1968 Plymouth GTX Convertible

With the hot new Roadrunner model at it’s base, a familiar name returned to the top of Plymouth's midsize muscle car pyramid . For its second season in 1968, the Plymouth GTX moved to the same redesigned Belvedere platform used by the Road Runner.

Keeping with its upscale mission, the 1968 Plymouth GTX featured both a two-door Hardtop and Convertible body styles, while in comparison, the '68 Road Runner started with a Pillared Coupe and didn't offer a Ragtop edition.

Instead of adopting the 383-cid V-8 as its base engine, the 1968 Plymouth GTX carried over its 1967 powertrains. The 375-bhp Magnum 440-cid four-barrel V8 was standard, and the potent 425-bhp 426 Hemi V8 was the sole engine option. A torqueFlite automatic was a $206 extra on the Road Runner, but standard on the GTX, and the  four speed manual transmission was a no-cost alternative. Both cars had similar suspension upgrades and wide-oval rubber; front Disc brakes and a “Limited Slip” differential were shared options. Non - functional hood vents also were common to both.

Another major difference was while even a loaded Road Runner looked pretty plain on the outside, the GTX dressed its part with standard chrome wheel-lip moldings, tail-panel brightwork, and double side stripes. And where the Road Runner started with a fleet-grade interior, the GTX came with the well-appointed Sport Satellite cabin featuring shiny details and fake woodgrain. The differences showed in base prices: $3,355 for the GTX hardtop, $3,034 for the Road Runner coupe.

Despite the fact that die-hard racer types loved the Hemi,  just 450 GTXs were ordered with the $564 option. The 440, which wasn't offered on the Road Runner, was easier to keep in tune. And unlike the rev-hungry Hemi, the big wedge churned out a surplus of low-end torque for total response on the street.

Some of the not so great attributes  mirrored those of the Road Runner , ( and of most other muscle intermediates, for that matter ),  like a stiff ride, over-assisted power steering, and skittish handling on rough roads. But for a gentleman's supercar, the GTX was dialed in. The GTX had few equals as a performance car, and with the 440 V8, it offered as much performance per buck as anything on the market of the time, and for the most part…even more. Not to mention, they were downright Drop Dead Georgeous!