We’ve been on a Plymouth GTX kick recently at the ClassicCars.com Journal. Why stop at 1969? So it should be no surprise to you that our Pick of the Day is a 1970 Plymouth GTX two-door hardtop. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Allen, Texas. (Click the link to view the listing)
Ninteteen seventy was a big year for the muscle car market. Several elements converged to make what many today consider the peak of the era. The GTX reflected these strengths on several levels. One was styling: Plymouth’s Belvedere series was restyled all around. Up front, the “face” bore no resemblance to 1968-69, but it was an evolutionary link to what would come for 1971. On the sides, the wheel well bulges gave way to smoothness aside of non-functional side scoop on two-doors. Out back, there was another divergence from 1968-69, with arrow-like lenses that were complemented by inserts that divided the taillights cosmetically for the Road Runner, GTX, and Sport Satellite.
The Belvedere series continued to have the same models as before: Belvedere, Road Runner, Satellite, Sport Satellite, and GTX. The Sport Satellite and GTX shared the same trim level, both featuring standard bucket seats and nice touches such as woodgrain on the door panels and instrument panel. Both shared the same honeycomb grille, differentiating them from lesser cars in the series.
Another strength was power. The biggest distinction between the two models was under the hood: the Sport Satellite came standard with a 318 V8 with a three-speed manual, and had two 383s as an option, while the GTX was available from the get-go with a 375-horsepower 440 Super Commando and TorqueFlite automatic standard. New on the option list was the 440 six-barrel. Previously only available on the 1969 Road Runner with the A12 package, Plymouth ditched the street racer personae for 1970 and increased the availability of the engine through all its Rapid Transit System performance models save the Duster 340—yes, even the Sport Fury GT was the recipient of this multi-carbed 440 for those who specified it. Of course, the 426 Hemi was the top engine option.
Racing stripes made a return to the GTX for 1970, echoing the 1968 design but mounted much higher on the body. New sporty features included the availability of a rear spoiler, a nifty Hurst Pistol Grip shifter for four-speeds, a gee-whiz hood scoop that popped up from the hood bulge (which could be complemented by a wide, flat black racing stripe), and several bright colors that would have been at home at a head shop near the Fillmore West.
So, while the GTX looked to be in top form for 1970, the truth is that things were not so great. For one thing, Plymouth deleted the GTX convertible from the lineup after 700 being sold in 1969—seems the Road Runner convertible carried most of the popularity. Additionally, GTX sales had been falling since 1968, and while 1970 may have been a powerful year for performance cars, it also was a poor year for sales. In the case of the GTX, 7,748 were built. That was a big drop from the almost 19,000 built just two years before.
In some ways, this Burnt Orange Metallic 1970 Plymouth GTX two-door hardtop is typical of the GTXs built that year, as it’s a 440 four-barrel automatic painted in a color that was popular at the time. However, this car features several less common features, such as stripe-delete and the Gator Grain vinyl top, one of a little more than 200 so equipped. “Rotisserie restored car, with painted underside! Built 440 with Edelbrock aluminum heads,” says the seller. “Air Grabber hood was added.”
While the Road Runner catches all the attention, the GTX moves around with authority and swagger, not the least bit insecure around that cartoon car. For $98,500, we can’t imagine you will care about that pesky bird either.
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
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