Citron Mist Metallic 440-6bbl automatic 1970 GTX
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The car was an early production Sales Bank car and
was originally sold at Mark Motors in Arlington Heights, IL. The base GTX
sold for $3535.00 in 1970 and this car included the A01 light group
($29.60), A32 Super Performance Axle ($221.40), C21 Center Seat Cushion with
folding Arm Rest ($54.45), D32 Torqueflite transmission (No Cost), E87 440
Six Barrel Engine ($249.55), G33 Left Side Remote Mirror ($10.45), J45 Hood
Tie Down Pins ($15.40), M05 Door Edge Protectors ($4.65), N85 Tachometer
($68.45), N96 Air Grabber ($65.55), R11 Music Master AM Radio ($61.55), S77
Power Steering ($105.20), V1X Black Vinyl Roof ($95.70), V21 Performance
Hood Paint ($18.05), V6X Black Sports Stripes (No Charge), W21 Rallye Road
Wheels ($43.10) and U84 Goodyear F60x15 Raised White Letter tires ($63.25).
These options plus the destination charges brought the grand total up to
$4695.35. That would be $36,981.96 in 2024 dollars which seems like a deal
when considered against the cars of today. Generally any options which are less than ten percent
of the total production would be considered rare options. In this case, the
440 six barrel engine accounted for 9.5% of the GTX production engines
installed, the F60x15 Goodyear Polyglass tires were 8.8%, the FY4 Citron
Mist Metallic paint was 4.0%, the P6XY Gold and Black Bucket Seats were 3.8%
and the combination of the 440 six barrel engine with the 4.10:1 Super
Performance Axle accounted for just 1.5% of the total 1970 GTX production.
This GTX has had four documented owners since it was built in September of
1969.
It was first sold on July 27th, 1971 twenty-two months after it was first scheduled to be built.
The dealership that sold the car was Mark Motors located at 2020 E.
Northwest Highway in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
The first owner of this GTX did not own the car for long. It
was traded back into Mark Motors and resold as a used car on September 28th, 1971 for $2625.00 (including tax), just two months after
the original sale. Why did the first owner trade this GTX in after so short
a time? Was his number called for the draft? Could he not afford the
payments on the $4695.35 list price plus the insurance costs? Sam Baker, the
Mark Motors salesman who sold the car to the second owner was reported to
have told the second owner that it was “too much car” for him
One thing is certain; he did not received much on his trade
as the car was sold to the second owner on September 28th, 1971
through Mark Motors for $2500.00.
The following facts were provided by the daughters of the 2nd
Owner!
The second owner was a real car guy and cherished this car.
He was also a family man with four daughters and was married for 55 years
before passing away in 2015. His fourth daughter recalls interviewing him
for a third grade project. In this interview, she asked him “If you could
choose a dream career, what career would it be?” His response was he would
be a race car driver. While owned by the second owner, the car was used
primarily as a second car for the family. It was mostly driven by his wife
around town in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. This owner’s commute was longer
than the errands his wife needed to perform around home. The gas mileage was
poor with the 4.10:1 geared Dana 60 in the car so this became the wife's
daily commuter car. His third daughter used the car to take her driver’s
test at age 16 and failed. A spur of the moment decision to take her to be
tested, and the suggestion she use the GTX, placed her in an unfamiliar car
that she was not accustomed to driving.
This owner was also known to take the car out to Illinois
Route 53 late at night and bring the car to a full stop when there was no
traffic and then let it rip. Ultimately, in 1978, he decided that his family
obligations were more important than indulging in his car passion and the
GTX was sold for $800.00 in the spring.
This third owner also had a short
history with the car. He was a car buff as well and had several Chevelle's
and another GTX. At the time, he lived in an apartment complex and his cars
were parked in the open parking lot. He ultimately needed to make a job
related move to Phoenix, Arizona and couldn’t afford to move all his cars.
In the fall of 1978, the car was once again placed for sale in the local
Auto Trader,
except, the advertised
price was now $1500. This is where the fourth and current owner found the
GTX.
The car was purchased for $1400.00 on September 19, 1978 by
the current owner as his first car at age 16. At the time of purchase in
1978, the car had traveled just over 28,000 miles in eight years and was
remarkably intact and original. The car was used as a daily driver for
several years and after putting another 10,000 miles on the GTX, this
expensive to drive car, was put aside for more practical transportation.
Some of those 10,000 miles were clocked up at Broadway Bob’s Great Lakes
Dragaway in Union Grove Wisconsin, which has been in continuous operation
since 1955 as a purpose built racetrack.
This GTX has been a source of many great and long lasting
friendships and has brought cherished memories for the owner over the years.
After being long dormant, the car was treated to a full restoration to its
factory correct configuration by noted restorer, Roger Gibson, in Scott
City, Missouri.
The car retains its original drivetrain and as many original
parts as could be used during the restoration. At the time of the
restoration, the car retained its original sheet metal, original paint
including the hood stripes, complete original interior, original wheels,
trim rings and center caps as well as the original glass and many more
components that were restored rather than replaced. This commitment to using
the original parts or correct NOS parts resulted in a truly numbers matching
car throughout.
The results of Roger Gibson’s work were on display at the
2022 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in Rosemount, IL. The car was judged
and received a Concours Gold Award Certificate in the 1968 to 1970 B Body
category. The second and third daughters of the second owner were present at
the show to see their father’s GTX once again. As it turned out, it was
fifty years to the day since the third daughter failed her driver’s test in
this car. She was thrilled to be sitting behind the wheel once again and
recall her father’s passion for this car. The owner of this GTX did not want his name used due to work issues however his wife made a website to document the history and restoration of the GTX. Click on the link below for this website. https://sites.google.com/view/1970gtx/home
June 2024 Past Car's of the Month |
Ronnie Campbell Tor-Red automatic
1970 GTX
Dave Clark's EF8 automatic 1970 GTX
Eric Andersen’s EB5 4 speed 1970 GTX
Darcy's lime light 4 speed 6 barrel GTX
Ed's EF8 painted blue GTX
Bruce Morrow's burnt orange metallic (FK5) 440 automatic
Glen Raines' lemon twist 440 automatic.
George Moses's EB5 4-speed GTX with white and blue interior
Donnie Douglas' black
4-speed GTX with burnt orange interior
Scott and Maria Marlow's two 1970 GTX's
Blake A. Bohincs's FT6 6bbl 4-speed
Soren Maatsson's black automatic 440-4bbl drag car
Dan Streeter's EB5 4 speed 440-6bbl with blue interior
David Lee's "Vitamin C" automatic GTX
Bill Lineham's TX9 GTX with rare FK4 interior
Tim Adams' EV2 torred 1970 GTX
Rusty Easterling's EW1 automatic
Garry Keay's Blue 1970 GTX
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