1968 Plymouth Road Runner

[JeffD]

The "Indaver" Anyone know this cars history?

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jeff,

I think 'The Invader' was owned by Thomas 'Buzz' Presnell,,,,,,,
Presnell Motors, Elizabethton, Tennessee.
1968 Hemi Road Runner Coupe.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jeff,

This one, from the February 1968 Hot Rod Magazine,
(late-November photo shoot)

Road Runner decal on the front section of the quarter-panel, but
no Road Runner lettering under the Plymouth decal.

Later in the year, they took of the Road Runner decal, and lettered
Road Runner under the Plymouth emblem.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Both Sox & Martin (with the 68' Hemi Road Runner Coupe) and
Dick Landy (with the 68' Hemi Charger) campaigned their cars
in the 1968 season, in AHRA Super Stock/Eliminator,,,,,, and NHRA A/MP....

Both ran Hemi engines with;
12.5 - 1 pistons
65' Race-Hemi Aluminum cylinder-heads
.590 lift camshafts
Aluminum in-line dual carb intakes
Twin Carter 750 AFB carburetors

Both had lightened their cars to approximately 3400 lbs., before the
1968 season.
And each, during the year had added 64'/65' Race Hemi hood scoops.

In the first main 'National' event of the year, the 1968 AHRA Winternationals.
Both cars ran in SS/E (Super Stock/Eliminator).
The AHRA had a minimum weight-to-cubic inch break of 8.00.

Both of the 426 Hemi cars could not weigh less than 3408 lbs.

At the 1968 AHRA Winternationals, Dick Landy ran 10.50's, and Sox & Martin ran 10.60's.

Despite the 'monster' E.T. runs at the 68' AHRA Winternationals, both
Dick Landy and Sox & Martin stayed away from the A/MP National
Record at the 68' NHRA Winternationals.

A/MP National Records;
11.11 (Robert Nance; 65' Plymouth Hemi)
11.11 (Jim Hale; 65' Plymouth Hemi)

129.27 MPH (Robert Nance; 65' Plymouth Hemi)

Dick Landy did win the A/MP Class at the 68' NHRA Winternationals.
In a highly competitive Class run-off, which included;
* Sox & Martins 68' Hemi Road Runner
* 65' Race Hemi Belvedere's and Coronet's
* 67' L-88 Camaro (Charlie Mason in the Motion Performance car)
* 67' L-88 Chevy Nova (Shallcross Brothers in the Jenkins prepared car)

[Paul Ceasrine]

Back to magazine articles,,,,,,,,,
Hot Rod Magazine, November 1967
Performance test of the 1968 Road Runner, 383 w/3.55 Sure-Grip Posi (Performance Axle)

[Paul Ceasrine]

Sox & Martin

1969 AHRA Winternationals (Bee Line Dragway, Scottsdale, Arizona)
January 23 thru 26, 1969

The 68' Hemi Road Runner, w/69' grille and side-lights.
Class B/MP (8.00 - 8.99; weight-to-cubic inches).
versus,
'The Inch Pincher', EMPI-sponsored,,,, I/G,,, VW Bug


One-week later, at the 1969 NHRA Winternationals @ Pomona
Classed in B/MP.


Running for the B/MP Class Championship

[Hemi Moose]

[Paul Ceasrine]

Moose,

Another nice 1968 photo of the,
'Catch This' Marong Chrysler-Plymouth 68' Hemi Road Runner.
at Niagara Falls Dragstrip (New York)

1968 SS/CA (7.00 to 7.69 wt/hp),,,,,,
At #3560 lbs. and a 7.49 wt/hp break,,,,,
not very kind to the 68' Hemi Road Runner Coupe.

pc

[Paul Ceasrine]

Rock,,,

1968 Plymouth Road Runner 383/335 HP
Coupe; #3424 lbs.

The 383/335 HP Hardtop was a mid-year addition.
Hardtop #3450 lbs.

The 1968 Dodge Super Bee 383/335 was a 'coupe only' for 1968.
Car weight #3440 lbs.

Both cars ran in either E/S or E/SA for 1968.

As for the 426 Hemi;
Road Runner (Coupe); #3569 lbs.
Road Runner (Hardtop) #3595 lbs.
Super Bee (Coupe) #3585 lbs.

Both the Road Runner and Super Bee (426 Hemi) were classed in
SS/C or SS/CA.

pc

[Paul Ceasrine]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

Ron,

In the 1967 Motor Trend Magazine 'Super Cars' of compartive new Model 1968 cars,
considered 'mid-size performance cars', with a weight/horsepower factor of 10.00 and up.

1968 Road Runner 383/335HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3424 (10.22 wt/hp)
1968 Dodge Super Bee 383/335HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3440 (10.26 wt/hp)
1968 Dodge Charger 383/330P,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3581 (10.85 wt/hp)
1968 Chevelle SS396 396/350HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3549 (10.14 wt/hp)
1968 Buick GS 400 400/340 HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3512 (10.33 wt/hp)
1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 400/350HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3510 (10.03 wt/hp)
1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass 350/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3271 (10.06 wt/hp)
1968 Pontiac GTO 400/350HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3504 (10.01 wt/hp)
1968 Pontiac Lemans 350/320HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3498 (10.93 wt/hp)
1968 Ford Fairlane 390/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3429 (10.55 wt/hp)
1968 Ford Torino GT 390/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3487 (10.73 wt/hp)
1968 Mercury Cyclone 390/325HP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,car weight #3487 (10.73 wt/hp)
1968 American Motors Rebel SST 390/315 HP,,,car weight #3443 (10.93 wt/hp)

Motor Trend (December 1967)

Ron,

This is the list you asked to be re-posted.
1968 Classes
10.00 - 10.49 Wt/Hp = E/S
10.50 - 10.99 Wt/Hp = F/S

As of February 1968;
Class Records
* E/S,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,12.90 @ 107.01 MPH
* E/SA,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,12.93 @ 109.09 MPH

You can take a guess at which cars were the 'best' performers in 1968
off this list.