1973 · Plymouth · United States
A Coupe Called a Hardtop, and a Self-Contradicting Table
A secondary count puts production back up to 19,056, the highest of the 1971-1974 Satellite-based years.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
Chrysler's own 1973 AMA specifications describe the Road Runner as body RM21, a two-door coupe, though MuscleCarClub's secondary production table instead calls it a "hardtop," a wording difference this record's own notes attribute to MuscleCarClub rather than to the factory documents. The 318 two-barrel, with dual exhausts and rated 170 hp net, was standard, a specifically Road Runner-only upgrade since other Satellites' 318 ran only 150 hp on a single exhaust; the 340, 400, and 440 four-barrels were all optional, with the 440 restricted to TorqueFlite only. The 340 was rated 240 hp and 295 lb-ft, the 400 four-barrel 260 hp and 335 lb-ft, and the 440, offered on the Road Runner alone among Satellites, 280 hp and 380 lb-ft, all under the SAE net standard adopted that year.1,2
Production is reported at 19,056, a figure MuscleCarClub prints citing the Standard Catalog of American Cars and Mueller's Dodge and Plymouth muscle book, and which three further independently published sources, the Standard Catalog of Chrysler, Mueller's own Source Book, and a Consumer Guide collectible-cars book, all confirm exactly; Mueller states that 749 of those 19,056 carried the GTX 440-cid V8 package, included within the total rather than additional to it.2,3,4
The data book's own equipment matrix makes a performance hood, heavy-duty suspension, a Rallye instrument cluster, the Beep-Beep horn, dual exhaust tips, and roof-strobe and body-side stripes all standard on the Road Runner specifically, while the 225 six, the 400 two-barrel, a column-shifted three-speed, and the trailer-towing package were all listed as not available on it; this matrix, read directly from the Road Runner's own equipment column, is more specific than a general Satellite features list would be.
Two further claims about the GTX package and total production were found but not tabulated. A commercial reference site states the 749 GTX cars were all built with automatic transmission, but cites no factory record of its own. The same site separately prints a production table giving 15,928 Road Runner hardtops with a 318 breakdown of 7,056 (1,242 three-speed, 350 four-speed, 5,447 automatic), while its own accompanying text elsewhere states 19,056 buyers for the year; since that single source contradicts itself on the total, this record carries neither the 15,928 figure nor its 318 breakdown as a confirmed alternative to the agreed 19,056, and no factory price schedule for the year was consulted to check the single $3,115 factory price this record does carry against a second source.3
Fifteen exterior colors were charted, plus a halo-style vinyl roof in parchment, white, black, green, or gold depending on exterior and trim color; curb weight for the automatic-equipped coupe ran 3,705 lb, with an estimated shipping weight of 3,525 lb, on a 115-inch wheelbase and 210.8-inch length. Body codes distinguished the Road Runner's RM21 from the plain Satellite coupe (RL21), the Sebring hardtop (RH23), and the Sebring-Plus (RP23), and trim codes combined a letter-digit seat code, B2 for the standard vinyl bench, C2 for the Decor Package's split-back bench, or D6 for its bucket seats, with a two-character color designation.1
Fact sheet · 1973 · United States
The numbers
1973 Plymouth Road Runner — A secondary count puts production back up to 19,056, the highest of the 1971-1974 Satellite-based years.
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
- The Road Runner's standard transmission was a floor-shifted three-speed manual with the 318 only; the four-speed was offered with the 318 (Road Runner), 340 and 400 four-barrel, and the 440 came only with TorqueFlite.1
- Curb weight of the Road Runner coupe with automatic transmission was 3,705 lb; the estimated shipping weight was 3,525 lb.1
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. | 19,056 | not stated, model-year | Reported |
| 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. | 749 | 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.
Chrysler's 1973 AMA specifications and colour-and-trim book call the Road Runner body RM21 a two-door coupe; the 'hardtop' wording in the production row is MuscleCarClub's.
Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book, the Standard Catalog of Chrysler (archive.org leaf 468) and Consumer Guide's collectible-cars book all give 19,056 for 1973; Mueller says it includes 749 cars with the GTX 440 package, all hardtops.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Factory price, Road Runner 2-door hardtop (RM21)3 | $3,115 | factory price (catalogue column), base car before options; row-aligned reading, 1973 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 318 2-bbl V-8 (dual exhaust)1 318 cu in · single 2-barrel | 170 hp @ 4,000, 270 lb-ft @ 2,000 (SAE net) | standard | Not yet sourced |
| 340 4-bbl V-81 340 cu in · single 4-barrel | 240 hp @ 4,800, 295 lb-ft @ 3,600 (SAE net) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 400 4-bbl V-8 (dual snorkel)1 400 cu in · single 4-barrel | 260 hp @ 4,800, 335 lb-ft @ 3,600 (SAE net) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 440 4-bbl V-8 (dual snorkel)1 440 cu in · single 4-barrel | 280 hp @ 4,800, 380 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE net) | optional; automatic only | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3-speed manual, fully synchronized, floor shift | standard (318 only) | Not yet sourced |
| 4-speed manual with Hurst floor linkage and pistol-grip lever | optional (318, 340 and 400 4-bbl) | Not yet sourced |
| TorqueFlite automatic (column, or console "slap-stik" with optional console)1 | optional; required with 440 | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
A01package |
Light Package | — | Not yet sourced |
A36package |
Performance Axle Package (Road Runner only) | — | Not yet sourced |
A87package |
Road Runner Exterior Decor Package | — | Not yet sourced |
A88package |
Interior Decor Package (Road Runner only) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
340 4-bbl V-8 engine | — | Not yet sourced |
|
400 4-bbl V-8 engine | — | Not yet sourced |
|
440 4-bbl V-8 engine (automatic required) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Air conditioning (auto trans. required with 318 and 400; power steering required with 400 and 440) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Console (requires bucket seats) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Center folding armrest with center seat cushion for bucket seats | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Power front disc brakes (required with 340, 400 and 440) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Sure-Grip differential | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Rear window defogger | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Hood hold-down pins | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Inside hood release | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Electric clock (not with tachometer) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Tachometer (8-cyl. only; not with clock) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Racing mirrors, dual, six body colours or chrome | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Hood stripes | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Manual sun roof (2-door only) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Power steering; power windows | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Radios: solid-state AM, AM/FM, AM/FM stereo, AM/FM stereo with cassette; rear seat speaker | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Tuff Rallye three-spoke steering wheel (power steering required) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted glass (all windows or windshield only) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Wheels: 15 in. Rallye road wheels (Road Runner only), chrome-styled 14 in. road wheels, trim rings | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Tires: G70x14 or G60x15 raised white letter (F70x14 standard)1 | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
JA5 |
Silver Frost Metallic5 | Not yet sourced |
HB1 |
Blue Sky5 | Not yet sourced |
TB3 |
Basin Street Blue5 | Not yet sourced |
GB5 |
True Blue Metallic5 | Not yet sourced |
FE5 |
Rallye Red5 | Not yet sourced |
JF1 |
Mist Green5 | Not yet sourced |
GF3 |
Amber Sherwood Metallic5 | Not yet sourced |
JF8 |
Forest Green Metallic5 | Not yet sourced |
GK6 |
Autumn Bronze Metallic5 | Not yet sourced |
HL4 |
Sahara Beige5 | Not yet sourced |
EW1 |
Spinnaker White5 | Not yet sourced |
TX9 |
Formal Black5 | Not yet sourced |
FY1 |
Lemon Twist5 | Not yet sourced |
JY3 |
Honey Gold5 | Not yet sourced |
JY6 |
Golden Haze Metallic5 | Not yet sourced |
JY9 |
Tahitian Gold Metallic5 | Not yet sourced |
V1L / V1W / V1X / V1F / V1Y |
Halo-style vinyl roof (2-door): parchment / white / black / green / gold; availability depends on exterior and trim colour | 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 / B2F6 / B2X9 |
All-vinyl bench seat, standard on Road Runner (and Satellite coupe): blue, green, black | Not yet sourced |
C2B5 / C2F6 / C2Y4 / C2X9 / C2L3 |
All-vinyl split-back bench seat, Road Runner with Interior Decor Package: blue, green, gold, black, parchment | Not yet sourced |
D6B5 / D6F6 / D6L3 / D6X9 / D6Y4 / D6XW |
All-vinyl bucket seats, Road Runner with Interior Decor Package: blue, green, parchment, black, gold, white | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 115 in | 2-door models |
| Overall length1 | 210.8 in | 2-door models |
| Overall width1 | 79.1 in | 2-door models |
| Overall height1 | 52.5 in | Road Runner RM21 |
| Track, front1 | 61.9 in | all models |
| Track, rear1 | 62 in | all except wagons |
| Curb weight1 | 3,705 lb | Road Runner coupe with automatic transmission |
| Shipping weight (estimated)1 | 3,525 lb | Road Runner coupe |
| Fuel tank | 19.5 gal | Satellite (non-wagon) |
Identification
- Body code
- RM21 = Road Runner two-door coupe (AMA body-model table); Satellite coupe RL21, Sebring hardtop RH23, Sebring-Plus RP23.1
- Trim code
- Letter-digit seat code plus two-character colour: B2 standard vinyl bench, C2 vinyl split-back bench, D6 vinyl buckets; colours B5 blue, F6 green, L3 parchment, X9 black, Y4 gold, XW white.
Identification
Read a 1973 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 1973
- AMC AMX The Javelin AMX's best year. 5,707 were built, a quarter of them with the 401, alongside the Trans Am Victory decal and the Pierre Cardin interior.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The V8 Gremlin X continued, with new stripes and an available Levi's denim-look interior. No production split has been found.
- AMC Javelin The SST name dropped away and new twin 'TV-screen' taillights arrived. Javelin production reached 25,195, alongside the Trans Am Victory decal package.
- Buick Riviera Stage One (260 hp net) joined a separate GS handling package; 1,234 Stage Ones and 3,933 GS cars of 34,080.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX On the new Colonnade A-body the GS became a Century Gran Sport package; 6,637 were built, 728 with the 455 Stage 1.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The Colonnade Chevelle's only SS year: RPO Z15 on the Malibu coupe and, for the first and only time, the station wagon, with a 245 net hp 454 available.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Hatchback appears in the source body table; SS offered with any engine per the source. Enthusiast-compiled production: 369,509 cars; Super Sport 35,542.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The new Colonnade El Camino could still be ordered with RPO Z15 SS equipment; no El Camino SS count was found.
- Dodge Challenger The six was gone: every 1973 Challenger hardtop had a V8, the 318 standard and the 340 optional, with the Rallye now sold as a package.
- Dodge Charger The Charger's best-selling year of the original era, 119,318 cars, came as the 440 lost its Magnum name and the car moved toward personal luxury.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon Renamed Dart Sport, the fastback's 340 model sold 11,315 in the 340's final year.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The 200 six became standard as the 170 was dropped; Classic Industries counts 32,350 Grabbers.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 15,320 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird The 429 4V was standard and the 460 4V optional in the sixth generation's best-selling year.
- Ford Torino The 1973 Torino kept the 1972 body behind a heavier bumper; the Gran Torino Sport fell to 51,853 SportsRoofs and 17,090 hardtops while the 351 Cobra Jet remained the performance engine.
- Mercury Cougar The last Cougar convertible and the last 351 Cobra Jet year, with production up to 60,629 as buyers shifted to the XR-7.
- Mercury Montego GT The Montego GT fastback's second and last year; a vehicle profile reports 4,464 built.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds On the new Colonnade Cutlass the 4-4-2 was a W-29 appearance and handling option, and the Hurst/Olds came in white or, for the first time, black: 1,097 built.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda V8 only: the 318 became standard on both Barracuda and 'Cuda, the 340 moved to the option list, and production rose for the only time after 1970.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 The 340's last year in the Duster produced 15,731 cars with power front disc brakes now standard, and the Spacemaker Pak fold-down rear seat joined the line.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite For 1973 the GTX name survived only through the Road Runner's optional 440 four-barrel, which came with TorqueFlite only; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 749 of them.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The Super Duty year: 4,802 Trans Ams, 252 of them SD-455s.
- Pontiac GTO A GTO option on the new Colonnade LeMans, with the 400 standard and a 455 optional; 4,806 built.
- Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac's Colonnade GT with an Endura nose and a 400 or 455; 43,137 built, the Grand Am's best year, with 1,058 four-speeds.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The Colonnade-body Grand Prix arrives, with the 400 standard and the 455 in the SJ.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The Colonnade LeMans arrives, with GTO and GT options for the two-door models and a Super Duty 455 listed for the LeMans in Pontiac's dealer book.