Car of the Day: 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX Although there had been numerous performance Plymouths, it wasnt until 1967 that Plymouth offered one model with all the necessary performance goodies standard, the Car of the Day: 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX. Positioned as Plymouths gentlemens hot rod, the GTX offered stylish performance for the discriminating buyer. The Plymouth Belvedere GTX was introduced in 1967 as Plymouths first unified performance model. Based on Plymouths stylish two-door Belvedere hardtop and convertible, the Belvedere GTX received a special grille and tail panel, simulated hood scoops, and pit stop chrome gas cap. Twin racing stripes were optional. The GTX boasted superb handling, thanks to standard six-leaf rear springs, heavy duty shocks, torsion bars, and ball joints, though many believed that the power steering was too overassisted. Disc brakes were optional, though didnt seem to provide much advantage over the standard drum brakes. The interior was pure luxury, with bucket seats, embossed vinyl, and lots of brightwork. To make sure the GTX had the necessary firepower to back up its performance image, Plymouth made the mighty 440 cid V8 (which Plymouth called the Super Commando 440) rated at 375 bhp standard. This engine was usually used for Chyslers big cars but was tuned for more high-rpm performance with a revised camshaft and valve train, and free-flowing intake and exhaust systems. Optional was MOPARs mighty 426 Hemi, rated at 425 bhp. Only 720 buyers forked over the extra $546 for the Hemi. Although the 440 could keep up with the Hemi up to 70 mph, the Hemi was truly dominant on the drag strip. The standard transmission was MOPARs three-speed automatic transmission. A four speed manual transmission was optional, and included a larger ring gear, double-breaker distributor, free wheeling fan, and an oil-pan windage tray. For those that wanted even more performance than a Hemi-powered GTX, Plymouth quietly offered a R023 version (Standard Belvederes were RH23 and GTXs were RS23 - Dodge had a similar high performance version called W023) of the Hemi GTX. Called the Super Stock version, the R023 was not marketed by Plymouth and only serious racers would have heard of it or even consider ordering it. The R023 GTX was notable for what it didnt have. The hubcaps, radio, heater, body insulation, and even the carpet pad and sealers were removed to save weight - several hundred pounds in fact. Although their stripped appearance made them look more like a Plymouth Belvedere, they kept their GTX badges. Under the hood was the familiar 426 Hemi, hand-modified for performance with the addition of a transistorized ignition and a dual-point distributor with no vacuum advance, metal core-plug wires, Carter 4139 and 4140 Carbs, and a free-air system that sealed the breather to the underside of the hood - which made the big, wide hood scoop fully functional. Plymouth rated this heavily massaged Hemi at the same 425 bhp rating as the normal Hemi, which was under-rated to begin with. Plymouth built only 55 R023 GTXs, making them quite rare today.
Posted on: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:59:57 +0000
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