The GTX was Plymouth’s deluxe entry in the ’60s muscle car wars, offering style and comfort—and an optional 426 Hemi V8, too. Here’s the original 1967 sales pitch.
Before there was a Road Runner, there was the Plymouth Belvedere GTX, the brand’s first official entry in the ’60s muscle car wars. Introduced in September of 1966 as a 1967 model, the GTX was a fully equipped muscle car, boasting deluxe exterior trim and badges and an upmarket interior with bucket seats and a floor-shift console. The list price reflected the extensive list of standard features: $3,178, several hundred dollars more than the bare-bones Road Runner introduced for ’68. Of course, once the red-hot Road Runner arrived, it outsold the more expensive GTX by more than two to one. In more recent years, automotive writers have dubbed the GTX the “gentleman’s muscle car.”
Despite the posh equipment, the GTX was as potent as any in the muscle car category, with a standard 440 CID Super Commando V8 with 375 hp and a choice of Torqueflite automatic and four-speed manual transmissions. Of course, optional at extra cost ($564) was the mighty 426 Street Hemi V8, laughably underrated at 425 hp. (According to factory records, 720 such beasts were produced.) At that moment, the Street Hemi was pretty much the king of the heap at the drag strips and drive-ins. But in this original 1967 commercial spot, the GTX is presented not as a hairy drag strip monster but as a fun and sporty lifestyle tool. Enjoy the video.
Before there was a Road Runner, there was the Plymouth Belvedere GTX, the brand’s first official entry in the ’60s muscle car wars. Introduced in September of 1966 as a 1967 model, the GTX was a fully equipped muscle car, boasting deluxe exterior trim and badges and an upmarket interior with bucket seats and a floor-shift console. The list price reflected the extensive list of standard features: $3,178, several hundred dollars more than the bare-bones Road Runner introduced for ’68. Of course, once the red-hot Road Runner arrived, it outsold the more expensive GTX by more than two to one. In more recent years, automotive writers have dubbed the GTX the “gentleman’s muscle car.”
Despite the posh equipment, the GTX was as potent as any in the muscle car category, with a standard 440 CID Super Commando V8 with 375 hp and a choice of Torqueflite automatic and four-speed manual transmissions. Of course, optional at extra cost ($564) was the mighty 426 Street Hemi V8, laughably underrated at 425 hp. (According to factory records, 720 such beasts were produced.) At that moment, the Street Hemi was pretty much the king of the heap at the drag strips and drive-ins. But in this original 1967 commercial spot, the GTX is presented not as a hairy drag strip monster but as a fun and sporty lifestyle tool. Enjoy the video.
Article courtesy of Mac's Motor City Garage