Plymouth GTX
Encyclopedia
The Plymouth GTX was introduced as the Belvedere
GTX in 1967 by the Plymouth
division to be a "gentleman's" muscle car
.
It's most notable appearance in modern popular culture is in the television series Angel
, in which the title character drove a black 1967 model.
's 426 cu in (7 l) Hemi
. The 426 was nicknamed the "Elephant."
was introduced by Plymouth as a performance version of the Satellite. There were major changes made in the design of all the Plymouth B-bodies. The Road Runner's base engine was the new 383 cu in (6.3 l) "Super Commando" V8
(renamed the "Road Runner 383"), while the high performance 440 was still standard in the GTX. The TorqueFlite automatic transmission
was standard on the GTX, with it being a US$206 option in the Road Runner. The GTX was still based on the Satellite and was offered in two models, the 2-door convertible
and the 2-door hardtop. The Road Runner was based on the Belvedere, and had less insulation and comfort items(padding, vinyl roof, trim), which reduced weight, helped produce better track times, and kept it in the low price field.
The 1969 GTX also had standard black lower body side paint, replacing the dual, horizontal "racing" stripe on the lower sides of the 1968 model.
model was dropped in 1970. The Air Grabber hood was brought back, but instead of having two narrow openings running length-wise as in 1969, it had one opening scoop located on the power bulge. The GTX was available with the standard 440 4 barrel, as well as the 440+6 barrel (three two barrel carburetors) and the 426 Hemi. The 440+6 could compete closely with the Hemi, up to highway speeds. In keeping with the GTX marketing strategy, the 1970 model included many standard features. The only other Plymouth luxury/performance model was the full-size Sport Fury GT, built on the C-Body platform. The GT was added to the lineup in 1970. The GT received nowhere near the recognition of the GTX, even though they shared many performance features. The Sport Fury GT was the full-size member of The Rapid Transit System. The Sport Fury GT was often viewed as more of a mature gentleman's performance luxury car.
Though completely redesigned for 1971, this was the final year for the GTX as a stand-alone model with only a manual transmission
. Engine choices were 440 four-barrel, 440 with three two-barrels (Six Barrel) , and 426 Hemi. Emission restrictions such as lower compression ratios and faster-acting choke operation lowered the base 440 output by 5 hp, to 370 hp. The 440 Six Barrel was down to 385 hp, but the Hemi was still rated at 425 hp. Due partly to rising insurance rates on muscle cars, sales were low. There were less than 3000 units produced in '71. For 1972 through 1974 the GTX became an option package on the Road Runner.
Plymouth Belvedere
The Plymouth Belvedere was an American automobile produced by Plymouth from 1951-1970.-1951–1953:Introduced on March 31, the 1951 Plymouth Belvedere arrived as a two-door pillarless hardtop. It was Plymouth's first vehicle of such design and was built in response to Chevrolet's Bel Air...
GTX in 1967 by the Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
division to be a "gentleman's" muscle car
Muscle car
Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high-performance automobiles. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines muscle cars as "any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving." Usually, a large V8 engine is fitted in a...
.
It's most notable appearance in modern popular culture is in the television series Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
, in which the title character drove a black 1967 model.
1967
It was to be an exceptional blend of style and performance. What differentiated it from a normal Belvedere was its special grille and rear fascia, shared with the Satellite, as well as mock hood scoops, chrome "pit stop" fuel filler cap and optional racing stripes. For the performance aspect of the vehicle, a heavy duty suspension system was made standard. Standard too was Plymouth's 440 cu in (7.2 l) V8 called the "Super Commando 440". The engine was rated at 375 hp. Buyers in 1967 could pay an extra US$546 and replace the 440 with ChryslerChrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
's 426 cu in (7 l) Hemi
Chrysler Hemi engine
The Chrysler Hemi engine, known by the trademark Hemi, is a series of V8 engines built by Chrysler with a hemispherical combustion chamber. Three different types of Hemi engines have been built by Chrysler for automobiles: the first from 1951–1958, the second from 1964–1971, and the third...
. The 426 was nicknamed the "Elephant."
Performance
| Model | 0-60 mph | 1/4 mile time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 440 | 6.5 seconds | 15.2 seconds @ 97 mi/h | |
| 1967 426 Hemi | 4.8 seconds | 13.5 seconds @ 105 mi/h |
1968-1970
In 1968, after one year of production, the GTX was given a completely new look. A new hour glass body replaced the more box like body of 1967. The Road RunnerPlymouth Road Runner
The Plymouth Road Runner was a muscle car built by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation in the United States between 1968 and 1980. In 1968, the first muscle cars were, in the opinion of many, moving away from their roots as relatively cheap, fast cars as they gained options...
was introduced by Plymouth as a performance version of the Satellite. There were major changes made in the design of all the Plymouth B-bodies. The Road Runner's base engine was the new 383 cu in (6.3 l) "Super Commando" V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
(renamed the "Road Runner 383"), while the high performance 440 was still standard in the GTX. The TorqueFlite automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
was standard on the GTX, with it being a US$206 option in the Road Runner. The GTX was still based on the Satellite and was offered in two models, the 2-door convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
and the 2-door hardtop. The Road Runner was based on the Belvedere, and had less insulation and comfort items(padding, vinyl roof, trim), which reduced weight, helped produce better track times, and kept it in the low price field.
1969
In 1969, the GTX's sales were hurt when the Road Runner was also offered in a convertible body style. The GTX received minor cosmetic changes, as well as the introduction of the optional Air Grabber hood (standard on Hemi-engined models), which made the hood scoops functional. The standard 440 V8 was still rated at 375 hp. The 69 GTX was the last year that the convertible model was available on the GTX (VIN RS27). Chrysler Corporation only made 701 GTX convertibles in 1969. Of those, eleven were equipped with the 426 Hemi; four 4-speeds and seven TorqueFlite automatics.The 1969 GTX also had standard black lower body side paint, replacing the dual, horizontal "racing" stripe on the lower sides of the 1968 model.
1970
The 1970 GTX received a major redesign but sales still suffered. Stylists made the lines smoother, and a "power bulge" hood was introduced, as well as non-functional rear brake air scoops. The convertibleConvertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
model was dropped in 1970. The Air Grabber hood was brought back, but instead of having two narrow openings running length-wise as in 1969, it had one opening scoop located on the power bulge. The GTX was available with the standard 440 4 barrel, as well as the 440+6 barrel (three two barrel carburetors) and the 426 Hemi. The 440+6 could compete closely with the Hemi, up to highway speeds. In keeping with the GTX marketing strategy, the 1970 model included many standard features. The only other Plymouth luxury/performance model was the full-size Sport Fury GT, built on the C-Body platform. The GT was added to the lineup in 1970. The GT received nowhere near the recognition of the GTX, even though they shared many performance features. The Sport Fury GT was the full-size member of The Rapid Transit System. The Sport Fury GT was often viewed as more of a mature gentleman's performance luxury car.
1971
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. Engine choices were 440 four-barrel, 440 with three two-barrels (Six Barrel) , and 426 Hemi. Emission restrictions such as lower compression ratios and faster-acting choke operation lowered the base 440 output by 5 hp, to 370 hp. The 440 Six Barrel was down to 385 hp, but the Hemi was still rated at 425 hp. Due partly to rising insurance rates on muscle cars, sales were low. There were less than 3000 units produced in '71. For 1972 through 1974 the GTX became an option package on the Road Runner.