TESTED Muscle: Was Plymouth’s GTX the Last of the Great Classic Muscle Cars?
Good old American muscle is hard to beat, such as this 1971 Plymouth GTX featured on the latest episode of TESTED Muscle, brought to you by American Collectors Insurance. Some would say the Plymouth GTX was one of the last great classic muscle cars produced. Its sleek, muscular body and aggressive stance commands attention, and its performance matches the mean Mopar persona.
The Plymouth GTX, also referred to as the “gentlemen’s hot rod,” spanned five production model years, beginning in 1967 and ending in 1971. It competed with the likes of the second-generation Chevrolet Camaro, most notably the 1970 Z/28 equipped with a 360-horsepower 350 cubic-inch LT-1 small-block, plus the underpowered 1970-1982 Pontiac Trans Am made famous by Smokey and the Bandit, the 1971 AMC Javelin, the 1971-1973 “big horse” Mustangs with an emphasis on the 1971 Super Cobra Jet 429 cubic-inch big-block equipped model, and let’s not forget one of (if not the) most potent performers of the decade, the Chevrolet Chevelle SS454.
In the fifth episode of TESTED Muscle, Mike Musto takes the wheel of a sparsely optioned 1971 Plymouth GTX and shares his wealth of knowledge. For starters, Plymouth made less than 3,000 examples, making it rarer than a 2018 Dodge Demon. Under the hood is a 370 horsepower, 440 cubic-inch V8, arguably one of the greatest engines ever made. We recommend turning the sound up for this video:
If you’re in the market for a Plymouth GTX, the below episode of TESTED Muscle will surely pique your interest. If you’re seeking more information, this article all about the 1971-'74 Plymouth Satellite, Road Runner and GTX is a must-read.
Hemmings’ new video series titled TESTED Muscle is a six-episode YouTube series that features Mike Musto in his element, behind the wheel of American muscle cars from the 1960s through the early ‘70s. Each episode of TESTED Muscle pulls an original/restored muscle car out of the garage and treats it to a proper full-fledged review, showing how the classic cars should look, feel, and sound, much like a new car review but for a vintage ride.
Catch up on the TESTED Muscle series:- Episode 1: Mike Musto explores a supercharged 1963 Studebaker Avanti R2 and discusses whether it was a true muscle car.
- Episode 2: Musto looks beyond the outrageous styling of a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am and delves into the experience of driving the “Screaming Chicken.”
- Episode 3: Musto presents the full driving experience of a 1969 Camaro Z/28, a pony car built for the purpose of dominating corners on the street and in Trans Am racing.
- Episode 4: Musto gets behind the wheel of what is arguably the first true factory sleeper and one of the rarest in existence, a four-speed 1962 Pontiac Catalina 421 Super Duty.
Visit the Hemmings Motor News channel on YouTube and subscribe so you get notified for each new episode.