When muscle car conversations start, Plymouth often gets overshadowed by Dodge and Chevrolet. People quickly bring up the Road Runner, the Barracuda, or the wild Superbird, but few stop to recognize the rest of Plymouth’s lineup. The brand produced a surprising number of powerful and stylish cars that lived up to the muscle ethos yet never achieved mainstream respect. These cars were quick, bold, and often just as capable as their more famous Mopar siblings, but for one reason or another they have been left behind in the collector spotlight. For enthusiasts today, that makes them both fascinating and attainable.
Plymouth GTX
The Plymouth GTX was introduced as a more refined alternative to the Road Runner and marketed as the “gentleman’s muscle car.” It combined luxury features with brute force, coming standard with a 440 cubic inch V8 and available with the legendary 426 HEMI. In period, a GTX could run the quarter mile in the low 14 second range with the 440 and dip into the 13s with the HEMI. Despite this, it never gained the wild popularity of the cheaper and more youth oriented Road Runner. Collectors today often overlook the GTX, which keeps values lower than comparable Dodges. Clean examples in North America can still be found in the $40,000 to $60,000 range, a bargain when you consider how rare and powerful they are compared to their more famous counterparts.
Plymouth Sport Fury GT
The Sport Fury GT was a full sized muscle cruiser, something Plymouth rarely gets credit for. Introduced in the early 1970s, it could be optioned with a 440 Six Barrel setup producing 390 horsepower, making it one of the heaviest hitting cars in its class. Despite its size, it could run a mid 14 second quarter mile, which was impressive for a car that could carry five adults in comfort. Its highway presence was undeniable, but the car was overshadowed by smaller Plymouth muscle cars and Dodge rivals. Today, the Sport Fury GT sits largely forgotten, and prices remain surprisingly reasonable, often below $30,000 for solid examples, making it one of the best value Mopars of its era.
Plymouth Duster 340
The Duster 340 was a lightweight compact that delivered serious punch. Weighing significantly less than most muscle cars, it didn’t need big block power to be quick. The 340 small block was underrated at 275 horsepower but could launch the Duster through the quarter mile in about 14.7 seconds, right alongside bigger and more expensive cars. Because it was marketed as an affordable performance option, it never carried the prestige of a Road Runner or Barracuda. Today, though, the Duster 340 is seen as a sleeper, and prices remain accessible, with clean drivers in the $20,000 to $35,000 range in the U.S. and Canada. It is a perfect example of muscle car performance that doesn’t break the bank.
Plymouth Road Runner Superbird 440
When people talk about the Superbird, they almost always focus on the HEMI version, which is incredibly rare and valuable. But the majority of Superbirds were built with the 440 cubic inch engine, either in four barrel or Six Barrel form. These cars produced 375 to 390 horsepower and were more street friendly than the HEMI versions. Performance was still thrilling, with quarter mile times in the mid 14s, yet they’ve long been overshadowed by the HEMI’s legend. Collectors tend to chase the rare HEMIs, which leaves the 440 Superbirds relatively underappreciated. While prices have been rising, the 440 Superbird remains a more attainable way to own one of the most iconic aero warriors of the muscle era.
Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus
The Satellite Sebring Plus was a stylish personal luxury coupe that shared much with the Road Runner and GTX but never got their fame. Buyers could option big block engines, including the 400 and 440 cubic inch V8s, giving it plenty of muscle to back up its looks. It was comfortable, handsome, and more refined than some of Plymouth’s harder edged offerings. Yet it slipped under the radar because it was marketed more as a luxury car than a bare knuckle muscle machine. Today, Satellites remain among the least expensive Mopars to buy, with many clean examples trading hands for under $20,000, making them hidden gems for enthusiasts.
Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
Before the E body ’Cudas became icons in 1970 and 1971, Plymouth had been building the Barracuda since 1964. The Formula S package offered in the late 60s added performance suspension, upgraded brakes, and the potent Commando 273 V8. Later versions included 340 and 383 engines, making them serious performers. These cars offered sharp handling and strong acceleration long before the Barracuda became a muscle car superstar. Because they predated the more glamorous HEMI and 440 ’Cudas, they remain undervalued today. Drivers in the know can still find them in the $25,000 to $40,000 range, a relative bargain for an early slice of Mopar history.
Plymouth Belvedere GTX HEMI
The Belvedere GTX with the 426 HEMI was one of the fastest cars of its time, capable of quarter mile runs in the low 13 second range right off the showroom floor. Despite that, it is often overshadowed by Dodge models like the Charger and Coronet that shared the same powerplant. Plymouth marketed the Belvedere GTX as a more upscale offering, but it lacked the flamboyance of the Road Runner and was seen as too mature for younger buyers. As a result, it has never been as collectible as Dodge’s equivalent cars. In today’s market, a Belvedere GTX HEMI can still be found for less than a similarly specced Dodge, making it an underappreciated way to own one of the most legendary muscle engines ever built.
Plymouth Scamp 340
The Scamp was Plymouth’s compact coupe, and in 340 form it became a hidden performance bargain. The lightweight body paired with the high winding small block gave it plenty of punch, making it surprisingly quick in street races and on the strip. Like the Duster, it was marketed as a budget performance car, which means it never earned much collector respect. Today, however, the Scamp 340 stands out as one of the most affordable ways into Mopar muscle. Drivers in North America can still pick up examples under $20,000, with better cars hovering around $30,000, making it a sleeper classic that deserves far more recognition.
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