A 1970 Plymouth Superbird once owned by NASCAR legend Richard Petty has again failed to find a buyer, underscoring both the volatility of the current collector car market and the narrow gap between historic significance and price expectations.
The car was most recently offered through Bring a Trailer, marking its second auction appearance this year. Bidding ended at $385,000, but the reserve was not met. While the sale did not reach the widely anticipated half-million-dollar threshold, the final bid still represents the highest amount ever offered for a Superbird equipped with the standard 440-cubic-inch V8.
This same car appeared earlier in January 2025 at the Kissimmee auction, where it failed to sell after reaching a high bid of $550,000. That figure stood as the highest bid ever recorded for a 440-powered Superbird and came within $150,000 of a far rarer Hemi-equipped example sold at the same event. Later in the year, the car was listed by Graham Rahal Performance with an asking price of $699,995 before returning to auction.
While Hemi Superbirds regularly exceed $500,000, cars fitted with the base 440 V8 typically trade well below that level. Only a small number have surpassed $300,000 in recent public sales, with most of those featuring the more desirable Six-Barrel configuration. Just two standard 440-4 cars have crossed that mark in recent years, topping out at $324,500 and $300,000.
The Petty Superbird stands apart primarily due to its ownership history. Richard Petty owned the car from 1982 until 2013, during which time it was displayed primarily at the Petty Museum rather than used regularly on the road. The car is finished in Alpine White and is powered by its original, numbers-matching 375-horsepower 440 V8 paired with a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. That drivetrain combination accounts for 626 examples out of an estimated 1,935 Superbirds built.
A partial restoration performed by Petty’s Garage in the 2010s returned the exterior to its original color and added Petty-related decals and his signature beneath the clear coat. The interior remains largely original, with minor personalized details added during Petty’s ownership.
Despite its pedigree and record-setting bids, the Superbird’s repeated failure to sell highlights the challenge of pricing historically significant muscle cars in a shifting market.
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