Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

UPDATE: 1968 Plymouth GTX 440

UPDATE 08/12/2021: It appears that the owner of this 1968 Plymouth GTX may have been the victim of a non-paying buyer. The previous listing for this classic shows that it sold for $26,850 after receiving 34 bids. However, it has just been relisted here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at a neat $20,000, although this remains short of the reserve. If you thought that you missed out the first time around, maybe you’ll get a second bite at the cherry on this one.

When you are looking at a particular classic model and realize that even the most placid offering within that range is capable of producing a sub-15-second ¼-mile ET, you know that you’re dealing with something pretty special. That is the story with the 1968 Plymouth GTX, and this one is a tidy example searching for a new home. If the thought of stunning performance has captured your imagination, you will find the GTX located in Middleport, New York, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has made its way to $18,100, but I’m not surprised that this remains short of the owner’s reserve

A couple of things are worth noting with this Plymouth, and they tell a lot of this car’s story. The first is that before finding its way to New York, it had spent most of its life in sunny California. This undoubtedly helps to explain why there is no rust visible in any of the supplied photos. The owner doesn’t mention any issues with the vehicle’s underside, and the lack of visible corrosion across other areas of the car gives us cause to be cautiously optimistic. The second factor is that the GTX received a repaint in its original Code R Burgundy back in 1988, and it still looks impressive 33-years later. The paint isn’t perfect, but it holds a wonderful shine and has no significant flaws. Some of the black painted trim pieces show deterioration, but addressing those problems should be both easy and pretty affordable. The panels don’t have any apparent dings or dents, and the tinted glass shows no signs of obvious flaws. Apart from the painted sections, all of the exterior trim is in excellent order, while the factory Rally wheels add a classy finishing touch to the exterior.

Lifting the hood of the GTX reveals the numbers-matching 440ci Super Commando V8 that should be producing 375hp. The vehicle also features an A727 automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. It seems incredible to consider that this combination could be regarded as the most conservative and placid Plymouth offered in the 1968 GTX, but it is a fact when you look at the rest of the range. However, that doesn’t make it a wimp by any stretch of the imagination. This is a classic capable of demolishing the ¼ mile in 14.2 seconds before winding its way to 132mph. That’s not bad for the most sedate offering in the bunch. The engine bay doesn’t present as well as I would have hoped, but this is a car that is about more than mere looks. It is ready to go with the buyer behind the wheel because the owner says that it runs and drives well.

The owner only offers two photos of the GTX’s interior, and neither of them is particularly good. However, they generally paint a positive picture. The carpet is faded, and there is some wear on a few surfaces on the dash, but there’s nothing that would appear to require immediate attention. What can be seen of the upholstered surfaces shows no evidence of wear or tears, and the dash pad has no cracks. The woodgrain trim is surprisingly good, and the wheel has no appreciable wear. It is also an interior that has remained unmolested, with no signs of aftermarket additions. As for creature comforts, there isn’t a lot. The original owner ordered the GTX with bucket seats but no console. They also chose a pushbutton radio and air conditioning.

Even though this 1968 Plymouth GTX has received a repaint, I would still be satisfied to class it as a survivor. That paint was applied more than three decades ago, and there has been no work performed on the panels or paint since. The bidding has been strong, but not staggeringly so. I think that there might be some way to go before it hits the reserve, and given the car’s overall condition and originality, I suspect that it will need to get close to $30,000 before that occurs. Whoever buys this GTX will become the owner of a classic with some serious performance credentials, and I can’t think of one downside to that. Can you?

Comments

  1. Avatar Phil D

    Were I considering this car, I’d want to inquire about what work was done to the engine at the time that it was repainted. No ’68 440s were painted orange from the factory — they were all turquoise.

    Like 16
    • Avatar Papa Bear

      check the Ebay pics, the block and oil pan are turquoise, maybe they just painted the valve covers or switched them out.

      Like 3
  2. Avatar Dave

    Looks nice from a distance, but if you look at the photos the one with the VIN tag shows rust in the cowl area. Remember, it’s not the rust you can see, it’s the rust you can’t see that kills projects.

    Like 18
    • Avatar Don Eladio

      I’d venture to say, you wouldn’t buy it anyway, but…that little bit of surface rust is nothing. That looks like a solid, rust-free car.

      Like 9
      • Avatar Don Eladio

        Gee, JB, then you should tell us all about what else they hid when they painted it…or are you just gonna sit back and laugh while someone gets suckered into buying a pig in a poke?

        Like 7
  3. Avatar Raymond

    Weird, buckets no console, column shifter, wouldn’t you want a bench in that case?…maybe he didn’t like his wife that much…

    Like 15
    • Avatar Phil D

      Some, I guess, just wanted the sportiness of bucket seats, but didn’t want to incur the cost of the optional console.

      I had a car like that back in the day (a ’70 Barracuda convertible), and I was grateful that it had been ordered that way originally. Mine had a manual top, and had it been ordered with a console I’d have had to get out of the car to put the top up, rather than just sliding between the seats to grab the top and pull it up.

      While not having as practical a reason as did my convertible for ordering buckets and no console in a two-door coupe or hardtop such as this, no doubt some guys found other motives for having easy access to their back seat.

      Like 4
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      Many cars came that way – buckets with no console and column shift.
      My Barracuda did.

      Who knows why – maybe to save a few bucks?
      I have a column shift in my pickup and actually prefer it. Makes a lot more room in the console for other items.

      Like 4
    • Avatar JoeBob

      Raymond, I’m with you on the bench seat and column shift. A friend had a 68 Coronet R/T that was a kind of beige column shift bench seat car. If you didn’t notice the hood bulge or the R/T badging it was kind of a sleeper.

      Like 1
  4. Avatar Howie Mueler

    Over $21k now, reserve still not met.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar Roger Hackney

    The 68 440 X that I had had a turquoise engine ( orange didn’t come along until 69 ).
    Like Phil D. I’m curious about this one.
    While I’ve seen several A body’s with buckets and a column shift , I don’t remember ever seeing another GTX
    that way.
    If a man who has mastered a block sander preps a vehicle you will never know how much filler is there by looking. It’s not uncommon to use 12 gallons give or take to prep one and have a show quality car.
    Of course only a portion of the filler remains after sanding is completed.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Dave

      When you tap on the quarters with a finger it shouldn’t sound like you’re tapping on a bathtub. Get the magnet out and look inside the trunk.

      Like 3
  6. Avatar george mattar

    You people remarking about the lack of a console. Unlike today’s garbage cars, where car makers force 29 options down your throat as part of a “package”, almost all creature comforts were optional in 1968. That is why cars didn’t cost a fortune. I had a 70 GTO, from California, with buckets and automatic on the column. The console was optional. This car has had work done to it and that VIN plate on the dash shows just the beginning. The orange engine paint doesn’t concern me as long as the numbers are correct. Today, just remember you are buying a car that is more than 50 years old. There are going to be problems and in 1968, Chrysler quality, was well, terrible at best. Despite the problems with this car, it is in far better condition than most 68 Plymouths on this site. Most look like they’ve been pulled from the Atlantic. My all time favorite Mopar hands down.

    Like 12
  7. Avatar Don Eladio

    I hardly believe that…but, regardless, you are just another non-buyer that has no interest anyway.

    Like 10
  8. Avatar Joe Sewell

    A good cleanup before taking images and posting would work wonders.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar J.R Goonior

    This looks like a car I saw in a MOPAR mag about 30 years ago. I love the burgundy and black combo.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar PRA4SNW

    Adam, you are right about non-paying auction winner. The Seller states “Don’t be that person to obtain highest bid just so you can have rights to the sale and then change your mind. Don’t waste my time please.”

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Terry Bowman

    Be careful here on the bidding. I see a nice daily driver here. Almost every part of the car needs to be changed out to be a high dollar prize. I see some items missing and some added. From the poor photos, there is lack of details. Appears to be a Bondo bucket and I’m sure a paint job to match. Without checking out frame rust, I see a $20,000 price tag, if it is truly a GTX. Sorry about being a armchair bidder myself. It’s all in the Preference of each individual.

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Steve Clinton

    WOW, there sure are a bunch of ornery folks on BF today!

    Like 5
  13. Avatar Jim

    I have owned road runner and GTX and looked at the pictures close all I can say is not for me

    Like 0
  14. Avatar AJ Hess

    Geez I hate to be “Get off my lawn” guy, but I read the comments first. Then I had to go back and look at the pics. I don’t believe that’s worth 20K… she’s rough. Just a humble opinion.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar JohnfromSC

    No one else notice the black firewall? I believe Mopars should be body color. To me this means clearly engine hals been out and work done there.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar stillrunners

    Chicken wire ?

    Like 2
    • Avatar JoeBob

      stillrunners…We have both kinds, country and western.

      Like 2

Leave A Comment

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.