Car of the Month

Garry's 1970 GTX is unique as it is the second earliest built 1970 GTX known to exist. The earliest GTX is just a few numbers before Garry's VIN. Both of these GTXs were built at the Lynch Road plant for Canadian shipment, both were EB5 with a white vinyl top and white bucket seat interior. Both were stripe delete cars, and automatics with 22" radiators. Read more of what Garry has to say about his GTX below.

Garry writes: I purchased my 70 GTX from Vancouver Island, British Columbia about 8 years ago. It was basicly complete less motor and transmission, seems someone down the line had a better project for them to go into. Upon purchasing the car, I did a quick check on the first five digits to make sure it was a GTX, as I was in a rush to catch a returning ferry to the mainland. I put it in storage and began collecting parts for the next several years, until one day in January, a year ago, I decided to restore it.
 
I have a shop that I designed just for restoring Mopars, I haven't restored anything but Mopars for years now. My shop has 2 hoists, 2 paint booths, one area for dirty work, welding/ body work, the other area is a clean area for final paint and assembly. I have built 4 large shops for myself over the years and this design works the best, each bay being 1800 square feet in size with a 3rd bay for storage of up to 11 cars and parts with a cat walk around the outside walls.
 
Upon bringing the GTX into the dirty bay to tear it down, I was staring down at the serial number on the dash, thinking WOW is that a low serial number. Checking the fender tag I realized the car was built on the first day of production, Saturday, August 2nd of 1969. I never half do a car, I learned decades ago that a proper restoration must go to bare metal, so every nut, bolt, screw came off and I media blasted the complete car to bare metal. A few panels were replaced, but the car was never hit hard enough to notice anywhere, which most have been hit in their life time. Original fenders and doors were good, however the trunk lid was rusty on the lip and was replaced. The body was worked back to paint and then on to the power train. I had found an original in the crate Chrysler remanufactured 440 engine with warrenty papers and found a nice 727 and rebuilt it. The original 3:23 rear end was redone and the car came together fairly quick. The hardest item was the missing 22" radiator, which was eventually found in Michigan, with the original shroud. All the parts, hoses and wires were numbers and date coded to make a good looking show piece.
 
The weather here this spring was rainier than usual, so I was only able to get one short first drive in the GTX. So when Mopars at the Strip and Spring Fling in Van Nuys aproached, I decided to trailer the GTX down to show, drive and work the bugs out. Vegas is a good judged show if you go for the big judged part of the show, but you are tied to the car and show through the whole deal, but I wanted to drive my car and go when I wanted. Good thing it started to snow on Saturday, we drove to the parkade, out of the weather and returned when it was over. Now don't think that I don't get my cars wet. I have a 6 pack superbird that has been driven 33,000+miles through rain, snow and you name it, even salt. I have driven the car to Taladega and been on the track twice, the last trip we were on Speed Channel's Nascar Now. The next weekend I arrived in Van Nuys where we drove to Picture Cars. There they have all the movie cars and the following night we were at California Car Cover show, and to Spring Fling each show day. Galen Govier and I spent some time together discussing the early build of the GTX, the earier firewall still had the hole for the ground cable as built for a 69 body. Galen mentioned he had seen an early Charger with a '69 battery hole on the inner fender.  Another early body item is the back seat cross bracing, the early cars looked the same as a 69, the later body had a renforced bracket from the floor to the cross bracing, which helps if you have big power to stop body twist and cracking on the floor around the brackets.
 
Jay Leno showed up, I have seen Jay several times, he is always a pleasure, a real car guy. Of course Galen is much closer, and Sunday afternoon 9 lucky car guys got into Jay's garage for a personalized tour for 3 hours. Six of us got to ride with Jay in his White steam car. Many thanks to Jay and Galen. Apon returning to Spring Fling, I was rewarded with 1st place 68-70 Stock class, at a show as large with +600 cars, this is a real honor. When I returned home the following night it was our club meeting night. There several members commented about the buzz on the internet about a blue 1970 GTX from British Coumbia.
 
 I had a great time and the car is running better as it breaks in and summer is just around the corner. Now if this rain would go away I can drive more.

June 2011

 

 

 

Past Car's of the Month

 

Roger Wilson's 999 paint code GTX
Bryan Davis's EB7 6bbl 4 speed GTX
Barry Funk's FK5 automatic 4bbl GTX
Roy Garcia's triple black 1970 GTX
Blair Wightman's EB7 4 speed GTX
Darwin Leis's rare black 1970 GTX with white vinyl top
Brian Dougon's rare two-tone paint 6bbl GTX
Dave/Julie Stewart's EB5 w/white interior 4bbl GTX
Chip Haine's rare TX9 4bbl automatic with blue interior

Dave Grimmon's EF8 4bbl automatic with 1/2 million miles
Jim Chandler's FK5 4bbl automatic in the UK
Ron Knorr's EF8 with white interior 4bbl GTX
Dave Hechler's FE5 now 6bbl 4spd GTX
Dave Chisholm's modified TX9 GTX
John Borzych's FJ5 GTX race car

Rick Richard's EB5 6bbl 4 spd GTX

Don Collom's FT6 4 speed 440-4bbl GTX
Bob Thompson's GTX 440-4bbl automatic
Joe Petrungaro's FC7 automatic 440-4bbl GTX
Darren Phiipp's FE5 automatic GTX
Mark Sillar's EB7 A/C auto GTX
Norm VerHage's EB7 4 speed GTX
Chris Akin's FC7 automatic GTX
Steve Lester's FE5 automatic GTX
Ed Aprile's EB5 w/white vinyl top & side stripe 4 speed GTX
Ron Simonar's FC7 4bbl auto GTX
Fred Gilmore's Ivy Green GTX w/ Hemi engine
Brian Moceri's black 440-4bbl 4 spd GTX
Dave Kruszewski's TX9 GTX w/ white interior
Mats & Eva's FK5 6bbl. 4 spd GTX
Doug Dufour's EW1 4bbl GTX w/AC
Frank Forest's FK5 6bbl. 4 speed GTX

Chris Lobascio's EB5 automatic 440-6bbl. GTX
Mike Doddo's 440+6bbl. 4 speed GTX
Russ Carpenter's EB7 4bbl. 4 speed GTX
Ivan Kron's FE5 6bbl. 4 speed GTX
Nick Pieramico's FK5 6bbl. 4 speed GTX
Chuck Brunell's FJ5 GTX
Steve Coe's EK2 4 speed GTX
Dave Drozdowski's FJ5 GTX

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