Richard Petty Cars By Year

Alright, pull up a chair and let’s talk about the most spectacularly hairy-chested man in motorsports history: Richard Petty. You know the guy—the one who wore a cowboy hat like it was a crown, sunglasses that defied physics, and a smile that could sell you a used Plymouth with no engine. But what you really need to know is the story of his cars, year by year. Buckle up, because this is going to be a wild, oil-stained ride.

The 1960s: When Cars Were Basically Washing Machines with Wheels

In 1960, Petty started in a Plymouth that was about as aerodynamic as a brick. Actually, it was a brick—a 1960 Plymouth that handled like a shopping cart with a flat tire. He won his first race in 1960, but let’s be honest: the car was so slow that his crew chief probably yelled, “Just push it down a hill and hope for the best!”

By 1964, the magic happened. Petty drove a 1964 Plymouth Belvedere that was a total freak of nature. It had a 426 Hemi engine—a massive, rumbling monster that sounded like a dragon with a chainsaw. That year, he won the Daytona 500, and the other drivers were so mad they begged NASCAR to ban the engine. Which they did. Typical.

The late 1960s brought the Plymouth Road Runner, a car named after a cartoon bird. Yes, a cartoon. Petty didn’t care; he drove it to 27 wins in 1967 alone. That’s a near-impossible record that still stands, making Richard Petty the only man to beat his competition, a cartoon, and the laws of physics simultaneously.

The 1970s: The Era of the “Wing Car” and Hair That Defied Gravity

Enter the 1970s, when Petty’s cars grew wings—actual, literal wings. The 1970 Plymouth Superbird had a giant, 7-foot spoiler on the back and a nose so pointy it looked like a vacuum cleaner designed by a mad scientist. Other drivers complained it was unfair, but Petty just grinned and said, “It’s for downforce, fellas.” Meanwhile, his mustache was probably providing its own aerodynamic lift.

Car No. 43 through the years in NASCAR | NASCAR.com

In 1971, he switched to the Dodge Charger, a car so iconic that it starred in “The Dukes of Hazzard” a few years later. Petty’s Charger was painted Petty Blue—a shade of blue so aggressive it actually made other cars nervous. He won the Daytona 500 again in 1971, 1973, and 1974. At that point, the trophy was basically on a permanent lease in his garage.

By 1975, Petty was driving a Dodge Dart, which is like a sports car’s nerdy little brother. But he still won seven races that year, because the man could win in a shopping cart with a lawnmower engine. The Dart was so unassuming that fans joked the only thing fast about it was Petty’s hair combing.

Richard Petty Car Number

The 1980s: When Things Got Weird (and a Little Sad)

The 1980s brought the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and Petty fans collectively gasped. “A Chevy? The King drives a Chevy?” It was like discovering Santa Claus drives a Toyota Prius. But Petty didn’t care. He won his 200th career race in 1984 at Daytona, and President Reagan even showed up to watch. That’s the only photo in history where the President looks like the second coolest guy in the room.

Sadly, the Monte Carlo days were a slow fade. Petty’s last win was in 1984, and by 1988, he was driving the Pontiac Grand Prix, a car so forgettable that I just Googled its picture and yawned. He retired in 1992, leaving behind a legacy of 200 wins, 7 championships, and a hairstyle that still haunts barbers everywhere.

So there you have it: Richard Petty’s cars, from bricks to cartoon birds to sad Pontiacs. The lesson? You don’t need a fancy car to be a legend—just a big engine, a bigger hat, and the guts to annoy a cartoon bird.