1971 | Plymouth GTX 440

This 1971 Plymouth GTX is an unmistakable muscle car with its “Winchester Gray metallic” exterior paint, black interior and elegant design. Only the GTX had the powerful 440cui - 7.2L V8 engine ex works and a number of other optional extras. The GTX was the most expensive and exclusive Plymouth B-Body model available in 1971! Moreover, it was only built in small numbers, only 2211 units came off the production line with 440cui, 4-barrel carburetor and automatic transmission!

 

The GTX has unique features that set it apart from other vehicles in its class. These include individual seats with integrated headrests and, in the case of the vehicle on offer here, even the super rare driver's seat with six-way tilt adjustment. In addition, 15” rally wheels in the original 70s design and a standard 440cui Hi Performance V8 engine. It also has extra hood pins from the factory that additionally secure the hood. The power-assisted steering, the power-assisted brakes and the factory-fitted front disc brakes round off the overall sporty concept.

 

Vin decoded: RS23U1R146279

• Body Type: R = GTX 
• Price Class: S = Special 
• Body Type: 23 = 2 Door Hardtop 
• Engine: U = 440 370HP 1-4BBL 8 CYL 
• Year: 1 = 1971 
• Sequence Number: 146279 = 46279th Vehical Built

 

The first thing that catches the eye with this Plymouth is not only the unmistakable design, but also the shimmering gray metallic exterior paintwork. Depending on the exposure to light, e.g. sunlight on the car, the intensity of the color changes, resulting in an impressive play of colors. The classic black is a matching contrasting shade. It can be found on the all-black vinyl roof, on the 440 lettering on the hood and on the front grille. The interior is also completely black and is further enhanced by the GTX High Options “wood grain” inserts.

 

Engine and chassis

 

The transmission is an A727 3-speed automatic gearbox, which was already fitted here ex works. It is therefore matching numbers.

 

Let's take a look under the hood. The hood is unlocked by a lever in the interior, which was an innovation at the time, as this function was not yet available on the previous models and was also an additional option on this 1971.

 

Under the hood is a powerful 440cui big block wedge engine (370 hp). Although it is no longer the original engine, it must have been built internally as well as an original HP engine. Despite the long rear axle ratio, limited slip differential and wide tires, the engine has incredible power. We also installed a new 750cfm Edelbrock carburetor with electric choke. The original Carter carburetor is included with the vehicle. Its original “Dual Snorkel” air filter sits on top of it.

 

The water cooler also appears to be the original (with original part number). The fan shroud is also fitted for more efficient cooling of the engine.

 

One option that this GTX did not have ex works was an air conditioning system. A possible minor flaw that may have been considered as such in some areas of the USA. As it is traditionally very hot in some states and people there are used to driving with air conditioning. Despite top equipment, the GTX did not have this option at the time. In the course of the later restoration and repainting, however, someone fully converted the car to an original air conditioning system.

 

This process is relatively complex and even involves part of the firewall being given a different design. This firewall was cut out of another used vehicle and professionally welded in here because it was not available to buy. However, the conversion is not yet complete. The entire dashboard and the entire sheet steel construction with its innards must be replaced so that this “full factory” air conditioning look works. The heating controls are also different, which is why the windshield must have been removed in the course of this work. A lot of work has been done in this area to make it 100% like the original.

 

We could see from the existing fender tag that the car did not have air conditioning ex works. We have also checked the chassis numbers and can therefore prove that this is not a re-body. In addition, there are many other features, such as the factory-welded Tourqe boxes and the skid plate under the front axle, which clearly prove that this is a GTX. The air conditioning is fully installed and can be activated on request. All that remains to be done is to fit a few seals for the new coolant, which is approved for Europe. Then fit a new dryer and fill the whole thing. We can advise you on all conversions or modifications that you can imagine or implement them in our Mopar “only” specialist workshop.

We refurbished the car in our specialist workshop in over 100 hours. It looked exactly the same before, but had many technical defects, such as a thermostat fitted the wrong way round, as well as worn front axle and leaf spring bushes, which we replaced. Now it's not just a trailer queen that looks good, now you can also drive the GTX really well. Our boss has already tested this with over 1000 kilometers of test drives. He really enjoyed the driving behavior. After each test drive, new technical faults were noticed, which were then eliminated in our workshop. One of the things we noticed during the test drives was that the car has very low fuel consumption. Long journeys without stopping to refuel are therefore no problem.

 

The following was also repaired and replaced in our specialist workshop:

 

    New battery fitted

    Thermostat replaced

    Temperature sensor replaced

    Engine wiring harness renewed

    Original HP carburetor overhauled

    New 750cfm Edelbrock carburetor with electric choke installed

    Water pump checked and painted

    Fuel pump & fuel filter renewed

    Lower radiator hose renewed

    New left engine mount fitted

    Replaced manifold gasket right

    Sun visor end pieces renewed

    Upper and lower wishbone bushings of the front axle renewed

    Tie rod bushes renewed

    Stabilizer bushes replaced

    Alternator repaired

    The heating valve has also been replaced in the past.

 

The 1971 is really a further development of the B-bodies. The developers learned from the previous models and made the rear axle a good 4 cm wider on each side. This made the car much more stable. All the power can be handled much better than was the case with the previous models.

But another thing that only the GTX got was the stabilizer bar on the rear axle. The standard vehicles simply did not have this extra. Chrysler had been aware since 1968 that vehicles without a front anti-roll bar had a rather spongy ride and so the muscle cars had already been fitted with an anti-roll bar at the front from the factory. From 1971, however, they further optimized the whole thing and also installed a rear stabilizer bar on the GTX. Together with the four centimeter wider rear axle on each side, these vehicles are far superior to any Mopar produced up to 1970 in terms of handling and road holding!

 

The factory-fitted disc brakes also contribute to this! So, despite the original components, this baby now sits really firmly on the road with the original front and rear stabilizers, also thanks to a sensible adjustment by us and new bushes. Even if you like to drive fast, overtake or take corners with verve, everything is possible with this GTX. The result is a successful combination of agility and yet low revs at cruising speed.

Of course, a lock is also installed, although this was not necessarily standard equipment on the GTX, but was added here with the different axle ratio. An 8 3/4 rear axle with #741 case and 2.95 : 1 ratio is installed. In addition, large 7290 U-joints are installed, which only the real muscle cars got. Furthermore, there is now a single-piston disc brake system, as was available from 1970. On top of that, 255/60R15 “Goodrich” tires are fitted at the front and rear. They still have a lot of tread and tend to be rather hard. If you want spinning tires, you can stick with these. If you want perfect grip, you should fit fresh rubber with more softeners.

 

Body and add-on parts

The frame beams were checked in our specialist workshop. We were unable to detect any frame damage, not even older damage caused by accidents or rust. The front and rear frames are straight. The entire body is in fantastic condition for this year and model.

 

A great deal of stabilization was also provided for the body ex works. Four torque boxes were installed for this purpose. In previous years, only the HEMI vehicles, convertibles and a few rare factory muscle cars were fitted with these to stabilize the body. These are also a sign, apart from the body stamp numbers, that this is definitely a GTX body.

 

There is even an original skid plate welded on under the front axle. It has already protected the lower engine oil pan, which is visible under the front axle, from unintentional damage. The deeper oil pans were only fitted to Hi Performance engines and even then, only rarely. This is unknown to us up to the 1968-69 model year. These engines have a deeper oil pan for more oil content, which means that it peeks through below the K-member (front axle carrier). This would be so unprotected, which is why few vehicles were given this additional protection in the form of this skid plate, which is also installed here.

The condition of the trunk is extremely good, and the original trunk panel is still welded in. Even a spare wheel including jack and Rat nut driver is fitted, which was not there before. The trunk seal has already been replaced. The door seals also make a soft, fresh impression. The roofrail seal appears to be the original one, but is intact, which indicates that the GTX was stored in a garage and not outside.

 

A new tank was fitted in the past. The fuel line is mounted in the larger 3/8” diameter, in keeping with the GTX.

 

Underneath, the GTX naturally has an “original style” double-flow exhaust system, even with original Chrysler mufflers (with Chrysler Pentastar emblem) and the correct stamping of the manufacturer's date. Mounted on these are the most popular exhaust tips that MOPAR has ever produced. These “slotted exhaust tips” were first introduced in 1971 and are among the most exciting original end tip creations. The special feature is the small windows that have been cut into the outer wall of the tailpipe. Behind this, it was painted red once again. After fifty years, the red paint has of course faded somewhat, but these special tips are still there.

All add-on parts are complete and in very good overall condition. From 1970 they introduced the door sticker, on which the chassis number can also be seen. The fender tag is also present, as well as all emblems and trim.

 

The front bumper and grille are also in very good condition. Likewise, the chrome rear bumper, which we think has already been re-chromed. The chrome of the door handles and the sill plates are also in good condition and could be new. The windshield has certainly also been replaced. The windows are, of course, tinted as part of the optional equipment.

 

Only the GTX had the rocker panel moldings from the factory, thick, fat chrome trim strips that run along the bottom of the entire sill. In addition, the side makers, which were only available in 1971, and the hood-mounted turn signal indicators (extra indicators on the hood) were also an extra that had to be ordered separately.

When the vehicle was restored, it was fully, completely and really well painted. There are no ripples in the panels or in the paintwork. Even if you look deeper, the paint is not wavy over the entire surface. Everything has been done really well. But the paintwork is no longer new. If you stand in front of the car, the gray surface looks really good. However, if you look very closely, you can see a few areas where there are irregularities under the paint.

 

This can be seen, for example, in the front area on the fender, on the right rear of the hood, in the middle of the right door and on the two lower rear quarters, i.e. the sheet metal area at the very bottom, behind the rear wheels. There is also an irregularity under the rear window, as well as under the left C-pillar, under the chrome trim. As can be seen in the pictures further down in the gallery, these slight deviations in the overall impression are not visually noticeable.

 

Nothing needs to be done for normal use or for rust protection. You can drive it like this and have fun with it. If you want a “show quality” vehicle, you would have to repaint it.

 

Interior

 

With its sporty appearance and spacious interior, the GTX is the perfect MOPAR for those who want to stand out and enjoy a comfortable ride at the same time. The top interior offers comfortable individual seats, making it a good choice for long journeys. It also comes with a range of extra options and features. These include the stainless steel trim for the accelerator/brake and parking pedal. These frames may still be standard equipment in these model years, but what someone has definitely ordered extra here is a six-way adjustable driver's seat.

 

In 30 years of professional experience, our Moparshop boss can count on two hands how many times he has seen such a seat. It is estimated that 99% of the other deliveries did not have one. With this “Six Way Adjustable Seat” function, the height of the front section of the seat can be adjusted and the angle of the seat can also be adjusted. This is also only possible for the driver's seat; as far as we know, it could not be ordered for the front passenger seat. It is therefore a very rare option that is installed here and is included in the purchase price.

The center console with the so-called “slapstick shifter” is located between the individual seats. The Plymouth GTX is equipped with a range of safety features. These include the safety button on the gearshift. This ensures that you do not accidentally end up in the wrong gear. You can shift back and forth between the three gears. To get into reverse, neutral or park, you have to press an extra button on the side of the lever to unlock it. Where others have to buy a racing shifter to be able to shift gears safely, this is already fitted at the factory and does not need to be retrofitted.

 

Of course, as a “top of the line” model and muscle car, the GTX had the “Rallye Cluster” (display panel) which directly includes a large rev counter. The Tuff steering wheel, a smaller steering wheel that can be brought closer to the driver with an extra spacer and which also has a slightly thicker grip area, so that it not only looks sporty, but also makes sportier handling possible.

The soft pad, the area on the dashboard, has already been replaced and is in perfect condition. Otherwise it would look a little different over the years. The door panels on this model are divided into two halves, one upper and one lower, with chic “wood grain” inserts in between, which can also be found on the dashboard and the center console. These are also in very good condition and also bear the corresponding GTX special emblem in the Plymouth colors red, blue and white.

 

The headlining looks perfect and must have been replaced. The original seat belts are present and functional. What no car could do without in the past were ashtrays, of course. So of course, there are also some in the rear.

 

A loudspeaker is integrated into the parcel shelf, next to it another rare additional feature. The extra rear window defoger. This is a fan motor that has been installed in one of the speaker brackets, in this case the right one. A channel runs from this fan motor to the center of the rear window and can blow it clear again if it is fogged up and obstructs the view to the rear. Naturally, this function is conveniently operated by a switch on the dashboard. The driver's mirror can also be adjusted from the inside. 

The car was already registered with H license plates and has a copy of its German papers with it.

 

Are you interested in this car? Then take a look at our website Moparshop.com/Cars4Sale or leave us a message. The fantastic car can of course be viewed by appointment. Available at our Moparshop showroom in 59399 Olfen.

For the latest news about our 4 sale vehicles and the Moparshop, follow @moparshop_com on Instagram / facebook / youtube