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Muscle car

1970 Plymouth Superbird 426 Hemi

Muscle car powered by Chrysler 426 Street Hemi V8.

1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird photographed at the Louwman Collection; exterior profile context, not standalone Hemi proof.
Wing-car identity Road Runner-based Superbird aero homologation coupe with steel nose and tall aluminum rear wing
Hemi production 135 Hemi Superbirds reported, with 77 TorqueFlite and 58 four-speed examples in checked references
Authentication focus RM23R0A VIN pattern, fender tag, broadcast sheet, drivetrain stampings, and original aero hardware

Story

1970 Plymouth Superbird 426 Hemi

The 1970 Plymouth Superbird was Plymouth's Road Runner-based NASCAR homologation aero car: a production hardtop with a long nose, rear-facing fender scoops, a tall aluminum rear wing, and mandatory vinyl-roof treatment. This page focuses on cars ordered with the 426 Street Hemi, while keeping the aero package and drivetrain evidence separate so a restored or photographed car is not treated as proven original without paperwork.

The clearest identity trail is the Superbird VIN and body documentation. Aero Warriors reports the RM23 Superbird hardtop pattern, the 1970 model-year digit, Lynch Road assembly, and the R engine code for the 426 8-barrel Hemi. Hemi cars then need the same collector-grade evidence as other high-value Mopars: fender tag, broadcast sheet, original paperwork, matching engine and transmission stampings, axle evidence, and component dates.

Production totals vary by source, so the page uses the commonly cited 1,935-car Superbird total and the 135-car Hemi breakout while preserving the caveat that some lists differ. Checked references also report 77 Hemi automatics and 58 Hemi four-speeds, with TorqueFlite cars tied to a 3.55 Sure-Grip 8.75-inch axle and four-speed cars tied to a 3.54 Dana 60 Sure-Grip axle.

The Hemi Superbird is visually dramatic, but the wing, nose, decals, and show-field presentation are not enough by themselves. The public record here treats photos and videos as visual context, while the records section separates factory equipment, production figures, and authenticity markers from unresolved paint-code detail.

Exact-year Superbird rear three-quarter view retained for wing, backlight, tail panel, vinyl roof, body graphics, and aero-body context; engine identity and individual-car finish remain document-dependent.Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

  • Auction sale $605,000

    May 17, 2025 · Mecum Indianapolis

    Automatic R-code Hemi Superbird RM23R0A172586 with a rotisserie restoration, matching-drivetrain claims, fender tag, broadcast-sheet copy, Registry inspection, and Wise report. · restored · excellent Mecum records the completed result, exact R-code VIN, date, amount, automatic transmission, restoration, matching-drivetrain claims, and document set. Excellent reflects the disclosed restoration, not an independent inspection.
  • Auction sale $209,000

    Jan 12, 2024 · Mecum Kissimmee

    R-code Hemi Superbird RM23R0A158581 rebuilt after an earlier racing crash with a fuel-injected 528 Hemi, five-speed, and substantial chassis and comfort changes. · modified · good Mecum records the completed result, exact R-code VIN, date, amount, current engine and transmission, and modified configuration. It is classified as modified and is not a factory-drivetrain or original-body benchmark.
  • Auction sale $605,000

    May 20, 2023 · Mecum Indianapolis

    Automatic R-code Hemi Superbird RM23R0A162316 with a professional rotisserie restoration, original drivetrain claims, broadcast sheet, Registry reports, and Wise report. · restored · excellent Mecum records the completed result, exact R-code VIN, date, amount, automatic transmission, restoration, matching-drivetrain claims, and document set. Excellent reflects the disclosed restoration, not an independent inspection.
  • Auction sale $1,650,000

    Jul 2, 2022 · Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas

    Automatic R-code Hemi Superbird RM23R0A172589 classified by the archive as original or highly original. · survivor · excellent CLASSIC.COM records the completed sale, exact R-code VIN, date, amount, automatic transmission, and originality classification. The $1.65 million result is retained as an outlier, not treated as a typical value for every Hemi Superbird.
  • Auction sale $242,000

    Jan 13, 2018 · Mecum Kissimmee

    Automatic R-code Hemi Superbird RM23R0A162308 with its original Hemi engine, original window sticker, and first-owner bill of sale. · survivor · good Mecum records the completed result, exact R-code VIN, date, amount, automatic transmission, original-engine claim, and period documentation. Good is a conservative summary of the disclosed presentation, not an independent inspection.
  • High bid $300,000

    Jan 13, 2017 · Mecum Kissimmee

    Automatic R-code Hemi Superbird RM23R0A172595 described as an unrestored two-owner car with extensive original sales and factory documentation. · survivor · excellent Mecum records the bid-goes-on result, exact R-code VIN, date, amount, automatic transmission, unrestored state, ownership history, and document set. Excellent reflects the disclosed preservation and documentation, not an independent inspection.

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Transmission

  • Factory transmission 727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic
  • Factory transmission A833 18-spline 4-speed manual

Options

  • A13 SuperBird package required · appearance · Source discusses equipment unavailable when the A13 SuperBird package was ordered; treated as package evidence pending factory-order-sheet review.
  • A36 Performance Axle Package standard · chassis · Associated with TorqueFlite automatic Superbirds; 3.55 Sure-Grip 8.75-inch axle.
  • A33 Track Pak standard · chassis · Associated with four-speed Superbirds; 3.54 Sure-Grip Dana 60.
  • N95 Evaporative emission control required · other · Reported as required in California.

Appearance

Superbird nose and headlamp-bucket detail; aero front-end context.Karrmann via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Interior

Superbird interior detail; seats, dashboard, and cabin trim context.BUTTON74 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Chassis

Authenticity

  • VIN engine code R identifies 426 8V Hemi in the Superbird VIN pattern RM23R0A1xxxxx · Driver-side dash VIN plate and fender tag; partial VINs may also appear on radiator yoke or deck-lid/trunk lip locations. · fraud detection
  • Original engine block stamp Last eight digits of the Superbird VIN stamped on pad on lower right/passenger side of block near oil pan · Passenger-side lower engine block pad near oil pan. · numbers matching
  • Original transmission case stamp Last eight digits of VIN stamped on pad on right/passenger side of transmission case · Passenger side of transmission case. · numbers matching
  • Mandatory Superbird vinyl roof Boar Grain vinyl roof; black vinyl roof listed in equipment records · Roof covering and trim; verify against fender tag/broadcast sheet. · trim correctness
  • Broadcast sheet locations Broadcast sheets may be found behind glove box, under/behind seats, or under carpet · Interior hidden paper-document locations. · other

Codes & names

Names & Engine Codes

Common names and codes are grouped so LS6 references point to the same engine, not separate pages.

426 Hemi Chrysler 426 Street Hemi V8
426 8V Chrysler 426 Street Hemi V8
426 V8 (HEMI) (2x4bbl) Chrysler 426 Street Hemi V8
Dual Four Barrel 425-hp V-8 Engine, 426 Hemi Chrysler 426 Street Hemi V8

Photo and video gallery

Gallery

5 photos and videos

Sources & Documentation

Explore more Related cars & components 13 links