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The entire Belvedere line was completely restyled for 1968. Distinctive styling touches were the long creases on the front and rear fenders and the unique "ribbon" rear window. This year was to begin the "Coke Bottle" silhouette body style that would catapult the Plymouth line into the hearts of many. Front and rear side marker lights were added in 1968 as a new safety feature on all B-body Plymouths and Dodges. 1968 also saw the birth of another Plymouth, that would end up becoming one of the most popular cars Plymouth ever made... The Road Runner. The Road Runner has been described as the car that ‘took from everyone and gave nothing back. The body was pure Satellite, pillared and low optioned. Hardly the stuff GTX’s are made of. What came from the GTX was the hood, suspension items and engine components. The Road Runner was bred to race, and so it too became an extremely popular choice among all levels of racers. If any car could steal attention away from the Road Runner at the local burger drive-in, it was the 1968 GTX. The GTX had become a popular choice with amateur and professional drag racers because of its standard 375-hp 440 in 1967. It's impressive reputation as a winner in the quarter mile soon earned it the label "the boss." For 1968, the boss was back with handsome new sheet metal. It started with a performance hood that proudly advertised engine displacement in the center of the hood scoops. GTX medallions appeared in the center of the front grille, on the lower rear fenders just before the rear wheel well, and on the full width die-cast trim plate across the rear deck. If you were one of the 450 who ordered the optional Hemi engine, a small rectangular Hemi name plate would also be affixed to the rear deck lid. Performance of the 1968 class of cars were nothing short of impressive for their time. The GTX with the standard equipped 440 reached mid to low 14 seconds time slips, many troubles came way with traction as did most cars of that year. Car Life naturally found the Hemi-Powered GTX to be one of the fastest cars it ever tested. Even with an automatic transmission the Hemi GTX reached 0-60 in just about 6 seconds, and blazed the quarter mile in just under 14 seconds. While the 4 speed was able to hit mid 13's, and top out at an astounding 144 mph. The overall appearance of the 1968 GTX made it apparent that this was the top of the Belvedere line. Tasteful bright work accented the car inside and out. The interior was redesigned but retained the standard front bucket seats with center console. Door and instrument panels were trimmed with simulated walnut grain. While the interior could be ordered in eight different colors, it was obvious black, white were the most popular, with the occasional red or green. The rare combo's found today are the two-toned interiors, with gold and black the rarest of them all. The GTX was available as a the two-door hardtop and the convertible which received real glass in the rear window. Twin side-stripes, which could be ordered in four different colors adorned the lower half of the GTX and ran all the way up to the front wheel opening. When combined with the right color combo of stripe, option vinyl roof and interior, a person could walk away with one of the finest looking muscle cars ever made. Incorporating power and style with refinement and the inherently clean lines of the Belvedere, the 1968 GTX convertible was, and still is one of the finest statements of top-down, high performance driving to come from Plymouth... or anyone else for that matter. |
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