Restoring a Roadrunner: A Father's Legacy
About this episode
Richard Tomlin shares the emotional journey of restoring his late father's 1968 Road Runner, a project that honors his father's legacy after he tragically passed away in the Oklahoma City bombing. The conversation dives into the unique body swap technique being used to prepare the car for upcoming events like SEMA and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Richard discusses the challenges and excitement of reviving this family heirloom while also touching on the broader themes of automotive passion and the importance of preserving memories through car culture.
A 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner sits dormant in the corner of Apex Auto Works, carrying with it the weight of memory and loss. For Richard Tomlin, this muscle car isn't just a project—it's a living connection to his father, who died in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. After years of seeing it gather dust, Richard has finally found the perfect reason to breathe new life into this family heirloom.
The catalyst came from an unexpected source: a customer discussing his dream of racing Pikes Peak in a car like the one he once shared with his own father—who had passed away at the famous hill climb's starting line just three years ago. This serendipitous connection of father-son legacies sparked an ambitious plan that automotive purists might call sacrilege, but Richard calls love.
What makes this build truly fascinating is the technical approach. Richard and his team are performing a body swap, mounting the iconic Roadrunner shell onto a donated 2015 NASCAR truck chassis, complete with racing suspension and an 830-horsepower engine. The finished car will maintain its classic muscle car appearance while gaining the performance capabilities needed to tackle America's most famous mountain road. They're even restoring it to its 1984 appearance and incorporating its longtime nickname "Big Bird" into custom touches like the valve covers.
The timeline is ambitious: debut at the SEMA show in November, first competition a week later, then to the PRI show in December, before finally challenging Pikes Peak next June. For Richard, this isn't just about speed—it's about preserving memories, honoring two fathers, and demonstrating how automotive passion can transform grief into something that roars with life.
Whether you're a muscle car enthusiast, a racing fan, or someone who appreciates how mechanical projects can heal the heart, this story reminds us why we love cars—they're vehicles not just for our bodies, but for our most meaningful human connections. Follow along with Richard's journey and witness the Roadrunner's rebirth on the In Wheel Time podcast.
Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!
The Lupe' Tortilla RestaurantsLupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas
Gulf Coast Auto Shield
Paint protection, tint, and more!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
---- -----
Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?
In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!
Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.
----- -----
Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.
In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:
Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.
Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTime
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/
https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltime
https://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTime
For more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at
[email protected]
Dodge Road Runner
"...e talked to our buddy Richard Tomlin about his 68 Road Runner, the family project car and the story behind it."
Plymouth Roadrunner
"...d here, Richard inherited his father's one owner, Roadrunner, when his father died in the Oklahoma City bombin..."
Chevrolet C10
"We've spent the last two weeks clearing the chassis. So the NASCAR truck is just a 2x4 box frame, like an old C-10 truck would be. They use the old truck arm suspension and we've basically cleared off every bar, every notch"
Mazda MX-5 / Miata
"... that way? Well, that's an open-wheel car like my Miata. Well, there you go."
Pontiac Firebird
"You know, we're trying. We got 76 Firebird right now. We've got the 68 SS 396 El Camino."
Chevrolet Corvette
"...New Car Make Ready. Oh my God, we got to pull the Corvettes out on Saturday morning."
Tesla Model S
"...m their HOA after a family member charged a Tesla Model S in the driveway. And this is the way it went down..."
Tesla Model
"from their HOA after a family member charged a Tesla Model S in the driveway. And this is the way it went do..."
Hyundai Accent
"... material, attractive and cool. Dash and footwell accent lights, sweet. Cargo room, small, but this is a s..."
Mercedes-Benz Mercedesbenz Gla
"Actual competitors of the BMW X1, the Audi Q3, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA, and all of those are more. Well, because I was going to say those are,"
Jeep Wagoneer
"fully electric vehicle in North America, the Wagoneer S. It's now changing course"
Jeep Wrangler
"...tep in Jeep's Hemi resurgence is new life for the Wrangler Rubicon 392, baby. I love that motor,"
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.