Haraka: The 1970 Plymouth Road Runner That Went Full Luxury Beast

Confession time: I am a simple car person. I see a purple 1970 Plymouth Road Runner with modern suspension and a leather-lined cabin, and I forget how to act. That is exactly what Heidts and Pure Vision built with Haraka, a pro-touring Mopar that officially broke cover at the SEMA Show. It is 2026 now, and I am still not over it. Plymouth was never supposed to be luxury. The Road Runner was never supposed to be a high-end cruiser. And yet, here we are, staring at a machine that makes a modern German sedan look like a rental. 😅

The Paint Is a Personality Disorder

Let us start with the obvious: that color. It is called Inwell Violet, mixed with PPG and laid down by the legendary Mick Jenkins. I do not know what kind of sorcery happens in that paint booth, but I want to bottle it and huff it. The name and the purple tone are a nod to Plymouth's original In-Violet, which was its High-Impact answer to Dodge's Plum Crazy. So yes, it is a heritage color. No, it does not look like your grandpa's Plymouth. It looks like a grape that lifted weights and got a personal trainer.

I have seen a lot of pro-touring builds. I have seen a lot of purple cars. I have never seen a purple car that makes me want to commit financial crimes. This one does. The body lines of the 1970 Road Runner are already aggressive, but with the right stance and the right shine, they turn into a threat. A polite threat. A threat wearing an expensive watch.

Heidts Made It Actually Handle

Here is the part where I stop drooling and start respecting the engineering. The Haraka rides on Heidts Pro-G independent suspension systems at both the front and the rear. That means the original torsion bar front and leaf spring rear are gone. In their place: coil springs at all four corners, rack and pinion steering, a tubular K-member, and improved weight distribution. The nose comes alive. The back end stops hopping around like a caffeinated kangaroo. Independent rear suspension in a classic Mopar is not just an upgrade. It is a personality transplant.

I am a simple creature. I like it when old cars do not try to kill me in corners. Heidts has been making bolt-in suspension systems for classic American muscle for years, and this is them showing off. Pure Vision's Steve Strope is no slouch either. The man built 'Skully,' a 1966 Charger that helped define pro touring in 1998. He also built the 'Hammer' Road Runner that showed up in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift. Together, Heidts and Pure Vision are the automotive equivalent of a buddy cop movie where both cops are suspension geniuses.

494 Cubic Inches of Bad Decisions

Under the hood, Pure Vision kept the V8 period correct with a 440 base. Then they invited 440 Source, Edelbrock, MSD, and Billet Specialties to the party. Displacement jumped to 494 cubic inches. There are no official performance numbers yet, which is the automotive way of saying, 'You will find out when you press the pedal and your soul leaves your body.'

Backing it up is a TKX 5-speed manual transmission. That extra gear is not just for highway cruising. It is for keeping the muscle car spirit alive while also making the car livable in modern traffic. I love a four-speed as much as the next nostalgic weirdo, but a five-speed means you can actually drive this thing to dinner without your ears bleeding at 70 mph. Progress. I am a fan.

The Interior Is a Plot Twist

Plymouth was never an upscale brand. It was the affordable sibling to Dodge. The Road Runner was famous for high performance in a low-trim package. You got rubber floor mats, a basic bench, and a big engine. Luxury was not invited.

Haraka flips that script completely.

The custom upholstery comes from Gabe's Custom Interiors and takes inspiration from Robert Graham. The custom dash draws cues from Christopher Ward timepieces. I do not know what that means in terms of stitching patterns, but I know it means the cabin is nicer than my apartment. This is a track monster for the businessman. It is a muscle car that can wear a suit. It is a Plymouth that finally got the respect it deserved, plus a spa day.

Quick Specs, Because I Love Tables

Feature	What Haraka Has
Base car	1970 Plymouth Road Runner
Paint	Inwell Violet by PPG, laid by Mick Jenkins
Front suspension	Heidts Pro-G independent, coil springs
Rear suspension	Heidts Pro-G independent, coil springs
Steering	Rack and pinion
Engine	440-based V8 stroked to 494 cubic inches
Engine partners	440 Source, Edelbrock, MSD, Billet Specialties
Transmission	TKX 5-speed manual
Interior	Gabe's Custom Interiors, Robert Graham inspiration
Vibe	Luxury pro-touring monster

Why It Still Matters in 2026

It is 2026, and the pro-touring world is crowded. Every week someone stuffs an LS into something old and calls it a restomod. That is fine. I like LS swaps. But Haraka is different. It is not just a parts catalog thrown at a classic. It is a collaboration between a suspension company and a builder who understands Mopar DNA. It takes the Road Runner's blue-collar soul and gives it a trust fund. It takes Plymouth's budget badge and makes it feel exclusive.

I will probably never own Haraka. I will probably never even sit in it. But I can admire it from afar, the same way I admire a supermodel or a perfectly cooked brisket. It is art. It is engineering. It is a purple middle finger to the idea that classic muscle cars have to be crude.

So thank you, Heidts and Pure Vision. You built the baddest, most luxurious 1970 Plymouth Road Runner I have ever seen. Now please excuse me while I go stare at my savings account and cry. 🚗💜