Difference between 68 and 69 Road Runner

[bighead]

Hey I am looking at a 68 Road Runner and I was wondering if there are any differences between the 68 and 69 model. Also are there any problems areas to look for?

Thanks

 

[Rippin]

I'm sure others can add to the list but off the top of my head:

Biggest visual difference is front grille and rear tail lights completely different
Scoops in hood are different from 68 to 69 and Air Grabber was not available in '68.
Side markers were round in '68, rectangular in "69
Dual Stripe "Performance Hood Treatment" available in '69 only
'69 models have more trim, interior and exterior for comparable models
Seat patterns different (too many to list)
Drivetrain is essentially the same, both 383 & Hemi, Trans & axles
Road runner decals in color in 69, different "bird" graphics too

 

[69clone]

I'm sure others can add to the list but off the top of my head:

Biggest visual difference is front grille and rear tail lights completely different
Scoops in hood are different from 68 to 69 and Air Grabber was not available in '68.
Side markers were round in '68, rectangular in "69
Dual Stripe "Performance Hood Treatment" available in '69 only
'69 models have more trim, interior and exterior for comparable models
Seat patterns different (too many to list)
Drivetrain is essentially the same, both 383 & Hemi, Trans & axles
Road runner decals in color in 69, different "bird" graphics too

Pretty much everything i could think of. What else to add.... Obviously 68' was the first year, the 440 6bbl wasn't available in 68'... umm in 69' the optional bucket seats came out, the convertible was added, the air grabber also came out in 69'.. Not positive but i wanna say the optional turn single markers on the fenders changed in 69' but maybe the one i saw in person wasn't correct? also the reverse lights are in the bumper in 69', About all i can think of...
Oh and you asked about problem areas,
Check the whole dam car like your life depends on it lol i spent 2 hours looking over mine, I would check the quarters above and around the wheel well, check the trunk, lift the carpets and check the floor and under the car, about all i can think of.
Good luck! Post pictures

 

[detmatt1]

Check for rust around the lower corners of the rear window. These would leak for years and let water into the area in the trunk below the package tray around the inner wheel houses. Also check at the very base of the A-pillar, where it meets the top of the rocker below the door hinges. You can access this area by removing the plastic kick panels under the dash and scoping it out with a flashlight. Check the resto threads on this site, there are several of us restoring these cars currently and there are lots of great reference pics.

 

[Superfreak]

Check the cowl area top to bottom and the structure around where the door hinges mount at the bottom. Check the torsion bar cross member really good and the frame rails, these rust from the inside out.

 

[rrunner]

I'm sure others can add to the list but off the top of my head:

Biggest visual difference is front grille and rear tail lights completely different
Scoops in hood are different from 68 to 69 and Air Grabber was not available in '68.
Side markers were round in '68, rectangular in "69
Dual Stripe "Performance Hood Treatment" available in '69 only
'69 models have more trim, interior and exterior for comparable models
Seat patterns different (too many to list)
Drivetrain is essentially the same, both 383 & Hemi, Trans & axles
Road runner decals in color in 69, different "bird" graphics too

Not only are the scoops different, so are the hoods.
68's had hood performance treatment, but in the center of the hood
Side markers in 68 were round lights, 69 were rectangular reflectors
69's had more trim? No RR's were bare bones, both had decor options along with lower rocker trim and upper door belt moldings as options. 68's had the trunk panel with their decor, so I'd say if anything I'd say 68's had more trim.
Both had std int and delux int, but 69 did have more int options as bucket seats and consoles. Dash pads are also different.
trunk lids , tail light extenstions, rear bumper are also all different.
The fender mounted turn signals found in the light package were the same for 68 and 69.
There's really a lot of things that differ that most don't even think about.

 

[uk-maxie]

and the door knob (the bit you pull up/push down to unlock/lock the door from the inside) on the 68 is further back towards the rear eadge of the door, whereas the 69's knob is approx 10" (rough guess) further forward, towards the middle :icon_geek:

Presumably moved after realising how awkward it is to reach the knob on the 68s from the front seats ops:

 

[Dans 68]

and the door knob (the bit you pull up/push down to unlock/lock the door from the inside) on the 68 is further back towards the rear eadge of the door, whereas the 69's knob is approx 10" (rough guess) further forward, towards the middle :icon_geek:

Presumably moved after realising how awkward it is to reach the knob on the 68s from the front seats ops:

...and subsequently not as comfortable to hang your arm out the window as you race down the road. ops: ?...nope



Dan

 

[detmatt1]

I agree with Dans 68, if I were to restore a `69, I would seriously consider using doors from a `68. Who wants that armskin pincher right where you rest your arm?

 

[uk-maxie]

I find the top of the door a bit high (from memory - havent driven it for 4 years!) to rest my arm on :icon_neutral:

Anyhoo, I've got an armrest if I need to to rest my arm. They can be quite useful for that :idea1:

 

[Dans 68]

When I drove my Charger last week my arm felt just fine hanging out the window. I'm the shortest in my family (6'-01") and I was fine. I can't speak to a Roadrunner, but it should be a similar experience versus a Charger.

Dan

 

[69clone]

When I drove my Charger last week my arm felt just fine hanging out the window. I'm the shortest in my family (6'-01") and I was fine. I can't speak to a Roadrunner, but it should be a similar experience versus a Charger.

Dan

It's been a few months since i got to drive with the windows down:eusa_boohoo: But if i remember right i couldn't put my arm straight out or i'd hit the lock i had to put my arm in front of the lock with the back of my tricep smacked against it. So if 68' has closer to the middle that would solve that problem.

 

[detmatt1]

It's been a few months since i got to drive with the windows down:eusa_boohoo: But if i remember right i couldn't put my arm straight out or i'd hit the lock i had to put my arm in front of the lock with the back of my tricep smacked against it. So if 68' has closer to the middle that would solve that problem.

`68 is at the very back of the door, where it should be.lol

 

[Propwash]

Anyone mention RR stickers and emblems are different as well? Grill? Heater/Fan selector unit is different. Not all 68's but some had the magnum 500's, 69 had the magnum road wheels with the trim rings (not all of course) Maybe some slipped through in 69' -who knows?? 68' have the beep beep horn button like 69'?

Like Superstock said...Cowl. If you buy one with moldy front carpet and duct tape over the vents, odds are inner cowl is shot...Rain gutters in back truck deck area love to rot out. So does the rocker/quarter in front of the rear wheels. Inner wheelhouse on the aft side where it meets up with the trunk pan. Inner fenders around shock tower. Battery tray area. Door Jam where it curves down and meets the rocker (aft jam).

 

[NovaSS]

differance between a 68 and 69?.. one year

 

[rp23g7]

I find the top of the door a bit high (from memory - havent driven it for 4 years!) to rest my arm on :icon_neutral:

Anyhoo, I've got an armrest if I need to to rest my arm. They can be quite useful for that :idea1:

My Coronet is like that too, i can rest my arm on the window sill, i was wondering if the springs in my seat are just saggy or if all Coronets and Plymouths are the same

 

[MiamiMopar]

69s have a roof that comes down, 68s don't

 

[Basoline]

68 RR decals on the doors where black and white, also the one on the dash. The only colored one was on the trunk and if i'm recalling it correctly, the decal on the trunk was a running Roadrunner, the 69 version was a standing Roadrunner holding a racing helmet.

I also believe the cheapest 68RR had a bare bone steering wheel.

 

[rrunner]

68 RR decals on the doors where black and white, also the one on the dash. The only colored one was on the trunk and if i'm recalling it correctly, the decal on the trunk was a running Roadrunner, the 69 version was a standing Roadrunner holding a racing helmet.

I also believe the cheapest 68RR had a bare bone steering wheel.

The color running bird on a 68 is only found on the trunk finish panel. The bare bones steering wheel was found in both 68 and 69's