| General Motors changed the car market in 1964 | | | | The GTX remained basically the same in 1969 and |
| with the introduction of the GTO. By stuffing a | | | | 1970. There was little need to change the car |
| large engine into a mid-sized car they created the | | | | from a performance prospective. It was the car |
| muscle car. Sales exploded and the other GM | | | | to beat. Changes were relegated to grill and rear |
| divisions had to have a piece of the action. | | | | end updates. The power plants remained the |
| Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Buick quickly produced | | | | same with the exception of the 440 cubic inch big |
| high performance versions of their mid-sized cars | | | | block in 1970. In 1970 Plymouth added a third |
| also. The management at Plymouth was caught | | | | engine option to the list. It was the famous 440 |
| asleep when this happened and it took a couple of | | | | Six Barrel. The Six Barrel was actually a tri of two |
| years to come up with a viable alternative. That | | | | barrel carburetors mounted on top of the engine. |
| alternative was the Plymouth GTX. | | | | Not only was it cool to look at but it added about |
| In 1967 Plymouth introduced one of the all time | | | | 35 horse power to the car. |
| muscle car legends. The GTX only came with two | | | | In 1969 Plymouth sold almost 15,000 of the cars. |
| engine choices. The more affordable of the two | | | | However, in 1970 sales had dropped to about |
| was the 440 cubic inch big block rated at 375 | | | | 7,000. The car was the same. It was the market |
| horse power. The other choice was the fearsome | | | | that changed.. The muscle car era was ending |
| 426 cubic inch Hemi with a conservatively rating | | | | rapidity. High fuel prices, high insurance rates and a |
| of 425 horse power. These cars were | | | | slowing economy had people looking for small cars |
| performers and either could do zero to sixty | | | | with good gas mileage. |
| consistently in the six second range. That's not all, | | | | Chrysler introduced a new design for their |
| according to Motor Trend Magazine the GTX was | | | | intermediates in 1971. The design was heavily |
| on of the best handling cars of its size produced | | | | influenced by the design of jet aircraft. It was a |
| during that era. The GTX was a solid performer | | | | forward leaning design and the front end of the |
| and sales were brisk with nearly 13,000 produced | | | | car resembled the intake of jet aircraft. It was a |
| in 1967. | | | | love it or hate it kind of look. Unfortunately, the |
| In 1968, the GTX was restyled along with the | | | | era of large powered cars was over and would |
| rest of Chrysler's intermediates. This design which | | | | not return for almost twenty five years. Sales |
| was shared with the Dodge Charger, Super Bee | | | | dropped to about 2,600 units. |
| and the newly introduced Plymouth Road Runner | | | | Plymouth continued the GTX name for a few |
| was an instant classic and is the picture most | | | | more years as an option package on the Road |
| people visualize when they think of classic cars of | | | | Runner. It was never the same. The GTX had |
| the 1960's. Engine choices remained the same and | | | | come to the performance car market late and |
| performance was exceptionally strong. Car Life | | | | like a shooting star it burned very bright for a |
| Magazine called the GTX "The fastest and the | | | | while and then faded away. Today collectors and |
| most powerful standard car built in America. And | | | | enthusiasts actively seek out this series because |
| the 440 is not far behind." Sales increased to over | | | | of their good looks, impressive power and |
| 18,000. | | | | relatively scarcity. |