1974 · Plymouth · United States
1974 Plymouth Road Runner
The last Satellite-based Road Runner; production roughly halved from 1973.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
This was the last Road Runner presented inside the Satellite range, per Plymouth's own 1974 brochure, and its production total is disputed by a wide margin: MuscleCarClub reports 9,646 hardtops while three further independently published books, the Standard Catalog of Chrysler, Mueller's Source Book, and a Consumer Guide collectible-cars entry, all agree instead on 11,555; the 1,909-unit gap between the two figures is not explained by either lineage, and this record's own conflict notes observe that MuscleCarClub actually lists the Standard Catalog among its own references yet still prints the lower number. A new 360 four-barrel joined the engine lineup for the year, described in the data book as fitted with a windage tray, shot-peened crankshaft, heavy-duty bearings, and chrome-plated exhaust-valve stems, and every 1974 Plymouth, Road Runner included, carried a seat-belt starter interlock that would not let the engine start until the front occupants sat down and buckled in the required sequence.1
The 318 two-barrel, with dual exhausts, remained standard at 170 hp and 265 lb-ft; the new 360 four-barrel offered 245 hp and 320 lb-ft, restricted from pairing with the three-speed manual; the 400 four-barrel, itself unavailable with the three-speed, the N95 emission package, or in California at all, offered 250 hp and 330 lb-ft; and the 440 four-barrel, requiring TorqueFlite and bringing a GTX nameplate along with it, topped the lineup at 275 hp and 375 lb-ft.
Two further claims about the GTX package and the production dispute were found but not tabulated. A magazine-style blog states the 386 GTX cars were all built with automatic transmission, attributing the figure to unnamed "factory data" without citing a specific document. A commercial reference site separately repeats the 11,555 figure against the MuscleCarClub/Standard Catalog lineage's 9,646 without adding a cited record of its own, so this record does not treat either secondary repetition as independent confirmation beyond the dispute already carried in the conflicts section.1
Standard Road Runner equipment ran to a performance-style hood, heavy-duty suspension, a Rallye instrument cluster, a body-side and roof tape stripe, 14-inch Rallye wheels without trim rings, and G70x14 raised-white-letter tires; identification carried a Road Runner emblem above the grille, on the C-pillar, and on the deck lid, a flat black grille with argent accent, and engine call-outs on the hood for the optional 360, 400, and 440, with the GTX nameplate specifically tied to the 440. A separate Handling Package, open to V8 models generally, added 15-inch chrome-styled wheels and a rear anti-sway bar but required GR70x15 steel-belted radial tires in place of the Road Runner's own standard G70x14s.
Sixteen exterior colors were charted, plus a canopy vinyl roof in white or black and a halo vinyl roof in black, white, green, gold, or parchment. Overall length grew to 212.4 in on a 115-inch wheelbase, with a 79.1-inch width and 52.2-inch height. Trim codes ran to five seat-and-material combinations, from the standard all-vinyl bench (B2) through Decor Package vinyl buckets (D6) and Wimbledon cloth-and-vinyl buckets or bench (W5, F1), each paired with a two-character color code running from B6 blue through EW Wimbledon.
Fact sheet · 1974 · United States
The numbers
1974 Plymouth Road Runner — The last Satellite-based Road Runner; production roughly halved from 1973.
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 data book describes the 360 four-barrel as new for the Road Runner, with a windage tray, shot-peened crankshaft, heavy-duty bearings, dual exhausts and chrome-plated exhaust-valve stems.
- All 1974 Plymouths carried a seat-belt starter interlock: the engine would not start unless the front occupants sat down and buckled in the required sequence.
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Runner 2-door hardtop1 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. | 9,646 | not stated, model-year | Reported |
| Road Runner 2-door hardtop (RM21), GTX-package cars included2,3,4 Road Runner · 2-door hardtop (RM21) · not stated Competing figure for the same cars as the 9,646 row; see conflicts. Never add the two. | 11,555 | not stated (catalogue production total), model-year | Disputed |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Runner with GTX 440 package3 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. | 386 | 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 11,555 total (Standard Catalog of Chrysler, Mueller, Consumer Guide) and MuscleCarClub's 9,646 are competing figures for the same cars; see conflicts. The 386 GTX-package cars are inside the 11,555.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Factory price, Road Runner 2-door hardtop (RM21)2 | $3,545 | factory price (catalogue column), base car before options; row-aligned reading, 1974 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| E44 · 318 2-bbl V-8 (dual exhaust) 318 cu in · single 2-barrel | 170 hp @ 4,000, 265 lb-ft @ 2,600 (SAE net) | standard | Not yet sourced |
| E58 · 360 4-bbl V-8 (dual exhaust, high-performance camshaft) 360 cu in · single 4-barrel | 245 hp @ 4,800, 320 lb-ft @ 3,600 (SAE net) | optional; not with 3-speed manual | Not yet sourced |
| E68 · 400 4-bbl high-performance V-8 (dual exhaust) 400 cu in · single 4-barrel | 250 hp @ 4,800, 330 lb-ft @ 3,400 (SAE net) | optional; not with 3-speed manual or N95; not in California | Not yet sourced |
| E86 · 440 4-bbl V-8 (dual exhaust, high-performance camshaft) 440 cu in · single 4-barrel | 275 hp @ 4,400, 375 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE net) | optional; TorqueFlite required | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| D14 · 3-speed manual, floor-mounted shifter on Road Runner | standard (318 only) | Not yet sourced |
| D21 · 4-speed manual with Hurst floor shifter and wood-grained handle | optional (318, 360 and 400 4-bbl on Road Runner) | Not yet sourced |
| D34 · TorqueFlite automatic (column, or console with bucket seats) | 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 |
A56package |
Handling Package (V-8 models) | — | Not yet sourced |
A87package |
Road Runner Exterior Decor Package | — | Not yet sourced |
A88package |
Interior Decor Package (Road Runner only) | — | Not yet sourced |
A34 / A35package |
Trailer-towing package, light-duty / heavy-duty (TorqueFlite required) | — | Not yet sourced |
D56sales code |
Heavy-duty axle (A36 package only) | — | Not yet sourced |
H51sales code |
Air conditioning | — | Not yet sourced |
C21sales code |
Center seat cushion and folding armrest (bucket seats) | — | Not yet sourced |
N88sales code |
Automatic speed control | — | Not yet sourced |
F25sales code |
Heavy-duty battery (440 amp standard with 440) | — | Not yet sourced |
J21sales code |
Electric clock (not with tachometer) | — | Not yet sourced |
C16sales code |
Console (bucket seats only) | — | Not yet sourced |
H31sales code |
Rear window defogger | — | Not yet sourced |
G01sales code |
Electrically heated rear window defroster (includes 65-amp alternator) | — | Not yet sourced |
D91sales code |
Sure-Grip differential | — | Not yet sourced |
N95sales code |
Emissions control system and testing (California) | — | Not yet sourced |
G11 / G15sales code |
Tinted glass: all windows / windshield only | — | Not yet sourced |
J45sales code |
Hood tie-down pins | — | Not yet sourced |
J52sales code |
Inside hood release | — | Not yet sourced |
G75 / G74sales code |
Dual racing mirrors, seven body colours or chrome | — | Not yet sourced |
B41sales code |
Power front disc brakes (required with 360, 400 and 440) | — | Not yet sourced |
S77sales code |
Power steering (required with 440) | — | Not yet sourced |
P31sales code |
Power windows (with movable quarter windows) | — | Not yet sourced |
R11 / R21 / R35 / R31sales code |
Radios: AM Music Master; AM/FM monaural; AM/FM stereo; single rear-seat speaker | — | Not yet sourced |
S76 / S84sales code |
Steering wheels: deluxe three-spoke with wood-grained trim; Tuff 14.5 in. (power steering required) | — | Not yet sourced |
M52sales code |
Manual sun roof with vinyl roof | — | Not yet sourced |
N85sales code |
Tachometer (Rallye cluster only; not with clock) | — | Not yet sourced |
J55sales code |
Undercoating and hood silencer pad | — | Not yet sourced |
H41sales code |
Upper-level fresh-air ventilation (not with air conditioning) | — | Not yet sourced |
W23sales code |
Chrome road wheels, 14 in. | — | Not yet sourced |
J25sales code |
Three-speed windshield wipers | — | Not yet sourced |
U26sales code |
GR70x15 steel-belted radial white-sidewall tires (A56 required) | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
JA5 |
Silver Frost Metallic | Not yet sourced |
KB1 |
Powder Blue | Not yet sourced |
KB5 |
Lucerne Blue Metallic | Not yet sourced |
FE5 |
Rallye Red | Not yet sourced |
KG2 |
Frosty Green Metallic | Not yet sourced |
KG8 |
Deep Sherwood Metallic | Not yet sourced |
KJ6 |
Avocado Gold Metallic | Not yet sourced |
HL4 |
Sahara Beige | Not yet sourced |
KL8 |
Dark Moonstone Metallic | Not yet sourced |
KT5 |
Sienna Metallic | Not yet sourced |
EW1 |
Spinnaker White | Not yet sourced |
TX9 |
Formal Black | Not yet sourced |
KY4 |
Golden Fawn | Not yet sourced |
KY5 |
Yellow Blaze | Not yet sourced |
JY6 |
Golden Haze Metallic | Not yet sourced |
JY9 |
Tahitian Gold Metallic | Not yet sourced |
V4W / V4X |
Canopy vinyl roof: white / black (Road Runner and Satellite 2-door; extra cost) | Not yet sourced |
V1 (halo) |
Halo vinyl roof: black, white, green, gold or parchment (extra cost on Road Runner) | Not yet sourced |
Tape stripes |
Hood tape stripe (red, black or white; extra cost) and roof-strobe/body-side stripe (red, black or white; standard on Road Runner) | 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 |
|---|---|---|
B2B6 / B2G6 / B2X9 |
All-vinyl bench seat with adjustable head restraints, standard on Road Runner: blue, green, black | Not yet sourced |
C2B6 / C2G6 / C2Y3 / C2X9 / C2L3 |
Pleated all-vinyl bench seat, Road Runner with Interior Decor Package (A88): blue, green, gold, black, parchment | Not yet sourced |
D6B6 / D6G6 / D6Y3 / D6X9 / D6XW |
All-vinyl bucket seats, Road Runner with Decor Group: blue, green, gold, black, white | Not yet sourced |
W5EW |
Wimbledon cloth-and-vinyl bucket seats (red, white and black plaid) with center cushion and folding armrest, Road Runner with Decor Group | Not yet sourced |
F1EW |
Wimbledon cloth-and-vinyl bench seat, Road Runner with Decor Group | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 115 in | 2-door models |
| Overall length | 212.4 in | 2-door models |
| Overall width | 79.1 in | 2-door models |
| Overall height | 52.2 in | 2-door models |
| Track, front | 61.9 in | 2-door models |
| Track, rear | 62 in | 2-door models |
Identification
- Road Runner identification
- Road Runner emblem above the grille, on the C-pillar and on the deck lid; flat black grille with argent accent; engine callouts on the hood with the optional 360, 400 and 440; GTX nameplate with the 440; body-side tape stripe on front fender, door, quarter and roof; 318 with dual exhausts and bright tips.
- Trim code
- Letter-digit seat code plus two-character colour: B2 standard vinyl bench, C2 decor vinyl bench, D6 vinyl buckets, W5 cloth-and-vinyl buckets, F1 cloth-and-vinyl bench; colours B6 blue, G6 green, Y3 gold, X9 black, L3 parchment, XW white, EW Wimbledon.
Where the sources disagree
1974 Road Runner production total
Both shown with attribution and marked disputed. Three reference books give 11,555, but they are probably one lineage; MuscleCarClub lists the Standard Catalog among its references yet prints 9,646, and none of the sources names a Chrysler record or accounting basis. The gap (1,909) is unexplained.
Identification
Read a 1974 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 1974
- AMC AMX The final Javelin AMX: 4,980 built, with the Go Package's cowl induction dropped and a production run that stretched into November 1974.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The Gremlin X gained a 'hockey stick' stripe. The 304 V8 remained available, but no X or V8 counts for the year were found.
- AMC Javelin The Javelin's final year: 22,556 non-AMX cars on a production run extended into November 1974.
- Buick Riviera Colonnade pillared roof; 20,129 built, 1,698 with Stage One and 4,119 with the GS handling option.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX The last year a 455 Stage 1 could be had in a Buick intermediate Gran Sport; 3,355 were built, 478 of them Stage 1.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The SS was gone; the new Laguna Type S-3 coupe carried the Chevelle's performance image, with a 235 net hp 454 still on the engine list.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Spirit of America Nova (RPO Z51) offered on the Custom hatchback per the source. Enthusiast-compiled production: 390,537 cars; Super Sport 21,419.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS Colonnade-era El Camino; Chevrolet's 1974 data pages define the RPO Z15 SS option for the El Camino Classic. Team Chevelle's production totals give 51,223 El Caminos built, 4,543 of them with SS equipment.
- Dodge Challenger The last original-era Challenger shared a catalog with the Dart; the 360 replaced the 340 as the optional engine and production ended in April 1974.
- Dodge Charger The last B-body Charger before the 1975 personal-luxury redesign, with 5-mph bumpers, carried-over powertrains and an SE that accounted for 30,957 V-8 cars.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The 360 replaced the 340 in the Dart Sport, and Flory's production table counts 3,951 Dart Sport 360s at a $3,244 base price.
- Ford Maverick Grabber Grabber production fell to 23,502 by Classic Industries count.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 11,328 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird Sixth-generation personal-luxury Thunderbird; the record holds the production total and the luxury-group option prices only.
- Ford Torino The 1974 Torino grew again and added the Gran Torino Elite; the Gran Torino Sport survived only as a formal-roof hardtop, with 23,142 built.
- Mercury Cougar Outside the muscle focus: 91,670 Cougars for 1974 per Wikipedia's table.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The Hurst/Olds paced the Indianapolis 500 again and offered a 350 for the first time: 1,800 coupes, 380 of them with the 455 W-30.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The final year: Barracuda and 'Cuda hardtops with a standard 318 and a new optional 360, and 11,734 built before the line ended.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 The 245 net hp 360 replaced the 340 in the Duster's best sales year: 3,969 Duster 360s among 281,378 Dusters, with Twister, Gold Duster and Space Duster packages priced separately.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite In 1974 a GTX nameplate came with the Road Runner's optional 440 four-barrel, TorqueFlite required; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 386 of them.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A new nose and the last Super Duty: 10,255 Trans Ams, 943 with the SD-455.
- Pontiac GTO The last original GTO: a package on the compact Ventura with a 200 hp 350; 7,058 built.
- Pontiac Grand Am A revised nose and 17,083 built, only 342 with a four-speed.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The 455 remains the SJ engine as Grand Prix volume falls to under 100,000.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans With the GTO moved to the Ventura, the LeMans GT package became the intermediate performance choice, backed by 350, 400 and 455 V8 options.