Image Credit: Mecum.The Plymouth Road Runner was conceived as relatively affordable muscle, but ticking the right boxes could turn it into something much more serious. Few combinations from 1969 are as desirable today as a Road Runner packing the legendary 426 Hemi and a four-speed manual.That's exactly the combination found in this Burnished Bronze example. It pairs its understated exterior with one of the most celebrated Mopar engines ever built, plus the transmission most enthusiasts would probably want sitting behind it.The equipment doesn't stop at the powertrain, either. This Road Runner was ordered with several performance and appearance options that make it an especially interesting example from an era when Plymouth was willing to put serious hardware into a relatively straightforward muscle car.It's now headed to Mecum's Kissimmee 2027 auction, where it will cross the block on January 14. On paper and in the photos, there is plenty here to get a Mopar collector excited, although one detail could become a sticking point for buyers who care deeply about originality.One Of Only 234 With The Hemi And 4-SpeedImage Credit: Mecum.Mecum says this Road Runner is one of only 234 produced with the factory Hemi and four-speed manual combination. Its 426-cubic-inch V8 breathes through dual four-barrel carburetors, with a heavy-duty four-speed putting the power down.The car also received the A33 Track Pak with 3.54 gearing, adding another desirable factory performance option to the mix. A Fresh Air hood completes the appropriately serious drivetrain package.That rarity is particularly notable given the Road Runner's original mission. Plymouth positioned the model as an accessible performance car, yet ordering the Hemi transformed it into a very different animal from the far more common versions powered by the 383.It's Nicely Equipped, TooImage Credit: Mecum.Burnished Bronze gives the Road Runner a restrained appearance that doesn't immediately advertise what's underneath. Fender-mounted turn signals provide another period detail without disrupting the relatively subtle exterior.The cabin is finished in black and features bucket seats separated by a center console with woodgrain appliqué. A factory tachometer sits in front of the driver, which feels especially appropriate when there's a four-speed manual to operate.Mecum also lists a Dave Wise Report with the car. For a collector looking at a high-end vintage Mopar, that documentation adds useful context to the package.There's One Detail Purists May Not LoveImage Credit: Mecum.Now for the catch. Mecum describes the 426 Hemi currently installed in the Road Runner as "date code correct," rather than identifying it as the factory-installed, numbers-matching engine.For plenty of enthusiasts, that may not diminish the appeal much. It's still a Hemi-equipped Road Runner with the desirable four-speed configuration, and the engine sitting under the hood is presented as date-code correct rather than some unrelated modern replacement.Collectors who prioritize originality, however, can be extremely particular about matching-numbers drivetrains. With a car this rare, the absence of its original Hemi could influence how certain bidders value it.Mecum hasn't published a presale estimate, so we'll have to wait until January to see what bidders think. Whatever the result, having a date-correct 426 Hemi and a four-speed is a pretty good problem to have.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
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