Behind every car and especially a classic car there is sometimes an amazing heart felt story. Those stories and the associations with the owners, families, and friends carry on for a long time and hopefully forever. From good times and tragic events these cars sometimes experience it all with us. When this relates to a classic car it gets attached to a particular make, brand and model. The one in particular of course is a 1969 Plymouth GTX.....
Here is the story on my 1969 Plymouth GTX!
Back in 1967 my father, Mel, whom was stationed at Scott Air Force base also moonlighted at the St Louis Chrysler plant. During his off time he drag raced at the local track with a 64 Sport fury and a 65 Belvedere. This all changed when he had his first encounter with a 67 GTX at the plant. It was Love at first sight. Minutes later he ordered a 67 GTX 440 4spd red with black interior and he had the privilege to walk the car through the line and handpick parts.
It did not take my pops long and this car was beating up the streets and the strip. His good friend was a member of the Golden Commandos with a max wedge monster and had an idea. So one day in 1968 over at his garage and a few brews they decided to put the "Rat Roaster" intake on the GTX. My Dad said when that puppy landed the car squatted about a 1/2 inch..lol... Between the 915 heads and the crossram the GTX was something to be reckoned with. The X spanked a street rival so much the guy showed up with the race version 68 Hemi cuda. Yes, race only but back then no one cared. The cuda saw Gtx's taillights all the way...the guy finally beat my dad once with the cuda.....After that win a week later that guy showed up in a yellow 67 GTX, no kidding.....
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So we are going to jump a lot of years due to the fact that family became more important than racing but the love for the GTX never dissipated. In the early 80's me and my brother were at the age of cars, partying, and ladies. While scrolling through our family album I located some of these pics above. Man, I love every inch of the X so I asked pops whats up with this car? The story above came out of him so freely and naturally and the glee in his eye was priceless. Pops then schooled me on Mopars and the next thing I knew, out back a 30 x 50 shop showed up. He said save your money buy any Mopar you fall in Love with and I will provide the shop, tools, and whatever you need to fix one up. Dad said we will do this together and I will give you all my knowledge and guidance along the way. These are things his father taught him and these are things I want to teach you.
Man I saved every penny, worked after school, weekends. During that time we went to shows, swap meets, collections, you name it we explored that. Saw a ton of cars, people, owners and hundreds of stories. During that time, I fell in love with the 69 Charger and eventually found my 69 Charger....He guided me through the whole restoration from start to finish. The only things we did not do was the plating and machine shop work. While this was going on we eventually ran into someone by the name of Billy Peedins in Micro, NC. He was a well known IHRA drag racing champion and had a mammoth of a Mopar playground. We went down to his place many times and we all became good friends. One day when we went there as we were driving up. My dad said, "look!" Look at what Billy has....It was a black 69 Plymouth GTX, it was love at first sight again. I know, it was not the 67 but that big GTX badge called my dads name.
Next thing I know he walked out with the keys and took it for a test run on a small two lane country road. Dad nailed it, raced shifted it and pulled in to Peedins garage and said Billy, consider this sold! Prior to this he was searching for a 67 GTX. So I asked him, "What about the 67?" Pops with his smirk said, "What about it?" Didn't I tell you to find the Mopar model you Love? Well, I love this one too......This was in 1993.....
Years go by with many car shows, restorations and wonderful Father/son memories occur. Then sometimes life throws a curve ball and unfortunately leads to a tragic end. For over ten years my Dad dealt with Rheumatoid arthritis known as a crippling disease. It is an Autoimmune disease with no cure and strong meds to maintain some peace. My last memory of my pops in the GTX was in 2008. We were leaving a show and I was behind him in my 72 340 4spd sublime Duster. Next thing I knew the light changed and he was gone, Dusted the Duster....I see my Mom having some words as he was getting it but that was no matter. His crippled right hand, had no problem banging those gears! His crippled left ankle had no problem banging the clutch that day! The car pulled in the shop in it's "Declared" spot and never moved since.......
A few months went by and he had severe right sided flank pain. Dad went to the hospital where I was working at and they found that his kidney was the size of a football. They immediately removed the kidney and biopsied the tumor. Our worst fears landed when the results came in and it was renal cell carcinoma. All his treatments and care was guided by Johns Hopkins. Eventually, the cancer(virus) found its way around those treatments. I was in Texas at that time in 2011. He was feeling ill but he went out with the hunt club(they used dogs to run the deer) but he loved, loved hunting....Freezing his butt off and vomiting, he jumped in the truck and drove himself to the hospital. No question, I came home during this time and in less then 30 days January 7, 2012...We lost him, It was total devastation of all of us...like the flick of a light switch....
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The aftermath of this still affects me to the current day. The stress of the loss caused me to have a serious medical problem. Depression set in, gained some weight and the stress of the loss led to several mini strokes. Previously, I was a very fit and athletic guy. Through time and self treatment(yes, self) I got back to my old self but at times I slur some of my words/mumble.
Not a day goes by that I do not think of him or miss him. In the new world I will be with him again....I was privileged to have such a loving father, friend, and teacher....Hey, two sons, two sons college educated, and each married once!
Out of the blue abou two years later. I get a call from Mom and she came out and said, "I want you to come and get the GTX." Your father wanted it to be that way and knew only you could maintain it and maybe restore it! I offered to buy it and that got shut down fast and was told to come get. I did just that! Keep in mind my Dad Loved this car so having this in the garage was bittersweet. Times I would just sit in the garage and stare at it and think of all the memories. None of my other cars were important to me anymore, they became obsolete. The X was like a disease but in a very good way. Eventually, I made the decision to do a full restoration......So word to the wise when it came to this build money was no object, it was an obsession for perfection and I can care less what a GTX is worth.....It is not just a car I am rebuilding here, it is a great story about an Honorable Patriot, Husband, Father and his 69 Plymouth GTX he adored.....
So without further ado...here is my Fathers GTX and the restoration....
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