1972 · Plymouth · United States
Two Publisher Lineages, Two Production Totals
The hardtop-only Road Runner took a 400 four-barrel as its advertised standard engine, and production fell again.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
The 1972 Road Runner remained a hardtop-only body, RM23, within the Satellite range, with the 400 four-barrel as its advertised standard engine and the 340, 440 four-barrel, and 440 Six Barrel all optional. Production is disputed between MuscleCarClub's 6,861 hardtops and a trio of independently published books (the Standard Catalog of Chrysler, Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book, and a Consumer Guide collectible-cars encyclopedia) that all agree on 7,628, including 672 GTX-package cars; the 767-unit gap between the two totals does not match the 672 GTX figure, so this record leaves the discrepancy unexplained rather than assuming the GTX package accounts for it.1,2,3,4,5
The 1972 data book carries the new SAE net ratings across the board: 240 hp for the 340, 255 hp for the standard 400 four-barrel, 280 hp for the 440 four-barrel, and 330 hp for the 440 Six Barrel, the last not available in California. The 440 four-barrel's torque figure is printed in the data book as "375 @ 4800 rpm," an apparent copying error since torque and horsepower peaks rarely coincide at an identical rpm; this record omits the torque rpm rather than repeating what looks like a duplicated horsepower figure.
The Road Runner's own base price is separately disputed, $3,080 in the Standard Catalog of Chrysler's row-aligned reading against $3,095 in the Consumer Guide encyclopedia's own single-block row, even though both books agree on the 3,495 lb shipping weight and the 7,628 production figure printed alongside their respective prices; neither source names an underlying price schedule that would settle which figure is correct. Two further claims about the GTX package were found but not tabulated: a Motorbooks snippet shows rows reading 6,159 hardtops and 672 GTX hardtops totaling 6,831, a total that would conflict with 6,861 if it is confirmed to describe 1972 specifically, and a blog citing unseen Hemmings figures claims the 672 GTX cars split 219 four-speed and 453 automatic.3,6
Two axle packages were restricted to the Road Runner: the A33 Track Pak, tied to either 440 with the four-speed and bundling a Sure-Grip 3.54 Dana 9-3/4-inch axle with a seven-blade fan and 26-inch radiator, and the separate A36 Performance Axle Package with a 3.55 Sure-Grip axle, available more broadly across the 340, 400, and 440 depending on transmission. A September 24, 1971 bulletin made electronic ignition an extra-cost option specifically on the 400 four-barrel Road Runner, pending standard-system parts becoming available, a temporary arrangement this record's own key facts carry with its bulletin date attached. The Air Grabber hood could not be combined with air conditioning, or with the 400 or 440 four-barrel engines in California.1,7
Seventeen exterior colors were charted, with Meadow Green added as a spring color in January 1972 per a separate product bulletin, after the model year was already underway. The Road Runner's own body-code prefix system split sales codes by function, from A for accessory groups through W for wheels, and trim codes combined a seat-type digit with a two-character color code; RM23 remained the sole 1972 Road Runner body designation, since the convertible and other body styles were not offered.1,7
Fact sheet · 1972 · United States
The numbers
1972 Plymouth Road Runner — The hardtop-only Road Runner took a 400 four-barrel as its advertised standard engine, and production fell again.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- Two axle packages were Road Runner-only: the A33 Track Pak (440 with four-speed; Sure-Grip, heavy-duty 9-3/4 in. Dana axle with 3.54 ratio, not available with air conditioning) and the A36 Performance Axle Package (Sure-Grip, heavy-duty 3.55 axle).1
- A September 24, 1971 bulletin made electronic ignition (N23) an extra-cost option on the 400 four-barrel Road Runner until parts for the standard system became available.7
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Runner 2-door hardtop2 Road Runner · 2-door hardtop · not stated (possibly US-only; the site's 1971 figure equals a US-only registry count) Single secondary lineage; engine and GTX-package splits not found. | 6,861 | not stated, model-year | Reported |
| Road Runner 2-door hardtop (RM21), GTX-package cars included3,4,5 Road Runner · 2-door hardtop (RM21) · not stated Three books agree on 7,628; they are probably not independent (Mueller and Consumer Guide name no record, and the catalogue is a common source). The 6,861 row above is a competing figure for the same cars; see conflicts. Never add the two. | 7,628 | not stated (catalogue production total), model-year | Disputed |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Runner with GTX 440 package4 Road Runner with GTX 440-cid V-8 package · 2-door hardtop · 440 4-barrel V-8 · not stated Included in the Road Runner hardtop total per Mueller; not additive to it. No transmission split is given by this source. | 672 | not stated (reference-book production table), model-year | Reported |
No engine, transmission or paint count was found in an accessible documented source (searched again 2026-09-29: reference-book tables, Hagerty, conceptcarz, barnfinds and autoevolution give only the package figure or unsourced fractions, which stay in unpublished leads). The whole-year figures are grouped as totals because the sources print a single Road Runner line per year. A Chrysler production-by-engine record, a Plymouth Registry of Production or a Hemmings/Mopar Muscle article naming its record would close it.
The 7,628 total and the 672 GTX-package count come from the Standard Catalog of Chrysler, Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book and Consumer Guide's collectible-cars book; the 672 is inside the 7,628, not in addition to it.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Factory price, Road Runner 2-door hardtop (RM21)3 | $3,080 | factory price (catalogue column), base car before options; row-aligned reading, 1972 model year |
| Price, Road Runner hardtop coupe (RM23), Consumer Guide figure6 | $3,095 | price as printed in the encyclopedia's year table, 1972 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| E55 · 340 4-bbl V-81 340 cu in · single 4-barrel | 240 hp @ 4,800, 290 lb-ft @ 3,600 (SAE net) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| E68 · 400 4-bbl V-8 (dual snorkel)1 400 cu in · single 4-barrel | 255 hp @ 4,800, 340 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE net) | standard | Not yet sourced |
| E86 · 440 4-bbl V-8 (dual snorkel)1 440 cu in · single 4-barrel | 280 hp @ 4,800, 375 lb-ft (SAE net) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| E87 · 440 Six Barrel (3x2-bbl) V-81 440 cu in · three 2-barrels | 330 hp @ 4,800, 410 lb-ft @ 3,600 (SAE net) | optional; not available in California | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| D13 · 3-speed manual, floor-mounted1 | standard (400 4-bbl only) | Not yet sourced |
| D21 · 4-speed manual1 | optional (340, 400 4-bbl and 440 engines) | Not yet sourced |
| D34 · TorqueFlite automatic1 | optional | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
E55sales code |
340 4-bbl V-8 engine1 | — | Not yet sourced |
E86sales code |
440 4-bbl V-8 engine1 | — | Not yet sourced |
E87sales code |
440 6-bbl V-8 engine (not California)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
D21sales code |
4-speed manual transmission1 | — | Not yet sourced |
D34sales code |
TorqueFlite automatic transmission1 | — | Not yet sourced |
A01sales code |
Light Package1 | — | Not yet sourced |
A33sales code |
Track Pak axle package (RM23 only)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
A36sales code |
Performance Axle Package (RM23 only)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
A87sales code |
Road Runner Decor Group1 | — | Not yet sourced |
B41sales code |
Power front disc brakes1 | — | Not yet sourced |
C16sales code |
Console (bucket seats only)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
C21sales code |
Center seat cushion and folding armrest (bucket seats only)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
C92sales code |
Accessory floor mats, colour-keyed1 | — | Not yet sourced |
D91sales code |
Sure-Grip differential1 | — | Not yet sourced |
F25sales code |
70-amp battery (standard with 440 engines)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
G11sales code |
Tinted glass, all windows1 | — | Not yet sourced |
G15sales code |
Tinted windshield1 | — | Not yet sourced |
G35sales code |
Remote-control racing mirror, left1 | — | Not yet sourced |
G36sales code |
Dual colour-keyed racing mirrors (remote left, manual right)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
G37sales code |
Dual chrome racing mirrors (remote left, manual right)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
H31sales code |
Rear window defogger1 | — | Not yet sourced |
H41sales code |
Strato ventilation (not with air conditioning)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
H51sales code |
Air conditioning1 | — | Not yet sourced |
J21sales code |
Electric clock (not with tachometer)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
J25sales code |
Variable-speed windshield wipers1 | — | Not yet sourced |
J45sales code |
Hood pins1 | — | Not yet sourced |
J52sales code |
Inside hood release1 | — | Not yet sourced |
J55sales code |
Undercoating with hood insulator pad1 | — | Not yet sourced |
M05sales code |
Door edge protectors1 | — | Not yet sourced |
M25sales code |
Custom sill moulding1 | — | Not yet sourced |
M26sales code |
Wheel opening mouldings1 | — | Not yet sourced |
M31sales code |
Belt moulding1 | — | Not yet sourced |
M51sales code |
Sun roof with vinyl roof1 | — | Not yet sourced |
M85sales code |
Bumper guards, front and rear1 | — | Not yet sourced |
N23sales code |
Electronic ignition (extra cost on the 400 4-bbl until standard parts arrived)7 | — | Not yet sourced |
N42sales code |
Decorative exhaust tips (standard with 440 Six Barrel)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
N85sales code |
Tachometer (not with clock)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
N95sales code |
Emission control system (required in California)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
N96sales code |
Air Grabber hood1 | — | Not yet sourced |
N97sales code |
Noise reduction package (required in California with 400-4 and 440-4)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
P31sales code |
Power windows1 | — | Not yet sourced |
R11 / R26 / R31 / R35 / R36sales code |
Radios: AM; AM with stereo cassette; rear seat speaker; AM/FM stereo; AM/FM stereo with cassette1 | — | Not yet sourced |
S62sales code |
Tilt steering wheel with rim blow1 | — | Not yet sourced |
S77sales code |
Power steering1 | — | Not yet sourced |
S84sales code |
Tuff Rallye steering wheel (power steering required)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
V21 / V25sales code |
Black hood and deck tape treatment (both codes required; not with V8 or V9 stripes)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
W11sales code |
Deluxe wheel covers, 14 in.1 | — | Not yet sourced |
W15sales code |
Wire wheel covers, 14 in.1 | — | Not yet sourced |
W21sales code |
Rallye road wheels (14 in.; 15 in. on 2-door models)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
W23sales code |
Chrome-styled road wheels, 14 in.1 | — | Not yet sourced |
T87 / T93 / U86sales code |
Tires: F70x14 raised white letter; G70x14 raised white letter; G60x15 raised white letter (F70x14 white sidewall T86 standard)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
GA4 |
Winchester Gray Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
HB1 |
Blue Sky1 | Not yet sourced |
TB3 |
Basin Street Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
GB5 |
True Blue Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
FE5 |
Rallye Red1 | Not yet sourced |
GF3 |
Amber Sherwood Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
GF7 |
Sherwood Green Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
HT6 |
Mojave Tan Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
HT8 |
Chestnut Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
EV2 |
Tor-Red (extra cost)1 | Not yet sourced |
EW1 |
Spinnaker White1 | Not yet sourced |
TX9 |
Formal Black1 | Not yet sourced |
FY1 |
Lemon Twist (extra cost)1 | Not yet sourced |
GY4 |
Honeydew1 | Not yet sourced |
GY8 |
Gold Leaf Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
GY9 |
Tawny Gold Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
GJ3 |
Meadow Green (spring colour added January 1972, Satellite line)7 | Not yet sourced |
V1F / V1W / V1X / V1Y |
Full vinyl roof: medium green / white / black / light gold (extra cost; exterior-colour restrictions apply)1 | Not yet sourced |
V4W / V4X |
Canopy vinyl roof: white / black (2-door models; extra cost)1 | Not yet sourced |
V8W / V8X / V8Y |
Road Runner C-pillar/roof strobe stripes: white / black / gold (extra cost; not with full vinyl roof, two-tone paint or V21/V25 tape)1 | Not yet sourced |
V9W / V9X |
Road Runner hood/fender tape stripe: bright white / flat black (extra cost; not with Air Grabber, strobe stripes or V21/V25)1 | Not yet sourced |
Two-tone |
Two-tone paint (extra cost; lower colour keyed to interior: GB5, GF7, HT8, TX9 or GY4 with listed upper colours)1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
B2B5 |
Blue all-vinyl bench seat (standard Road Runner trim)1 | Not yet sourced |
B2F6 |
Green all-vinyl bench seat (standard)1 | Not yet sourced |
B2X9 |
Black all-vinyl bench seat (standard)1 | Not yet sourced |
C2B5 / C2F6 / C2T5 / C2X9 / C2XW / C2Y3 |
Custom-styled all-vinyl bench seat with adjustable head restraints (Decor Group A87 only): blue, green, tan, black, white and black, gold1 | Not yet sourced |
D6B5 / D6F6 / D6X9 / D6XW / D6Y3 |
All-vinyl pleated bucket seats (Decor Group A87 only): blue, green, black, white and black, gold1 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 115 in | Satellite hardtops and coupes |
| Overall length | 203 in | Satellite hardtop |
| Overall width | 79.1 in | Satellite hardtop |
| Overall height | 52.2 in | Satellite hardtop |
| Track, front | 59.7 in | Satellite hardtop |
| Track, rear | 62 in | Satellite hardtop |
| Fuel tank | 21 gal | Satellite |
Identification
- Body code
- RM23 = Road Runner two-door hardtop (the only 1972 Road Runner body). Sales-code prefixes: A accessory groups, B brakes, C carpets and console, D transmissions and axles, E engines, F heavy-duty items, G glass and mirrors, H air conditioning and defogger, J miscellaneous, L lights, M mouldings, N engine accessories, P power equipment, R radios, S suspension and steering, T/U tires, V roofs and stripes, W wheels.1
- Trim code
- Two letters and two characters: the second character gives the seat (1 cloth-and-vinyl straight bench, 2 vinyl straight bench, 6 vinyl buckets on the Road Runner pages); the last two give the colour (B5 blue, F6 green, T5 tan, X9 black, XW white and black, Y3 gold).1
Where the sources disagree
1972 Road Runner production total
Both totals are shown with attribution. Neither source names its underlying record or accounting basis, and the difference (767) does not match the 672 GTX-package figure repeated by secondary sites, so the gap is unexplained.
Identification
Read a 1972 Plymouth VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1972
- AMC AMX The first year of SAE net ratings and Chrysler-built TorqueFlite automatics. Javelin AMX production rose to 3,220, and the 304 V8 became available.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The first V8 Gremlin: the 304 (150 hp SAE net) in AMC's subcompact. Gremlin X production is not published in any source found.
- AMC Javelin The base model was dropped, so every non-AMX Javelin was an SST. This was the first year of the Pierre Cardin interior and of Chrysler-built automatics.
- Buick Riviera Net ratings only for 1972: 250 hp standard, 260 GS per ROA; 2,171 of 33,728 were GS.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The last A-body GS year before the Colonnade Century; the GSX package, now in many colours, was invoiced on only 44 cars, most of them outside the lower 48 states.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The last Z15 Chevelle SS of the first generation: net-rated engines, an LS5 454 at 270 net hp, and 5,333 SS 454s.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova The source engine table switches to net ratings; SS and Rally Nova offered. Enthusiast-compiled production: 349,733 cars; Super Sport 12,309.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS Last year of the Chevelle-bodied El Camino SS; 50,359 V8 Malibu El Caminos were built, and the SS share is not separately published.
- Dodge Challenger Hardtop only, with a new grille: the R/T gave way to the Challenger Rallye package, and the most powerful engine listed was the 340 four-barrel.
- Dodge Charger The R/T and Super Bee were dropped; the new Rallye package became the performance Charger, and the 440 Six Pack was cancelled after a handful of cars.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The Demon's second and final year under that name: 8,773 Demon 340s, with small Canadian and Swiss-market 340 runs counted separately.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The dual-scoop-hood Grabber in its second year as a model; Classic Industries counts 35,347.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 12,620 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird First year of the sixth-generation Thunderbird; only the whole-line production total was found.
- Ford Torino The new body-on-frame Torino sold 496,645 in 1972; the performance models were the Gran Torino Sport SportsRoof (60,794) and hardtop (31,239), with the 351 Cobra Jet and a Rallye Equipment Group on the option list.
- Mercury Cougar Net ratings arrived, the 429 was gone, and the 351 Cobra Jet became the performance Cougar engine, fitted to 3,560 cars.
- Mercury Montego GT The first year of the fastback-only Montego GT on the new split-wheelbase intermediate, with the Cyclone name reduced to a performance option that only a few dozen buyers took.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 became a Cutlass option again, engines were rated in SAE net (W-30: 300 hp), and a Hurst/Olds paced the Indianapolis 500.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda Hardtops only, single headlamps, four round taillamps, and a 340 four-barrel as the top engine: the 'Cuda carried it as standard.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 In the first net-rating year the Duster 340's 8.5:1 340 was rated 240 net hp with electronic ignition, the Twister became order code A51, and output rose to 15,681 in both compilations.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite For 1972 the GTX existed only as the 440 four-barrel option on the Road Runner hardtop; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 672 of them.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A strike-shortened year: 29,951 Firebirds and 1,286 Trans Ams, every one a 455 HO.
- Pontiac GTO The GTO goes back to being an option on the LeMans, with net ratings only; 5,807 were built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix A carryover year with the SJ still offered; production recovered to 91,961.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The GTO becomes a LeMans option, and the LeMans gets WW4 and WW5 performance packages.