The 1969 Plymouth Road Runner A12 was the fastest muscle car of the 1960s, completing a quarter-mile in just 13.0 seconds. It featured a powerful 440 cubic inch (ci) V8 Six-Pack engine, a 4.10:1 rear axle, and a limited-slip differential for better performance.
Another fast muscle car from the ’60s was the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which could do a quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds. However, the Camaro ZL1 was more expensive and less common than the Plymouth Road Runner A12.
Plymouth Road Runner A12: A Speed Demon
The Plymouth Road Runner A12 was an upgraded version of the Belvedere mid-size car. It came with a strong 383 ci V8 engine and a four-speed manual transmission. The car also had heavy-duty suspension and a dual-braking system, making it both powerful and safe. One fun feature was its “Beep Beep” horn, named after the cartoon roadrunner bird.
The A12 Package
For those wanting more power, the Road Runner offered the A12 package. This included a 440 ci Super Commando V8 engine with 375 horsepower (hp) and the legendary 426 ci Hemi engine. But the A12 package made the Road Runner even faster, completing a quarter-mile in just 13.0 seconds. This made it the quickest muscle car of the 1960s.
The A12 model featured the new Six-Pack 440 ci V8 engine with three two-barrel carburetors. This setup allowed the car to be fuel-efficient at low speeds and powerful when needed. The engine produced 390 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque. The A12 package also included a 4.10:1 rear axle with a limited-slip differential and bigger Goodyear tires for better grip.
Plymouth produced only 3,384 Road Runner A12s in 1969. Despite its performance, it was less popular than other muscle cars. Today, a well-preserved A12 can be worth over $100,000, with even average-condition models fetching around $50,000.
The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was another contender for the fastest quarter-mile time. It featured a powerful 427 ci V8 engine with 430 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. This engine was originally used for racing and was very lightweight, improving the car’s weight distribution and performance.
The ZL1 Camaro also had competition-spec suspension, a limited-slip differential, and a four-speed manual gearbox. It completed a quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds.
However, the ZL1 package added a hefty $4,160 to the base price of the Camaro, equivalent to over $35,000 today. Only 69 ZL1 Camaros were ever sold, making them rare and expensive, with good-condition models valued at around $635,000 today.
While both the Plymouth Road Runner A12 and the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 were fast, the Road Runner A12 offered better value for money and was the fastest muscle car of the 1960s.
