World's Most Expensive: 1970 Plymouth Hemi Road Runner Sells for Record Price

The event was packed with classic Mopars equipped with the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Hemi V8 engine. Nearly 20 examples went under the hammer and about a dozen change hands for over $100,000 a pop. The most expensive Hemi Mopar, an ultra-rare 1971 Plymouth Cuda Convertible, sold for a whopping $3.3 million.

The E-body drop-top did not set a record, but some of the more affordable Hemi Mopars did. Highlights include a 1969 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible that sold for $770,000, and a 1969 Plymouth Belvedere I that changed hands for $280,500.

The purple Road Runner you see here rolled off the stage after the hammer fell at $330,000, a sum that includes the buyer's premium. The sticker makes it the most expensive 1970 Road Runner ever sold at public auction and raises the record bar by over $100K. The previous holder was auctioned for $214,500 in 2018.

I do need to mention that the 1970 Road Runner Rapid Transit sold for $314,000 in 2019, but we're talking about a one-off concept, so it does not really count. And even so, the fact that a regular Road Runner fetched only $11,000 less is impressive, to say the least.

The event saw no fewer than 16 Road Runners cross the block. Enthusiasts got to bid on vehicles produced between 1968 and 1973. Only one other rig fetched over $100,000. It's also a 1970-model-year hardtop and, interestingly, a stunning unrestored survivor. Surprisingly enough, the Hemi time capsule sold for "only" $214,500.

What made this purple rig fetch a lot more and set a record? Well, the In-Violet color definitely helps, as it's favored by collectors. The hardtop is also a fully restored vehicle in Concours-ready condition. It packs a numbers-matching drivetrain that includes the desirable four-speed manual transmission and the A33 Track Pak option.

It's also a pretty rare classic. Plymouth sold 152 Hemi-equipped Road Runner in 1970, and only 59 of them were hardtops fitted with this drivetrain combo. It's one of those classics that has it all.

At $330,000, this Road Runner is also the second-most expensive iteration of the nameplate, regardless of the model year. It's second to only a much rarer 1971 Hemi hardtop with low miles. The all-black Mopar sold for $500,000. Third position goes to a 1969 A12 version that sold for $275,000 in 2025.

The purple Road Runner went under the hammer on January 17. Bidding started at $100,000 and reached into $200,000 territory in a matter of seconds. The reserve was lifted at $265,000. You can watch the drama in the video below from the 10:45:08 mark.