When people talk about the golden age of muscle cars, the spotlight almost always falls on Dodge Chargers, Pontiac GTOs, or Chevrolet Chevelles. Plymouth, however, was right there in the mix, turning out some of the most memorable machines of the era. While names like the Hemi Barracuda and the cartoonish Road Runner get their share of recognition, a wide range of Plymouth models have slipped into the background despite offering equal parts muscle and charisma. Many of these cars were built in respectable numbers but never commanded the same respect in collector circles. Others were overshadowed by Dodge siblings or Chevrolet rivals. Today, they remain some of the best opportunities for enthusiasts who want Mopar muscle without six figure auction prices.
Plymouth GTX
The Plymouth GTX was marketed as the gentleman’s muscle car, offering luxury touches alongside serious performance. Buyers could order it with a 440 Super Commando or even the mighty 426 Hemi, and it combined straight line speed with comfort features that few competitors matched. Despite this balance of refinement and muscle, the GTX has always lived in the shadow of the louder, cheaper Road Runner. In today’s collector market, GTX models with big block engines can often be found for less than a comparable Dodge Charger or Chevelle SS, with prices ranging from the high thirties into the sixties for strong driver quality examples in the United States and slightly higher in Canada. That relative bargain makes it one of the most underappreciated Mopars on the market.
Plymouth Sport Fury GT
The Sport Fury GT was Plymouth’s attempt to inject muscle into a full size car, and it did so with a 440 cubic inch V8 and imposing styling. Unlike the Barracuda or Road Runner, it was positioned more as a luxury muscle coupe, which meant it attracted a different type of buyer. Because of this, collectors today often skip over it in favor of smaller and more famous Plymouths. Yet the Sport Fury GT delivers all the presence of a large scale American coupe with genuine muscle under the hood. Prices remain surprisingly affordable, with good examples often selling in the twenty five to thirty five thousand dollar range. In Canada, they are even rarer, which has kept values slightly higher. For anyone seeking a unique piece of Mopar history, the Sport Fury GT is overlooked gold.
Plymouth Duster 340
The Duster was introduced as a compact budget car, but the 340 variant turned it into a legitimate street fighter. With light weight, nimble handling, and Chrysler’s high revving 340 cubic inch small block, it embarrassed many larger and heavier competitors. At the time, buyers often overlooked the Duster because it lacked the glamour of a Hemi badge, but in reality it was one of the best balanced muscle cars Plymouth ever made. Today, Duster 340s are still undervalued compared to equivalent Camaros or Novas. Strong cars can be found in the twenty to thirty thousand dollar range, while top tier restorations occasionally push into the forties. For what you get, they remain one of the best bargains in Mopar muscle.
Plymouth Road Runner 383
The Road Runner is considered an icon, but most of the fame goes to the 440 Six Pack and Hemi versions. The 383 powered cars were the real bread and butter of the lineup and delivered plenty of performance at a fraction of the price. They perfectly captured Plymouth’s original vision for the Road Runner: a fun, affordable muscle car that could run 14 second quarter miles right off the showroom floor. Yet because collectors chase the bigger engines, the 383 models remain underappreciated and relatively affordable. Prices typically sit between thirty and forty thousand dollars in the United States for well restored cars, with Canadian prices a bit higher due to rarity. For enthusiasts who want a true Road Runner experience without Hemi level money, the 383 is the sweet spot.
Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus
The Satellite Sebring Plus is often forgotten because it arrived during the early 1970s when insurance premiums and emissions regulations were beginning to squeeze the muscle car market. Yet beneath its clean styling, it could be optioned with Chrysler’s big 400 and 440 engines, giving it real muscle. Because it never had the name recognition of the Road Runner or Barracuda, values remain modest. Enthusiasts in the United States can still find good examples in the mid to high twenties, while Canadian buyers pay slightly more due to scarcity. For collectors willing to look past the more famous names, the Satellite Sebring Plus is a hidden gem from Plymouth’s lineup.
Plymouth Belvedere GTX Hemi
The Belvedere GTX fitted with a Hemi engine was a true wolf in sheep’s clothing. Its conservative styling made it look like a family car, yet under the hood lurked the 426 Hemi capable of humiliating just about anything on the street. Because the Belvedere name was not associated with muscle in the same way as Road Runner or Charger, these cars were often overlooked even by Mopar fans. Today, surviving Hemi Belvederes are very rare, and while prices have risen in recent years, they remain underappreciated compared to flashier cars with the same engine. Auction prices in the United States often land between ninety thousand and one hundred fifty thousand dollars, which is still less than what a comparable Dodge Hemi car can bring. In Canada, they rarely come to market, making them an unusual prize when they do appear.
Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
The Formula S versions of the Barracuda from the late 1960s are overshadowed by the big block monsters of 1970 and 1971, yet they deserve far more respect. With small block V8s like the 273 and 340, upgraded suspension, and lighter weight, they were balanced driver’s cars rather than brute force machines. Collectors chasing top dollar Hemi or 440 Six Pack cars tend to dismiss the Formula S, but that keeps values reasonable. Driver quality examples can be found for under forty thousand in the United States, while better cars push into the fifties. In Canada, where early Barracudas are harder to find, prices tend to run slightly higher. For enthusiasts who prefer finesse over raw power, the Formula S is a rewarding and overlooked classic.
Plymouth Superbird 440
The Superbird is famous for its wild aerodynamics and NASCAR heritage, but nearly all the attention goes to the few built with Hemi engines. The reality is that most Superbirds left the factory with the 440 V8, either in four barrel or Six Pack form. These cars were every bit as wild to look at and still brutally quick, but because they lacked the Hemi badge, collectors have long undervalued them. Today, a clean 440 Superbird often sells for less than half the price of a Hemi car, with values in the one hundred fifty to two hundred thousand dollar range compared to Hemis that can bring well over half a million. For the enthusiast who wants the experience of driving one of the most outrageous muscle cars of all time, the 440 is the affordable way in.
Plymouth Road Runner in the Shadow of Dodge Super Bee
During the early 1970s, Plymouth’s Road Runner and Dodge’s Super Bee shared so much DNA that they were nearly twins. The Dodge cars often received more marketing attention, leaving the Plymouths overshadowed despite offering the same powertrains and performance. Today, Super Bees usually command higher prices at auction, while Road Runners from the same years are relatively undervalued. In the United States, a clean early seventies Road Runner can often be found in the mid thirties to low forties, which is thousands less than an equivalent Dodge. Canadian collectors also view them as a bargain compared to Dodge models, keeping Road Runners firmly in the underappreciated category.
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