comparison should identify the car’s configuration, transmission, condition, originality, documentation, and sale date; a single recorded result does not establish what every Superbird is worth.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can you tell if a Superbird is numbers matching?
“Numbers matching” is a claim about a particular car, not something that can be confirmed from the model name or appearance alone. Auction descriptions show the kinds of records and details buyers look for, but seller or consignor claims require independent verification.
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Evidence to review
- VIN and vehicle documentation: Check the car’s identity against its paperwork and the relevant factory records available for that vehicle.
- Broadcast sheets: Look for build documentation and verify that its details align with the car.
- Engine and transmission stampings: Compare the numbers and identifiers with the car’s documentation and claimed configuration.
- Part numbers and date codes: Check whether components are correct for the claimed build and period.
- Independent inspection: Have a marque specialist inspect the car and its documentation before relying on a listing’s authenticity claims.
A Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2018 listing for a V-code 440 Six-Barrel, four-speed car reported two build sheets, a matching-numbers engine and transmission, and correct part numbers and date codes on numerous components. That listing describes its particular car as one of 308 four-speed Six-Barrel examples; it is not a general production total. A Mecum listing for another V-code example highlights a matching-numbers 440 6-BBL engine and two broadcast sheets. Mecum warns that its lot information comes from the consignor and is not guaranteed, and advises inspection to inform a purchase decision.
Why this Superbird is worth a closer look
The 1970 Plymouth Superbird 440 Six-Pack brings together three unusually legible pieces of automotive history: a Road Runner transformed for an aero-racing purpose, a street-car body with a striking nose and high wing, and a 440 whose three two-barrel carburetors distinguish it from both the four-barrel 440 and the Hemi. Its exact production total is unsettled in the cited references, while the authenticity of any individual example depends on documentation and inspection rather than a listing headline.
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