CarTech® CT578 - 1970 Plymouth Superbird: Muscle Cars In Detail No. 11

Whether you are an owner, potential buyer, restorer, or enthusiast of this era, this book will provide you with startling new insight on the 1970 Plymouth Superbird.

Use this resource to examine the 1970 Plymouth Superbird from nose cone to rear wing, review the factory options, and relive its glory days with Richard Petty and Pete Hamilton behind the wheel.

"Petty signs with Ford!" Those four words tore through the racing world like a hot knife through butter while loyalists threw their hands up in disbelief. King Richard's defection was in part because Plymouth hadn't built a Dodge Daytona counterpart for the NASCAR circuit, in addition to the fact that Petty Enterprises wanted to be the sole racing parts distributor for Plymouth at the time. Plymouth weathered the backlash publicly while privately scurrying to create a car to lure Richard back to Plymouth. That car? The 1970 Plymouth Superbird.

Production models languished on salesroom floors due in part to NASCAR having increased the homologation requirement from 500 units to 2,000. These cars were highly specialized, seen as being in excess in proportion to the hottest street cars of the period. Fast-forward to today, Superbirds are highly collectible and are a star attraction at car shows and auctions, pulling top dollar and generating real excitement. What a difference a few decades makes!

Table of contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1:

• The Evolution to Aero
• The Post-War Boom and the Townsend Era
• The Need for Speed
• Wind Tunnels
• Wings and "The Summer of '69"

Chapter 2:

• Building Bigger 'Birds
• Out Back
• On to Lynch Road
• Metal Shop
• Painting by Numbers
• Trim and Chassis Line
• Out the Door, Down the Street
• Conclusion

Chapter 3:

• Marketing and Competition: How the 'Birds Flew
• Marketing in General
• The Real Deal
• Maryland: The Muscle Car "Killer"
• Road Runners Revisited
• Superbird. less
• Other Marketing Efforts
• Wings in Flight: The Superbird in Competition
• Wings in Other Flight Patterns
• Draggin' Wings and More
• And Then onto the Salt.

Chapter 4:

• Hardware and Factory Options: What Made the 'Birds Super
• General Specifications
• A13 Superbird Package, Standard Equipment
• A13 Standard Superbird Suspension Package
• Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
• Driveline Options
• Engine
• Transmission
• Axle
• Exterior Color Options
• Interior Color and Trim Options
• Optional Equipment Not Available
• Standard A13 Equipment Not Noted Above
• Running Production Changes
• Factory Optional Equipment List
• Interior Options
• A Few Final Notes on Quickly Identifying a Superbird

Chapter 5:

• A 'Bird in Hand: Buying, Collecting, and Restoring Superbirds
• Levels of Collector Cars
• Provenance Matters. a Lot
• Options Add Up
• Restoring a Superbird

Appendix I:

• Superbird by the Numbers
• Decoding a VIN Tag
• Decoding a Fender Tag
• Decoding a Broadcast Sheet
• Window Sticker

Appendix II:

• Replacement Parts List

Geoff Stunkard
Geoff Stunkard is a veteran journalist and book author having written Landy's Dodges: The Mighty Mopars of Dandy Dick Landy and Hemi: A History of Chrysler's Iconic V-8 In Competition for CarTech. He is also a lifelong Mopar aficionado. Having served as the editor of Mopar Enthusiast and written scores of articles on Chrysler cars and racing, he has in-depth knowledge of Hemi racing history. Stunkard is the owner of Quarter Milestones Publishing, a multi-media production and design firm based in Johnson City, Tennessee. He has also created editorial for a number of clients throughout the automotive industry.