An Alpine White 1970 Plymouth Superbird, once owned by NASCAR legend Richard Petty, is set to be offered by Mecum Auctions at their Kissimmee, Florida event on January 18, 2025. This Mopar is steeped in NASCAR history but was also built for the street.
The Superbird was owned by Richard Petty from 1982 to 2013 and was displayed as part of the Petty Museum collection. It underwent a complete restoration in 2014 by Petty’s Garage and is powered by a 440 CI Super Commando V8, paired with an A727 automatic transmission and a 3.55 Sure Grip 8.75-inch rear end. According to Mecum Auctions, Superbirds were only built for about 90 days in late 1969, with a total of 1,935 produced to meet the Grand National racing series homologation rules.
Petty’s ownership of this Superbird is confirmed through extensive documentation, including a letter signed by Richard Petty stating that this is the only Superbird he has ever owned, as well as vehicle title registration from Petty Enterprises, Inc.
This particular Superbird features iconic elements like the aero nosecone with hidden headlamps, a rear deck wing, restyled rear window, front fender air extractors, functioning hood pins, and A-pillar chrome. The trunk is signed by Richard Petty, with the signature preserved under the clear coat.
Inside, the black interior includes optional bucket seats, a console with a floor shifter, an AM Radio, and the Road Runner center horn. Richard Petty also signed and left a personal message on the dash pad. It rolls on Rallye wheels wrapped in Goodrich Radial T/A tires.
In 1968, Petty switched from Plymouth to Ford’s NASCAR program, so the Superbird was designed to bring him back to Mopar. By 1970, Petty returned to Plymouth and won eight races that season with a Superbird.
Plymouth produced the Superbird in 1970 and its sister car, the Dodge Charger Daytona, in 1969. These limited-production cars were essential for NASCAR homologation rules. Over the years, the market values of these winged Mopars have significantly increased, with cars typically selling for $200,000 or more at collector auctions. In a recent example, a restored 1970 Plymouth Superbird sold for $266,000 on June 21, 2024, via the online auction platform Bring A Trailer.
This particular car has the same 440 engine but lacks the same pedigree as Petty’s. Another 1970 Plymouth Superbird, with the same drivetrain as Petty’s, was recently sold for $162,000 on the same platform.
The Superbird has also made appearances on several TV shows, including “MTV Cribs”, “My Classic Car”, “Car Crazy”, Stacey David’s “Gearz”, and “MotorWeek”.
Mecum’s Kissimmee Auction runs from January 7-19, 2025, at Osceola Heritage Park.
