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The 1970 Plymouth Superbird was a Road Runner-based NASCAR aero car, recognizable by its extended pointed nose and towering rear wing. Plymouth offered it with three V8 choices: a 440 four-barrel, a 440 Six Barrel, or a 426 Hemi. Its production total is disputed: 1,935 is a common estimate, while 1,920 is another frequently cited figure.
Why Plymouth built the Superbird
Plymouth adapted the Road Runner into an aerodynamic stock-car racer after Dodge developed the Charger Daytona. The Superbird carried forward the Daytona concept while refining the nose and wing around Road Runner foundations. Its purpose was competition: NASCAR homologation rules required manufacturers to make eligible models available to the public.
The project also intersected with Richard Petty’s return to Plymouth. The Newport Car Museum recounts that Petty left for Ford after 1968 and that Plymouth wanted him back; that was part of the car’s story, not the only reason for its development. The Automobile Competition Committee for the United States (ACCUSFIA) eligibility notice dated January 14, 1970, as reproduced by Aero Warriors, stated: “The Plymouth SuperBird as delivered to dealers is therefore eligible for competition as of this date.”
What made the Superbird look different
The long nose and high-mounted rear wing were the car’s defining additions. They were intended to improve aerodynamic performance at racing speeds, rather than simply provide a more dramatic appearance. The Audrain Auto Museum describes the Superbird as an early muscle car shaped by aerodynamic development as well as engine power.
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- Hand Signed by Richard Petty Includes Certificate of Authenticity Richard's 1970 Plymouth Superbird Paint Scheme Officially Licensed Product University of Racing Diecast Body Metal Chassis Opening Hood Opening Trunk Limited Edition Manufacturer Specific Body Measures Approximately 8" x 3" x 2" Weighs 2 lbs
Its hood-and-fender air-extractor scoops also had a practical racing-related purpose: they provided extra clearance for large tires. Audrain notes that the scoops were nonfunctional on the street version.
Engines and published specifications
Plymouth offered three engine families. The horsepower ratings below for the two 440s are those listed by the Audrain Auto Museum; RM Sotheby’s confirms the three choices but does not give a Hemi horsepower figure.
Rank #2
- Brand new box. Real rubber tires. True-to-scale detail. Detailed interior, exterior. Officially licensed product. Comes in plastic display showcase. This model does not have any openings. Manufacturer's original unopened packaging. Made of diecast metal with some plastic parts. Dimensions approximately L-5, W-1.75, H-1.25 inches.
| Engine | Published output | Source qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 440-cubic-inch V8, one four-barrel carburetor | 375 hp | Audrain Auto Museum |
| 440-cubic-inch V8, Six Barrel carburetion | 390 hp | Audrain Auto Museum; also called Six-Pack in some descriptions |
| 426 Hemi V8 | not stated | RM Sotheby’s confirms it as an option but gives no horsepower figure |
Specifications vary with the basis and the individual car. Aero Warriors’ general-data compilation gives a length of 221.0 inches, width of 76.4 inches, height of 61.4 inches, 115.8-inch wheelbase, 19-gallon fuel capacity, and 3,785-pound shipping weight. It lists a $4,298 manufacturer’s suggested retail price as of September 23, 1969.
Aero Warriors attributes period performance figures to Road Test magazine’s April 1970 reporting: 0–60 mph in 5.5 seconds and a quarter-mile in 14.26 seconds at 103.7 mph. It also gives a broad estimated top-speed range of 130–160 mph. These are period figures, not results from a modern independent test. A Newport Car Museum display car, configured with a 440 Six-Pack and four-speed manual, is reported at 3,841 pounds curb weight, 5.5 seconds to 60 mph, a 13.5-second quarter-mile, and 142 mph top speed. Those example-specific figures should not be treated as one universal specification.
Rank #3
- 70 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD HYX96
- Mattel
- Origin: TH
How many 1970 Superbirds were made?
No single production total is uncontested in the cited sources. A useful short answer is that 1,935 is a common estimate, while 1,920 is another widely cited total. The disagreement is real, not a rounding difference that can be resolved by presenting one figure as definitive.
- Aero Warriors derives 1,920 from a NASCAR serial-number list’s engine counts: 1,162 440 four-barrels, 665 440 Six Barrels, and 93 Hemis. It also notes 1,935 as a frequently cited Chrysler Historical Society number.
- RM Sotheby’s says the homologation requirement implied 1,920 and identifies 1,935 as the best estimate.
- Fully Sorted documents additional reported totals, including 1,923 and 1,969, alongside differing engine breakdowns, and concludes that the sources it consulted do not settle the disagreement.
Because the published tallies conflict, the engine counts should not be presented as a definitive factory production mix.
Rank #4
![Hot Wheels '70 Plymouth Superbird, HW Art Cars 7/10 [Yellow] 87/250](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ijsmUh7UL._SL160_.jpg)
- Made In Malaysia
The Superbird in NASCAR and its short run
The aero package helped the Superbird compete on fast tracks. RM Sotheby’s reports that Pete Hamilton won the 1970 Daytona 500 in a Superbird and also won both Talladega races that year. The Newport Car Museum reports eight Superbird wins during the 1970 season; that figure does not mean one driver earned every win.
The model lasted only one production year. The Newport Car Museum attributes its end to NASCAR’s 1971 restriction of aero-car engine displacement to 305 cubic inches, which made the Superbird uncompetitive. The museum’s account explains the change’s effect; it is not a quotation of the rulebook.
What to check when evaluating a Superbird
Production-count disputes make careful identification and documentation important, but no single detail should be treated as a complete authentication. A 2017 RM Sotheby’s listing illustrates comparing a data tag with the car’s stated engine, interior, roof, paint, and transmission configuration. Aero Warriors identifies locations where original engine and transmission numbers may be stamped.
- Review documentation and identity evidence, including whether the data-tag information agrees with the car’s configuration.
- Assess drivetrain and body originality, including engine and transmission identity where verifiable.
- Inspect condition and the quality of prior repairs rather than relying on appearance alone.
- Consider the engine and transmission configuration alongside provenance; a claimed specification is not proof by itself.
The cited historical sale and older value figures do not establish a current market range, so a present-day valuation should not be inferred from them.
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