It ’s awing what unfaltering cultivating can do . In 1962 , Plymouth ’s crop of downsized " received " auto was like unwanted surplus . Yet with a few interim changes , their posterity of six age – the 1968 - 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite and GTX – later deal more than a poop - million written matter .
more and more nicer styling assist , but a more important factor was the 1965 paying back of a true full - size Plymouth , the 119 - in - wheelbaseFury . This take into account the existing 116 - inch models ( wagon : 117 ) to compete exclusively in the mid - size field , which they successfully did as workaday Belvedere I and II models and a bucketful - seat brace called Satellite .
For 1966 , Plymouth perch every street racer ’s flame by making the far-famed 426 - cid Hemi V-8 a regular output option for its mid - size motorcar , thus increase their dominance of the commonwealth ’s stern - mile action .
The undermentioned year , this iron fist was wrap in a velvet mitt squall Belvedere GTX , a riotous pail - and - console table convertible and hardtop coupe packing a standard 375 - horsepower wedgehead 440 . All that remained was to fix styling that was depend literally and figuratively square against the latest from GM and Ford .
Chrysler did just that for 1968 with a amply redesigned B - body for Belvedere/ Satellite / GTX and Dodge ’s Coronet / Charger . Plymouth greatly expanded offering into what it forebode " The Mid - Size 5 . "
A divest Belvedere pillared coupe , four - door saloon , and wagon started things off , then repeated with a two - threshold hardtop and convertible as a " folk " Satellite series ( supercede Belvedere II ) .
Next up were a new Sport Satellite sofa bed , hardtop coupe , and four - room access wagon with still - better trim , though not inevitably the best performance . That was reserved for the potent GTX duet and a fresh no - furbelow muscle coupe , the fancifully discover Road Runner , which is a fib in itself .
All 1968 Plymouth intermediates wore smooth , more rounded styling with modestly humpbacked rearward fender , mere grilles , subtle bodyside furrow , more radically tucked rocker , and broad rearward deck with wedgy taillamps .
Unfortunately , even this slicker B - body proved to be less flowing than the new radical - smooth 1968 Ford Torino / Mercury Cyclone fastbacks , which run quicker around stock - car supertracks and into the Winner ’s Circle more often . But MoPar still ruled the retarding force , with the likes of Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin adding to Chrysler ’s vast collection of Super Stock trophy .
regain engine detail and more on the 1968 - 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite and GTX on the next page .
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Continued
The 1968 - 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite and GTX spanned a wide locomotive engine card : everything in the Chrysler cupboard from 225 Slant Six to the amazing Street Hemi – still tongue-in-cheek denounce at 425 horse – and the GTX ’s standard 375 - H.P. " Super Commando " 440 .
Sport Satellites start with a balmy 230 - horsepower 318 and finish with optional 383 V-8s packing 300 or 330 horsepower . All rode a typical Chrysler physique with acclaimed torsion - legal community front dangling and uncommitted business leader front - disc brakes .
Most 1968 " Bs " transport extra - price TorqueFlite reflex in lieu of manual three - pep pill , but GTXs include TorqueFlite and offered four - on - the - floor as a no - monetary value option .
As before , GTXs also included strong suspension and cloggy - duty rearward axle with " Sure - Grip " limited - slip first derivative . Identifying the 1968s exterior were special dismantle , bold GTX nameplates , and a " performance " bonnet with matching outward - facing dummy air aspiration ( shared with Road Runner ) . feature inside were front buckets , cabinet , and pseudo - Sir Henry Wood trim .
Though Plymouth still lagged far behind Chevy and Ford in sales event , its 1968 total of nigh 750,000 was a gratifying addition of some 111,000 over 1967 . importantly , intermediate accounted for about a third . Satellite was the volume loss leader by far , but non - wagon Sport Satellites managed around 22,500 and the two GTXs close to 19,000 .
Predictably , the 1969s changed primarily in trimness and appearance details , but speeding freaks delighted in a monster 440 with three two - barrel carburetors . It was knight , naturally enough , " 440 6 - barrel . "
Allegedly making 390 H.P. ( and in all probability far more ) , it was a new option for the Road Runner , as was a functional " Air Grabber " hood and five special Performance Axle Packages . But the GTX buzz off only the last ; sorry , its essence console now cost extra .
Though performance remained formidable - under 6.5 seconds 0 - 60 with the Hemi and automatic , a half - second more with the 440 - the GTX was being squeeze out of the spotlight by the cheaper " Beep Beep " cable car . sale accordingly withered to 15,000 , while Road Runner soared beyond 84,000 . Sport Satellite improved , too , a new four - threshold sedan boosting 1969 bulk to near 29,000 .
The once - inspiring GTX would disappear two old age later , while Sport Satellite , not all that special anyway , would simply be miss in a crowd of faceless family intermediates . Sad to say , Plymouth allow its carefully cultivated garden of the sixties become a weed patch in the seventies . You know the respite .
Go to our net section for 1968 - 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite and GTX specification .
1968-1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite and GTX Specifications
The 1968 - 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite and GTX offered both power and styling in a mid - size model . Find specifications for the 1968 - 1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite and GTX below .
Specifications
Engines : all ohv V-8 ; Satellite : 318 cid ( 3.91 x 3.31 ) , 230 H.P. ; 383 cid ( 4.25 x 3.38 ) , 290/330 H.P. ; GTX : 440 cid ( 4.32 x 3.75 ) , 375 H.P. ; 426 cid ( 4.25 x 3.75 ) , 425 horsepower
Transmissions:3/4 - speed manual , 3 - upper TorqueFlite automatic
dangling front : upper and grim A - blazon , longitudinal torsion bars ( anti - roll bar on GTX )
pause ass : live axle on semi - ovate folio outflow
Brakes : front / rear drums ; optional front discs
Wheelbase ( in.):116.0
Weight ( lbs):3,155 - 3,685
Top velocity ( mph):105 - 140 +
0 - 60 miles per hour ( sec):6.3 - 10.5
