1971 Plymouth GTX

The 1971 Plymouth GTX arrived as the curtain fell on the golden age of American muscle, yet it went down swinging: buyers could still order the fire-breathing 426 Hemi or the triple-carbureted 440 Six Pack, making it one of the most potent B-body Mopars ever to leave the factory floor.

Introduced as a premium performance variant of the Belvedere in 1967, the GTX distinguished itself from its Road Runner stablemate with a higher trim level and a standard 440 Super Commando engine. By 1971 the formula had matured into its final, definitive form — a long-hood, short-deck B-body hardtop that combined luxury appointments with genuine race-bred muscle.

Three engines graced the 1971 GTX order sheet. The standard 440 produced 370 gross horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque through a single four-barrel carburetor. Step up to the 440 Six Pack — three Holley two-barrels on an Edelbrock manifold — and output climbed to 385 hp and 490 lb-ft. At the top of the hierarchy sat the legendary 426 Hemi, hand-assembled with dual Carter AFB carburetors, producing 425 gross horsepower. Only 30 customers paid the premium for Hemi power in 1971, making those cars among the most collectible Mopars in existence.

Total 1971 GTX production fell to just 2,942 units as insurance costs and fuel-economy concerns squeezed the muscle-car market. After 1971 the GTX nameplate was folded into the Road Runner line rather than continuing as a standalone model, marking the true end of an era for Plymouth's gentleman's muscle car. Today, a Hemi GTX — especially in a vibrant color like Curious Yellow or Tor-Red — ranks among the most sought-after American collector cars of the entire muscle-car era.