Plymouth was a manufacturer that made many notable contributions to the golden age of muscle cars. The Road Runner embodied a more muscular ethos than almost anything else on the street in 1968, and it was nothing more than a big-block V8 that just happened to have a place to sit in the back. Two years later, the Superbird appeared at NASCAR super speedways and dealerships across the country and quickly became a symbol of both Plymouth’s motorsports supremacy and the overall muscle car insanity of the late 1960s. These two models are most highly regarded by casual enthusiasts, but neither would exist without another Plymouth model that set the precedent: the Belvedere GTX.
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The GTX began life as the Plymouth Belvedere, a model with a pedigree that stretches back to the early 1950s. The Belvedere was initially positioned as a low-cost, full-size family car until downsizing became the norm in the early 1960s. In 1965, the Belvedere lost some length and became a midsize car, just in time for the muscle mayhem that began with the introduction of the similarly sized Pontiac GTO in 1964. With GTOs, Oldsmobile 442s, and Dodge Coronet Hemises all over the streets, it made sense for Plymouth to join them by stuffing a big block under the Belvedere’s hood.
The Plymouth Belvedere GTX was launched in 1967 and was powered by a standard 440 cubic inch Wedge V8 or an optional 426 Street Hemi. The latter is an extremely rare option, with Hemmings.com reporting that of the approximately 12,100 GTXs built in 1967 (according to most sources), only 125 were equipped with the proud orange elephant. he claimed. Rarity also adds to the car’s value, with some original examples fetching more than $175,000.
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The standard ’67 GTX engine was good, but the optional Hemi was better.
When the Plymouth Belvedere GTX was introduced in 1967, it quickly earned the nickname “Gentleman’s Muscle Car.” The GTX is almost as unassuming as the pedestrian Belvedere it’s based on, with just a smoked grille, ultra-original gas cap, low-profile fiberglass hood scoop, and modest 14-inch wheels that make the car stand out. was. hot rod status. The GTX’s toned-down stage presence contrasted dramatically with what was found under the hood in true wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing style.
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The standard 440 cubic inch Chrysler wedge was just starting to get its bearings by the time it arrived in the ’67 GTX. Mopar’s B and RB big-block engines replaced the famous first-generation FirePower Hemi in 1958 as Chrysler’s premier V8 offering. The smaller 413 cubic inch and 426 Max wedges (not to be confused with the 426 Hemi) have already proven to be very capable, but not with too much displacement. So in 1966, Chrysler drilled the 413 wedge to 440 cubic inches and began installing it in full-size sedans and coupes. In the 1967 GTX, the 440 wedge produced 375 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.
The optional 426 Hemi is an enthusiast’s choice for the 1967 Plymouth GTX. However, you had to be a wealthy enthusiast, as the option cost $546, or the equivalent of $5,091 today. This explains why only 125 GTXs got the 426 Hemi that year, making it extremely rare and sought after. Owners lucky enough to get their hands on these cars knew they had 425 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of right-foot torque, but it’s widely speculated that the actual output was closer to 480 to 500 horsepower.
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How much does a 67 Primus Belvedere GTX Hemis cost today?
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The 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX Hemi has a few things going for it from a collector’s perspective. First, this car was not only a great car in its own right, but also the ancestor of both the Roadrunner and Superbird, which made Plymouth a serious contender in the muscle car field. Also important is the history associated with the 426 Hemi under the hood. The 426 Hemi is considered one of the most legendary engines of the muscle car era. The 426 Hemi so thoroughly embarrassed Ford and GM in NASCAR that it was banned in 1965, but it was just as dominant on the streets when it arrived as a production model in 1966.
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This is a legacy that every muscle collector wants to be a part of. The last part of the equation is rarity, and with only 125 of the 1967 GTX Hemis built, it’s safe to say we’ve got that covered too. Considering all three of these metrics, it’s no wonder that original 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX Hemis sell for quite a bit at auction.
According to Classic.com, the average auction price for a ’67 GTX Hemi is $95,636, with prices soaring to more than $175,000 for highly original, low-mileage hardtop examples. Only 14 Hemi-equipped “verts” were built for the 1967 model year, so the convertible commands the highest premium. The 932-mile automatic 426 convertible is currently on the market for $329,900, according to Classic.com records, and if it sells, it will be the most expensive 1967 Belvedere GTX Hemi ever sold at auction. becomes.
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