what's the difference between a 1968 plymouth belvedere and a road runner?

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Great question! The 1968 **Plymouth Road Runner** and **Plymouth Belvedere** were closely related—the Road Runner was actually built on the Belvedere platform. Think of it like the Belvedere was the foundation, and the Road Runner was the muscle car version Plymouth created from it.

Here are the key differences:

**The Basics:**
- The **Road Runner** (introduced 1968) was essentially a stripped-down, high-performance **Belvedere** with a big engine and muscle car attitude. It was Plymouth's answer to get younger buyers who wanted GTO-level performance without the upscale price tag.

**Engine & Performance:**
- **Belvedere**: Came with economy engines like the Slant-6 (like the project car you're looking at!) or small V8s. This was a family car—practical, reliable, affordable.
- **Road Runner**: Standard 383 cu in V8 (about 335 hp) with optional 426 Hemi (425 hp!). This was built for speed, not fuel economy.

**Equipment & Trim:**
- **Belvedere**: More comfort features, nicer trim levels like the Satellite above it. Bench seats, better interiors, more options.
- **Road Runner**: *Spartan on purpose!* Bench seats, minimal options, basic vinyl interiors—they spent the money on the drivetrain, not the interior. featured those famous cartoon graphics and the "beep-beep" horn (honestly!).

**Today's Values:**
Here's where it gets interesting! That Belvedere project car is listed at **$6,000**. Meanwhile, similar 1968 Road Runners are currently selling for **$33K–$150K+**, with most in the **$50K–$70K** range. Even the most affordable Road Runner is worth about **5-6x** what this Belvedere project car is asking!

**The Bottom Line:**
The Belvedere was the sensible family car; the Road Runner was the hooligan's choice. Same bones, completely different personality—and today, a massive difference in collector value.

If you're looking at that turquoise Belvedere project, it could actually be a cool starting point for your own resto-mod build—the Road Runner proved this body could handle big power! But if you want the real deal, check out the [Plymouth Road Runner market](https://classic.com/m/plymouth/road-runner/) for available classics.

Can I help you find more info about either of these, or something else about this Belvedere?

Lot 2623: 1968 Plymouth Belvedere

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Lot 2623: 1968 Plymouth Belvedere

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