Vehicle Description
Time will tell if the fuselage styling on this 1971 Plymouth GTX
becomes as popular as the first-generation cars, but there's no
denying that any piece of Mopar muscle packing a big block under
the hood is going to be a party on four wheels. This clean,
no-nonsense bruiser has been restored as needed over the past four
decades, making it a car you can drive without worries and still
get the flavor of the original.
That subtle dark green paint isn't very old and they not only
captured just the right hue, but it has a soft gloss like the
original enamel, so it looks very authentic. Obviously this was a
very straight, clean car before the paint job and aside from a few
very minor signs of use, it looks great in person. A correct set of
440 inserts on the hood were added to give it the right muscle car
look and they work with the big, bold 'GTX' emblems that define
these cars. It's really a low-key look overall, with no wings or
spoilers, and that was always the intent of the GTX, which was
affectionately called "the gentleman's express." A few chrome
details like the wheel arch moldings add some contrast, while the
bumpers are original and their condition should tell you all you
need to know about the easy life this car has led. If you like
these cars, you need to spend some time with this one.
The interior is older and possibly original, and it's all in great
shape, including the seats, dashboard, and door panels, and again,
it speaks to the quality of the car. Given the subtle bodywork, the
black interior is just right, but the design still has a racy vibe.
There are a few signs of use, of course, but it would be a crime to
replace an interior this nice, although there are a few little
details that could be tweaked. The factory gauges should look
familiar to anyone who has driven a vintage Mopar and they're
joined by an auxiliary oil pressure gauge under the dash. A
T-handle shifter on the woodgrained console is linked to a
slick-shifting TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission, and it's
still a lot of fun to snap it into gear. The original AM radio is
long gone and they haven't replaced it with anything, so an upgrade
would probably be a welcome addition. The trunk is also correctly
finished with a brand new reproduction mat that fits well and looks
good.
With 440 cubic inches on tap, this car is a blast to drive around
town. Effortless torque and a fantastic sound mean that you'll be
grabbing a downshift every chance you get. It's also quite nicely
detailed under the hood, with Hemi Orange on the block,
wrinkle-finish paint on the air cleaner, and reproduction decals
throughout. The distinctive exhaust manifolds are in good condition
and feed a recent dual exhaust system that's not too loud and not
too soft, so it's a pleasure to drive on the highway. There's a big
Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor up top, along with power steering and
brakes to make it fast as well as easy to drive. The car's
warm-weather roots show underneath, where it's in great condition
with no major issues and it's got exactly the right stance on those
plain-Jane steel wheels with staggered 215/70/15 front and
255/60/15 rear BFGoodrich T/A radials.
If you're into driving rather than decoding numbers, this Road
Runner delivers big block fun at a reasonable price. Call
today!
