1970 Plymouth Superbird - Why Was it Only Sold for One Year?

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Technical overview & design history for the 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird. Hear how Chrysler designed the Dodge Daytona for NASCAR. Up against Ford, the Dodge Charger 500 wasn't giving Chrysler what they wanted in the NASCAR world. Here's how the Daytona & Plymouth Superbird were made, and why they look so weird.
The Plymouth Superbird was a limited-edition muscle car that was created for one reason and one reason only - to dominate the racetracks. And dominate it did! With its aerodynamic design and powerful engines, the Plymouth Superbird was a force to be reckoned with on the track.
This is the story of the Plymouth Superbird!
The Plymouth Superbird was designed by a team of engineers and designers at the Chrysler Corporation, which was the parent company of the Plymouth brand. The design of the Superbird was a collaboration between several departments within the company, including styling, engineering, and marketing.
The goal of the design was to create a high-performance muscle car that could compete on the racetrack and stand out on the street. The Superbird was heavily influenced by aerodynamics, as the car was specifically designed for NASCAR racing, where aerodynamics played a critical role in performance.
The Plymouth Superbird was offered in a limited range of exterior colors when it was first introduced in 1970. Some of the colors available for the Plymouth Superbird included:
Alpine White , Vitamin C Orange, Tor Red, Lemon Twist Yellow, Limelight Green, Corporate Blue, Curious Lime ,Sassy Grass Green, and Lemon Twist/Top Banana.
The interior of the Plymouth Superbird was typical of muscle cars of the time period, with basic features and a focus on performance rather than luxury. Some of the key features of the interior of the Plymouth Superbird included:
Simple bucket seats with a vinyl covering. They were designed to be lightweight and provide good support for performance driving. The dashboard was functional and straightforward, with a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and oil pressure gauge. There were no fancy electronic displays or gadgets. The Superbird came with a three-spoke steering wheel that was comfortable to grip and easy to control. The Superbird had a simple floor console between the front seats, which housed the gear shifter and provided a convenient armrest.
The door panels were simple, with manual window cranks and basic door handles. There were no power windows or other power features. Overall, the interior of the Plymouth Superbird was functional and stripped down, designed to provide a clean and simple environment for the driver to focus on performance driving.
The Plymouth Superbird was available with a range of engine options, including:
1. 440 Super Commando: This was a 7.2-liter V8 engine that was capable of producing 375 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque.
2. 426 Hemi: This was a 7.0-liter V8 engine that was capable of producing 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque.
3. 440 6-Barrel: This was a 7.2-liter V8 engine that was equipped with three two-barrel carburetors and was capable of producing 390 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque.
All of the engine options for the Plymouth Superbird were powerful and well-suited for high-performance driving. The Superbird was designed specifically for racing, and its engines were optimized for speed and performance on the track.
In addition to the engine options, the Plymouth Superbird was equipped with a heavy-duty suspension and brakes to handle the increased performance capabilities. The transmission options included a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic.
The exact performance numbers for the Plymouth Superbird varied depending on the engine option and the weight of the car, but here are some estimated figures:
The Plymouth Superbird could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5-6 seconds, depending on the engine option and other factors. The Superbird could complete a quarter-mile run in around 13-14 seconds, again depending on the engine option and other factors. The bird had a Top Speed of about 140 mph, although this could vary based on the engine option, transmission, and other factors. The Superbird was also equipped with heavy-duty brakes to handle the high-performance capabilities, and could stop from 60 mph in around 120-130 feet.
Plymouth discontinued the Superbird in 1971 due to several factors, including changes in NASCAR rules which limited the size of the engines, High Production Costs and consumer demand. The Superbird was seen as a niche car, and Plymouth decided to discontinue the model due to low sales and declining demand.