A 1970 Plymouth Superbird with a direct connection to NASCAR legend Richard Petty has once again left an auction unsold, despite drawing bids that exceeded known benchmarks for similar cars. The Alpine White Superbird, powered by a 440 cubic-inch four-barrel V8 and paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, failed to meet its reserve during a recent online auction, marking the third unsuccessful attempt to sell the car in 2024.
The Superbird was previously offered at Mecum Kissimmee in January, where bidding climbed to $550,000. That figure set a record high for a Superbird equipped with a non-Hemi 440 engine, yet the seller declined the offer. Following that result, the car was listed privately at Graham Rahal Performance for $699,995, a price typically associated with rarer Hemi-powered examples.
Most recently, the car crossed the block on Bring a Trailer, where bidding reached $385,000 before again falling short of the undisclosed reserve. While lower than the January figure, the final bid still exceeded established market norms for this configuration.
The car holds notable provenance, having been displayed at the Petty Museum and featuring cosmetic tributes to its famous association. These include embroidered seats, a signed glove box, and special decals honoring Petty’s NASCAR legacy. Although it was not Petty’s personal street car, its connection to the seven-time NASCAR champion adds historical appeal.
The Superbird has reportedly been refurbished to near-original condition and presents as a high-quality example. Still, collectors traditionally place the highest value on Hemi-powered wing cars, leaving the 375-horsepower 440 four-barrel models at a disadvantage in the market hierarchy.
Speculation about a broader collapse in the classic car market has grown in recent years, fueled by shifting generational interests and demographic changes among collectors. However, the bidding history of this Superbird suggests a different story. According to Classic.com data, the average sale price for a 440 four-barrel Superbird is $225,100, with the previous record sale reaching $324,500 in September 2022.
Both recent auction results exceeded that record, indicating continued buyer interest and strong demand. Rather than signaling market weakness, the repeated no-sales appear to reflect a seller holding out for pricing typically reserved for more desirable Hemi-equipped examples. In this case, the market has spoken clearly, even if the owner has chosen not to listen—at least for now.
