A little over a year ago, we showed you some conceptual designs for a modern day successor to Plymouth's 1971-1975 Road Runner based on today's Dodge Challenger. The concept was penned by Michael Leonhard and featured in the August/September issue of Mopar Enthusiast magazine. Then, it was nothing more than a vision of what the car would look like.However, Leonhard got in contact with ellena formelent to inform us that he has put the design up for auction on eBay with the intent to build a one-off model that if all goes well, will be displayed and delivered to its owner at next year's Los Angeles Auto Show.
Leonhard's proposal, which looks pretty neat in the computer generated images, is essentially a reskinned 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 that takes styling cues from the '71-'72 Plymouth Road Runner.
The designer's plans also include a modified interior with new seat covers, door trims, headliner and rear-quarter trim while maintaining the Challenger's dashboard and console.
Underneath the skin, it is proposed that the one-off 2010 Plymouth Road Runner will get a turbocharged version of the SRT8's 6.1-liter HEMI V8 engine with 620HP and 650 lb-ft of torque for an estimated 0-60mph time of around 3.8 seconds and the quarter mile sprint in 11.9 seconds - all in theory of course.
It all sounds very nice until you read the eBay Motor's 'Buy it Now' price of US $950,000 (for the completed vehicle) combined with the fact that Leonhard has not revealed the name of what is described as, "the world leading and renowned company specializing in coach building and concept car manufacturing" that will handle the build of the car on the auction page.
Not to generalize, but even if we were passionate enough to spend the same amount of money as it would cost us to buy, let's say, a new Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, (around $350,000), a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S ($132,000), a Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS ($133,700) and still have enough cash left around for half a dozen of 2010 Corvette Grand Sports ($55,000 a piece), for a car that's in essence, a rebodied and modified $44,000 Challenger, we would like to see it in the flesh, let alone know every single detail about its build.
Naturally, those interested, may contact Leonhard for more information directly through his website here.
All the same, since we really like the project, we'd like to wish him the best of luck in his attempt to make the 2010 Plymouth Road Runner Concept a reality.
Link: eBay
