With the introduction of the Charger, a sporty fastback equipped with Chrysler’s most potent engines, notably the 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI, Dodge swept the midsize market in 1966. A few months later, Plymouth came up with the GTX in response.
The Charger and GTX had different sheet metal, but they had a lot in common, even underneath. Both were constructed on the B-body platform, with the former being based on the Coronet and the latter being an extension of the Belvedere lineage.
The Charger had the sportier fastback look, and a fancier interior, but the GTX was a bit more exclusive in the performance department. While the Dodge came with a small-block V8 engine in standard trim, the Plymouth was restricted to the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) and 426 HEMI powerplants.
Eventually, in 1968, the Charger evolved into a no-nonsense muscle vehicle. In contrast, the GTX lived up to its high-end reputation until the end of 1971, when it was withdrawn. By 2023, the GTX will likely be the rarest Mopar because of its limited manufacturing, but the Charger is still probably the more sought-after of the two. In 1966–1971 Dodge sold hundreds of thousands of Chargers, but Plymouth only moved 55,516 GTXs.
The final-year iteration is arguably the rarest at only 2,942 cars delivered, followed by the 1970 GTX with 7,748 units made. The 1969 example you see here is not quite as scarce at almost 15,000 built, but it’s one of those finely restored units you don’t see every day. It’s also finished in Sunfire Yellow, a color that doesn’t get as much love as the hues from the High Impact color palette.
But is it one of those extremely rare and desirable HEMI cars, of which Plymouth sold only 197 in 1969? It’s not. But that’s not to say this GTX is a lemon. This hardtop draws juice from a 440 RB V8 that was rated a solid 375 horsepower when new.
More importantly, the muscle car appears to be in outstanding condition. The Sunfire Yellow paint looks flawless, as do the black graphics on the hood and the chrome trim front and rear. The interior isn’t very eye-catching due to its all-black upholstery, but it’s as clean as they get. And whoever restored this cabin did a fantastic job recreating the factory specs.
Additionally, this GTX is pleased to have an exceptionally spotless engine bay. The Super Commando four-barrel 440 is spotless, with nary a hair on it, and the underside of the bonnet is similarly spotless. Heck, you could use that air purifier for breakfast.
So, how unique is this GTX exactly? It’s one of 9,862 Super Commando vehicles with the automatic gearbox and one of around 13,866 copies equipped with the four-barrel 440 engine. I’m not sure how much the Sunfire Yellow paint reduces that statistic below the 1,000-unit threshold, though.
But even though it might not be extremely rare, this GTX has the complete package: cool color, clean as a whistle, numbers-matching V8. And that makes it a tremendous Mopar.