A Dream in Orange: Cartoon Muscle

Things that give me goosebumps and makes my heart beat harder: seeing my sons smile, being told by my wife that she loves me–and hearing a V8 rumble. 

I mean, needless to say there are more things that crowd my list of favorites but honestly, real engines (as in engines with carburetors) always make me smile. That being said, muscle cars are in 2024 practically unnecessary. Still, they’re oddly pleasant in a soul-warming way. The smells of the unburnt and exceedingly expensive fuel, the music of eight pistons pushing to turn the crankshaft. Together they form a symphony for all senses to enjoy. A mechanical wonder. So who cares if it is unnecessary.

I used to own one of those unnecessary, but subjectively awesome, machines. A Mustang. I struggled with it in roundabouts and the floorpans were rusted out.
The high-pressure power-steering hose leaked when I turned hard at low speed. A nightmare to park but a dream to drive.
This 1972 Mustang, with a cammed 302, a race-prepped C4 transmission and slot mags, was soon sold to pay for a wedding ring but that – of course – was a very reasonable transaction. 

The other day, while visiting the local car meet at Huskvarna Folkets Park, Sweden, this orange beast caught my eye right away. The dream of owning the perfect muscle car awoke again.

The 1970 Plymouth Road Runner was parked under a tree, flattening the soft grass beneath its wide tires at the public park where the car show took place. Complete with an open Air Grabber intake, more on that in a moment.

I never saw the owner so unfortunately I do not have any information on whether this was an original Road Runner or not. It might just as well have been a ’70s Belvedere with some paint and added attitude. Either way, this car showcases what in my eyes is the true beauty of raw muscle. 

With its bold lines, aggressive stance and a paint job that made the adolescent boys of the time salivate more than a Playboy poster, the Road Runner demands attention. Especially the Air Grabber intake: it brings both design and performance to the table. When open, it feeds cold air straight into the carburetor.

The muscle car was supposed to be a no-nonsense powerhouse that could deliver serious muscle without breaking the bank. I wish there was something like that today.

I have read that a brand new Road Runner would list for about $3,000 USD in 1970. Adjusted for inflation (Using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, the average inflation rate from 1970 to 2024 is around 3.8% per year) that would be about $24,000 USD for a two-door rear-wheel drive V8-powered racer. I rarely feel FOMO but man, I sure feel like I missed out.