1969 Plymouth GTX

The Plymouth marque had a reputation for value and performance and the GTX fit nicely within that mold. It was introduced in 1967 and served as a well-equipped, upscale model in the Plymouth intermediate line and based on the Belvedere two-door hardtop, offering performance and luxury. An array of engines were offered including the 440 cubic-inch overhead-valve 'Super Commando' V8 with 375 horsepower, and when paired with the 727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission and the Mopar 8.75 rear axle with Sure Grip differential, the GTX was a car that delivered police interceptor performance with deluxe woodgrain interior style appointments.

The Plymouth Belvedere received a significant restyling in 1968 that replaced the earlier model's linear features with a subtle 'Coke bottle' design theme being simultaneously adopted by other automakers. The Belvedere's slightly bulging fenders hinted at the considerable muscle behind the GTX model. The GTX was joined by another performance option - the Road Runner. While the GTX was considered a 'Gentleman's muscle car,' offering an array of standard amenities, luxury features, and performance, the Road Runner focused on performance and affordability. Minor revisions followed for 1969, including rectangular side marker lights and revised front grille and tail-light treatments.

The performance options list for 1969 buyers was extensive with a wider range of rear-axle ratios and a factory-installed Hurst shifter on 4-speed models. Another new feature was the Air Grabber induction system featuring dual air inlets that could be opened from the dash to deliver fresh air to the sealed air cleaner. The Air Grabber hood was standard on Hemi-equipped GTX models and optional with all other engines. Eleven GTX convertibles were equipped with the 426 Hemi in 1969 and four of those received four speeds and the remaining seven had TorqueFlite automatics. An additional 197 Hemi GTX hardtops were produced in 1969 with 98 equipped with the four-speed manual transmission. 11 examples of the 426 Hemi hardtop and 5 of the convertible were built for the Canadian market.

Sales of the GTX dropped for 1969 with the introduction of the Road Runner in a convertible body style. A total of 17,914 hardtop coupes and 1,026 convertible GTX models had been built in 1968, falling to 14,902 hardtop coupes and 700 convertibles for 1969. Prices had risen slightly, by approximately $100, with the hardtop coupe priced at $3,415 and the convertible at $3,635. Comparatively, the 1969 Road Runner hardtop coupe had 48,549 sales, 33,743 of the coupe, and 2,128. This was an increase from the previous year's total of 29,240 coupes and 15,359 hardtop coupes.

The 1969 Plymouth GTX wore standard black lower-body side paint in place of the previous stripes. The standard engine was the 440 cubic-inch V8 with five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, a 10.0:1 compression ratio, and delivering 375 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. The 'Street Hemi' was an $813.45 option for the Road Runner and a $700.90 option on the GTX.

Within the muscle car scene, the GTX was considered a deluxe cannon, wrapping its occupants in luxury and comfort as they barreled down the road, a quarter-mile at a time.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2021