The European Traveler: Alex Vath’s 1969 1/2 Plymouth A12 Road Runner

There is no doubt that the love and passion for Mopars is runs strong all over the World. We find quite a few Mopars making the trek across the water to various parts of Europe and Australia and into the hands of diehard Mopar enthusiasts. While this seems to be more common over the past ten or so years, Mopars have actually been “heading across the pond” since they were practically new.

This particular 1969 ½ Plymouth A12 Road Runner made the trek across the Atlantic Ocean from Ohio to Germany back in 1996 where a German gentleman bought it and drove it all over Europe, enjoying every minute of it. Eventually, he would sell the car to a fellow in England who would keep it for a period of time before selling it to someone in the Netherlands. After some time spent in the Netherlands, the Road Runner would come back to Germany before being sold to a new owner in Switzerland a short time later. Needless to say, this car has seen more of Europe than most of us!

The new owner in Switzerland took the Road Runner apart and started a partial restoration on it back in 2007. The quarter panels were starting to show their age with some rust so metal work was done on them and the rust was removed. Once the car was ready for paint, it was painted a fresh coat of stunning EK2 Vitamin-C Orange paint. With the car sporting a fresh coat of paint and looking factory fresh once again, it was then re-sold and ended up back in Germany.

In September 2019, the Road Runner ended back up for sale where it caught Alex Väth’s attention. Alex, a diehard muscle car guy saw it listed for sale and decided that he wanted it. He shares, “I’ve always loved American muscle cars, and there is just something about them! My muscle car ownership started back in 2006 with a 1967 Ford Mustang. After years of driving Mustangs and Cougars, I visited my first Mopar Nationals in Germany back in 2014. After seeing all of the beautiful Mopars at the show, there was no way back. I needed to have a Mopar.”

Shortly after, Alex purchased a red 1968 Dodge Super Bee with a white vinyl top, white stripe and red interior. “It was a beautiful combo. That was my first Mopar. Over the next few years, I sold the Super Bee and purchased a white 1967 Plymouth Satellite that had a bit of a super stock look to it. Eventually, I got rid of the Satellite and replaced it with a silver 1968 Dodge Charger R/T,” he says.

Alex wanted the Road Runner but knew that he had to sell his ’68 Charger to purchase it. He explains, “My target was to sell the Charger as long as the Road Runner was up for sale. If it sold before my Charger did, I’d pull my Charger off the market and keep it. Well, after about three weeks for sale online, I had someone give me a good offer for my Charger. I got ahold of the fellow selling the Road Runner to make sure it was still available. He said it was so I sold the Charger and went over to see him about the Road Runner.”

Alex headed over to the seller’s house on a Sunday that September, took it for a test drive and then put it up on a lift to visually inspect it before making a deal. Everything checked out and looked good so a deal was made. Alex now officially owned an A12 Road Runner!

He says, “It’s one of 388 A12 Road Runner Coupes built with a 4-speed as per the A12 Registry. According to the original fender tag and broadcast sheet, it was pretty much a stripper model optioned with the A87 Road Runner Décor Group, H11 heater, J11 glove box lock, J15 cigar lighter, R11 AM radio and the V7X black reflective accent stripes. Everything else was pretty much standard A12 stuff.”

When talking about the factory 440 Six-Barrel drivetrain, he explains that the original engine block was damaged at some point in its life when a previous owner found it to be cracked. It was pulled out, replaced with a 1968 block and then everything was rebuilt by a very well-known engine builder in Germany. The number’s matching A-833 Hemi 4-speed manual transmission is the original to the car as is the 4:10 geared Dana 60 rear end.

The deluxe black bench seat interior was restored at some point but Alex says he doesn’t have any information on it. The lift off hood is the original to the car and repainted in its original Organisol finish. It also still retains it’s original correct 15×6 HD steel wheels and runs correct Goodyear G70 Polyglas tires. Alex says, “I love driving it, it’s a blast. It’s one of only three A12 Road Runners here in Germany.”