Introduced for the 1967 model year as an upscale-trimmed version of the two-door Belvedere, the GTX quickly became known as the "Gentleman's muscle car." And even though it wasn't as slick as its premium corporate twin, the Dodge Charger, it was available with Mopar's most potent V8 engines.
Upon its introduction in late 1966, the GTX came with the massive 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8 as standard. Customers who wanted more than 375 horsepower had access to the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8 (rated at 425 horses) via the options list. In 1970, Plymouth added a six-barrel version of the 440 V8, good for 390 horsepower.
Unlike its platform siblings, the Belvedere and the Road Runner, the GTX was short-lived. The nameplate spent only five years in showrooms, going into the history books as Chrysler began phasing out its high-performance engines in late 1971. The GTX wasn't very popular either.
While the Road Runner moved 43,295 units in its first year on the market, the GTX sold about 55,500 examples over five model years. 1968 was the nameplate's most successful year, with 17,914 vehicles built, while 1971 saw only 2,942 units leave the assembly line. Granted, the GTX is still somewhat common nowadays, but the HEMI version is quite rare.
That's because only 1,526 customers went with the range-topping engine option from 1967 through 1971. This figure includes cars shipped to Canada, accounting for only 2.7% of the total GTX production. The 1967 HEMI GTX is the most common at 733 examples, but sales dwindled below 100 units per year in 1970 and 1971. Specifically, Plymouth shipped 76 cars in 1970 and only 32 models in 1971.
The 1969 version you see here is not quite as rare, but chances are you won't see one anytime soon, either. That's because HEMI sales dropped to only 224 vehicles that year. And this one is one of 208 sold in the United States. Moreover, it's one of 197 hardtops and one of 98 rigs in this body style also fitted with a four-speed manual transmission.
It doesn't get better than this, right? Well, actually, it does. For starters, this GTX is a finely restored gem. The hardtop is spotless inside and out, and the engine bay is clean as a whistle.
Second, this GTX is a numbers-matching car, with both the HEMI V8 and the gearbox sporting the correct codes to prove it. Third, not only the color combo is very fetching, but it's also extremely rare. Sure, it's not one of those super intense High Impact colors that Chrysler launched in 1969. But this Q5 Seafoam Turquoise is just as appealing as Vitamin C and Rallye Green in my book. Especially when paired with a white vinyl top and a white interior like on this GTX.
Moreover, this shade is actually rarer than most High Impact hues. While I've seen a few 1969 Plymouths in this color, this is only the second HEMI GTX sporting Seafoam Turquoise. Granted, there may be more out there, but until another one pops up, this HEMI GTX could very well be a one-of-two classic. One that's worth more than $200,000. Check it out in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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