I am known among my loved ones as being somewhat indecisive, so it’s good that it’s not 1970 and I’m not in the market for a new muscle car, but if I were, I think I’d be comparison shopping my Plymouth dealer for something similar to the Lime Light GTX that we see here. It’s an interesting combination: a top-of-the-line model with no power steering or brakes. The selling dealer says that it’s a one-owner original, and it’s being offered on eBay in Shakopee, Minnesota, for an eye-watering $79,000 or best offer. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for sending it in our direction.
The GTX was Plymouth’s “executive” muscle car (at least in the intermediate sense), with a standard 440-cubic-inch Super Commando big block and a 727 Torqueflite. The big 440 made 375 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft. of torque with a relatively tame advertised 9.7:1 compression ratio, and this car was ordered with the “A36 Performance Axle Package,” which cost $92.25 and included a 3.55:1 gear ratio, a bigger radiator and fan clutch, and a Sure-Grip differential. The eBay ad lists the car’s mileage at 36,651, but there’s no mention if the odometer has rolled or not; I’m inclined to believe that it’s accurate based on the condition.
The GTX also came with sporty bucket seats and a 150-mile-per-hour speedometer, and this one has the woodgrain console, a $54.45 option, along with the optional tachometer ($68.45). The interior looks almost new.
Another reason why I feel that the mileage may be original is the undercarriage; Minnesota cars just don’t look this clean. Sure, it’s not going to win a concours event, but it’s clearly not seen salt more than a time or two. The undercoating was a factory option ($16.60, and it came with a hood insulator pad).
One of my favorite car colors is lime green, and I’ve mentioned before that my daily driver is a Sublime Challenger; therefore, it wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility that I’d have chosen a new Lime Light GTX if I were picking out a daily driver back in 1970. With these “chrome styled road wheels” ($86.15) and black stripes, it would have been a fancy rig for shuttling me back and forth to work and maybe having a little fun at the local strip on weekends. It didn’t have the hairiest powertrain in the lineup, but it could certainly hold its own, and with an interesting selection of options (the car comes with a lot of paperwork, including the window sticker and Galen Govier report), it will turn as many heads now as it certainly did in 1970.
Very cool 😎 Plymouth. Thanks Toth. This one must be a street light 🚥 terror with the steeper gear / axle package.
Eye watering price indeed but it’s a beauty. It always strikes me as odd that Chrysler did not make mandatory power front disc’s and power steering on many of their uplevel performance cars for added safety’s sake. Many GM and Fords had these as standard equipement. I’ll say again a beauty. Now is it just me or i aint seeing the vacuum hose on the passenger side snorkel. 79 g’s is a bit high but for he or she that want’s turn key.and beauty it might just be worth it
440 and hemi cars got 11″X3″ front drums and 11″X2.5″ rears. I drag raced a 3700lb 440 superbee to speeds of 115-120 for years and never felt the need to upgrade brakes. Conversely, I have a 3300lb camaro iroc with factory 4 wheel disks that were just awful before I upgraded the entire system. The factory IROC brakes were in good condition, but completely insufficient for pulling the car down from high speeds.
Point is, disk brakes are great, but drum brakes can be just as good or better depending on application.
Except after driving through deep water – or going down long steep mountains. lol
Why do power brakes and steering equal safety? With Chrysler’s overpowered steering especially, I think a case could be made that manual steering at speed might be safer.
Robert, if you enlarge the engine picture you can see the vac hose connected on the passenger side snorkel, it’s just hard to see at first glance.
I would have thought the upscale GTX would come with the air grabber hood.
Could a GTX be factory ordered with the Road Runner horn?
Hmm, no p/s, no p/b, no a/c, short gears and limited slip 440, wonder what this was built to do?
Given the asking prices on some of the hopelessly rusty B-bodies we see, $79,000 for an original, low mileage, Lime Light GTX in pristine condition seems like a bargain.
You are right, low mileage unrestored cars sell at a premium for a reason. The price will probably get it sold. Just because a car is more expensive than a particular individual would be willing to pay doesn’t mean it’s overpriced.
Steve R
Being in high school 1970 I would always stop and stare at a Roadrunner. But I would drool when a GTX drove by. The GTX back then was to me at the time. The ipedimy of muscle and good taste. I knew enough not to fool with one of these with my ’55 Chev convert.
Nice to see a real set of magnum 500 wheels on it most put after market 15×7. Petty base car if it had the 440-6 bbl in it I could see $79,000.
Unrestored? What’s to restore?
Really beautiful GTX. A 1 owner unrestored car to boot. $80k is a good chunk of change but considering what some of these Mopars are going for nowadays probably not out of the realm of reality.
In 1973, I bought an FE5 1970 Road Runnervwith N96. N96 was an option. This GTX looks in very good shape for a 55 year old. The new owner should get the bottom done with dry ice and not paint anything. As mentioned total piles of Mopar rotted out junk sell for more than $25,000 and need $100,000 worth of work. This is a bargain. And only one owner. Nearly impossible to find today.
If the person that is selling the GTX is the original owner then they will need to go to counseling after the sale. Chances are they had this car longer than any relationship in their life. That will be like loosing a body part. Seriously that has to be hard to let go of regardless of 79k. Beautiful car.