Author Topic: My GTX Was Born To Early To Be A Member Of The Rapid Transit System! (Read 3044 times)

bill440cars · « **on:** February 18, 2010, 07:55:07 PM »

That became the thing in 1970 (my '69 GTX missed out on that by a year)! $:-\$

http://www.stockmopar.com/brochures/1970-plymouth-rapid-transit-system-brochure.html

mark · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2010, 08:00:38 PM »

my '66 Barracuda missed by four years.

bill440cars · « **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2010, 08:09:24 PM »

Quote from: mark on February 18, 2010, 08:00:38 PM

my '66 Barracuda missed by four years.

I hear ya, so did my '66 Charger!

But think of what was painted on a certain '65 Coronet Drag Car

COLOR ME GONE!!!!!!!

6pkrunner · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2010, 04:16:14 AM »

A couple of Mr. Lindamood's ventures over the years....

Plymouth was completely blown away by the success of Dodge's Scat Pack that started early 1968. It was a complete package from cars, speed equipment, supercar clinics held by the likes of Dick Landy, and even clothing. Mr. Norm had already figure this marketing strategy out and really Dodge just cloned it and gave it a name. Plymouth tried "Motion by Plymouth" in 1967 but it never caught on - much like "Six Barrel" never had the same ring as "Six Pack". "Motion" ran from 1967 to mid/late 1969.
Plymouth held their own Supercar clinics but used Plymouth racers such as Sox and Martin and Akron Arlen Vanke.

It took until 1970 for Plymouth to get a catchy name for its program. But again "Rapid Transit System" didn't quite resound like "Scat Pack". Like the muscle car era itself the RTS ran like gangbusters. And they made cars for everyone - how about a 440 6 barrel Fury GT? There were supposedly 6 made and I know of 2 documented versions. The oil shortages and insurance industry clamped down on things late 1971/early 1972.The whole thing crashed and burned by 1972 but for the time they offered some dynamic advertising.

And by 1973 it was back to just the cars themselves. The RTS and all things hi-performance were pretty much taboo. The cars were detuned shadows of their former selves. And going from brake HP to SAE net horsepower for ratings made things look much worse. But the dagstrip tells no lies and the cars were one to two or more seconds slower than the glory days.

bill440cars · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2010, 04:54:22 AM »

Leave it to 6pkrunner to post up through Mopar Stuff!

I haven't seen those posters or ads for years! Yeah, Dodge had the better Campains earlier that Plymouth.

For many years though, Plymouth was considered the "grocery getter" of the lineup!

I'll tell you ONE THING though, I can get groceries home PRETTY DARN FAST in the ol' GTX!

6pkrunner · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2010, 06:41:43 AM »

Dodge always had the "sporty" image, Chrysler the luxury and poor old Plymouth had the utilitarian grocery getter status. Even during the Max Wedge days the name Dodge was used whether the winner was one of the Brothers rigs or a Mayflower offering. Well until 1970 and 1971. The E body 'cuda has become the epitome of Mopar performance in collectors eyes. While most of the public will mention Charger as the best known Mopar, when the dollars change hands its the E body 'cudas that grab the big coins. One inch shorter wheelbase - therefore lighter, best advertising during the day and the tables had turned. Challenger was offered to compete with Thunderbird and Cougar as a sport luxury rig, but 'cuda was pure business. I always preferred the 1970 Challenger's looks the best of all, but 'cuda was as pure performance and was offered - and marketed as such. Vanishing Point and such notwithstanding.

bill440cars · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2010, 06:49:25 AM »

So true Mike, and for several years I thought the Challenger was just a Cuda with different grille, trim etc. But there was more than that.
Funny how, all those years, Dodge was "OUT THERE" and then the Cuda Popped up to get the attention. But then, if you think about it, the road runner seemed to be more recognized than it's Dodge counterpart, the Super Bee. I remember when the Charger was introduced and there sure was a big Play up done on that one in '66 and again in '68 as well.