View Full Version : Plymouth Superbird question
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Plymouth_Superbird.jpgThe Plymouth Superbird was an automobile that existed for one reason only - to win at NASCAR.The Superbird was basically a modified Plymouth Road Runner, but it was realized that while it was alright on the street to have the 'aerodynamics of a brick' (typical of most American cars of the period), something a little better would help at high racing speeds. So, following the lead of the previous year's Dodge Charger Daytona, the Superbird sported an aerodynamic nosecone adding nineteen inches to the length and containing retractable headlights, a slightly smoothed-out body, and to counter a tendency to lightness at high speed, a rear wing was mounted high on very tall tailfins. The reason for the fins was mostly to give clearance beneath them to lift the trunk deck lid, but it probably didn't hurt that it put the wing into less disturbed air.
NASCAR banned the Superbird and all the other aerodynamic speedsters in the 1971 season, concerned about dangerously high speeds and that the cars didn't look all that 'stock'
Does anyone knows its performance figures?
Wouter Melissen
11-13-2005, 08:06 AM
There is a complete thread about it in the classic forums:
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18458&highlight=superbird
There were two versions available, one with the 426ci 425 bhp Hemi and the other was the six pack 390 bhp 440ci.
P4g4nite
11-13-2005, 11:05 PM
Stats, the road car would do 225Km/h(140Mph) the racers were doing about 300(185mph) with the 'hemi'.
I have a 0-60 time of 5 seconds.
It also broke records worlwide for ugliness.
MOPAR KICKS ASS
11-14-2005, 09:59 PM
man that car and the winged charger 69 to 70 nascar car kicked chevy and ford, mainly chevy butt. The fords had no problem with the Plymouth Superbird and Dodge charger daytona. The chevys on the other hand hated so they sreamed and yelled about the mopar 69 to 70 nascar racer.
"Clevor" Angel
11-15-2005, 01:19 PM
There were two versions available, one with the 426ci 425 bhp Hemi and the other was the six pack 390 bhp 440ci.
They were also offered with a regular 4v 440.
NoOne
11-15-2005, 01:55 PM
.... The fords had no problem with the Plymouth Superbird and Dodge charger daytona. The chevys on the other hand hated so they sreamed and yelled about the mopar 69 to 70 nascar racer.
Between the Daytona and the Superbird, Chrysler was taking all three top positions on all tracks for most of the '69 and '70 seasons - I'm sure Ford had a problem with that as did GM, but the real reason for the NASCAR ruling changes were the cars were hitting speeds back then that surpassed the safety guidelines of the day. Though I'm sure one manufacturer dominating the sport may also contributed to the regulation changes.
Personally I hate NASCAR, left hand turns are not that exciting for me - odd as I'm a ¼ mile junkie :D - but I did hear from someone that the speeds they were hitting on the straights back then was faster than they were hitting in the last few years with all the safety upgrades that have occurred over the last 30+ years. I can't verify this off the top of my head but it doesn't sound unreasonable.
Fleet 500
11-15-2005, 05:01 PM
It also broke records worlwide for ugliness.
At least it looked like a finished car... check out a pic of the Ford King Cobra- it looks like the nose wasn't quite finished when it was released to the public!
And I can name many, many cars from the '80s, '90s and today which are so ugly they make the Superbird look like a work of art (which they are, in a way).
P4g4nite
11-15-2005, 10:37 PM
At least it looked like a finished car... check out a pic of the Ford King Cobra- it looks like the nose wasn't quite finished when it was released to the public!
hehehe, I did see that.
But at least the cobra looks good from some angles, you can't look at a roadrunner from anywhere, except maybe from inside.
And I can name many, many cars from the '80s, '90s and today which are so ugly they make the Superbird look like a work of art (which they are, in a way).
Well, looks are subjective but to me it appears to be an awful cross between the Dukes of hazard and Flash Gordan.
The black vinyl roof adding a final touch of class.
Prius
11-16-2005, 04:44 AM
I heard that the new nosecone didn't ventlate the engine well egough, and production models at least had problems with overheating.
Some guys in Detroit told me that Dodge was planning a revival of this car.
Fleet 500
11-17-2005, 01:12 AM
I heard that the new nosecone didn't ventlate the engine well egough, and production models at least had problems with overheating.
I see a yellow '69 440 Charger Daytona at the weekly car gathering once in a while and it doesn't seem to be overheating when it pulls into the parking lot or waiting to pull into the parking lot... even on a 90 degree day.
I also see about half a dozen '69 Daytonas and '70 Superbirds at the Mopar Spring Fling which drive right in off the street. Remember, it's the fan which draws in air through the radiator. If the fan is big enough and has a sufficient number of blades (and if the radiator is big enough, like a 3-core) overheating shouldn't be a problem.
I heard that the new nosecone didn't ventlate the engine well egough, and production models at least had problems with overheating.
nah, the ventilation was just fine. C&D never said anything about "overheating" of engines.