My '70 GTX build thread

[tldltd]

Hello all
I am starting a build thread to document and share the process. It won't be a quick or high dollar build but if people care to follow along...here she goes.

First the cars history. The GTX is sandpebble beige, with burnt orange bench seat interior and column shifted automatic which I've been told is fairly uncommon for a '70 GTX. It was purchased new by my dad in September 1970. Here is a picture the day he bought it:

Dad drove the car hard. He drove it from Sept 1970 to August 1974 and racked up over 90,000 miles. It was parked in 1974 due to a blown tranny (the third trans he trashed in the 4yrs he drove it). The engine seized shortly after and the car sat untouched until 2000 when I acquired a rebuilt 1970 440ci and tranny and we decided to get her going. I do still have the original engine and trans. Dad gave me the car on one condition - that I drive the hell out of it like it was made for. That being said I want to address some issues to make it safe and freshened it up.

That's it for now will add more details and some current pics soon when I have some time.

 

[tldltd]

Here is a more recent pic of the car...

 

[69 GTX]

Looks pretty solid. Looking forward to this. Seems like a scarce color combo.....

 

[super-bee_ski]

Fantastic story!
Congratulations to you for owning the car your Dad bought brand new!
Nice car.

 

[plymouthman72]

That is too flippin cool man! I love when there is history behind a car. How many of us know people that say, I sure regret selling my old Mopar or I used to have one just like it. Not only do you have one heck of a cool Mopar (I really like that color combo) but it was your dad's too! Like you, mine will be slow but steady. I am subscribed!

 

[tldltd]

Thank you for the kind words. I think the color combo probably wasnt too popular back in the day. My dad said that it sat at the dealer a long time before he bought it. He was actually dealing on a used yellow 340 4spd '69 Dart Swinger and the dealer wouldn't take his trade in for it unless he bought a new car - the dealer steered him towards the GTX. That being said the GTX was not cheap..I have the original bill of sale and it was $5181.00.

For some reason I can no longer post pics from my phone - will post more pics once I figure it out.

 

[kiwigtx]

That is a very cool story and a sweet looking GTX....thanks for sharing and for joining us here at FBBO.

 

[440+6]

Cool car and story, what an odd color combination, love it!
I'll be following along.

 

[tldltd]

Ok so this may seem a little *** backwards but I started with recovering the seats. A few reasons, mainly because I had bought the covers 6 yrs ago and I couldn't stand to just store them in a cardboard box. Also It allows me to store the recovered seats in the house out of the way while I work on the rest of the car - I couldn't (or wasn't allowed to ) store the old smelly seats in the house as they were.

I used Legandary covers and did the work myself. Overall I am happy with the covers, the installer well....

There is a flaw in the rear seat back but but since they were purchased 6yrs ago and I didn't notice it then I will live with it. Here is the back seat. I am working on the front seat next.

 

[tldltd]

Since pics are working for me today here are two photo's I cherish. First one is my dad and the truck he traded for the GTX and second is him with the GTX. Amazingly the dealer took pictures of every car they sold with the buyer standing beside it. In around 1998, I tracked down the salesman (he was in his 80's) and he had these pictures along with a copy of the original bill of sale in a cardboard box in his basement!!!

 

[69BBody]

Nice job on the seat! It's great that you were also able to get those photos from way back when.

 

[tldltd]

Here is the car circa summer '74..just before it was parked...one of only 3 pictures I have of the car from the good ol' days.

 

[tldltd]

Tearing down the front seat I found the third build sheet not much left of it. The others were located under the front seat and in the springs of the rear seat back. Luckily the build sheet in the back seat was near perfect condition.

 

[tldltd]

I wasn't able to spend a lot of time working on the car on the weekend. I did manage to get the front seat torn down and get the front seat bottom and armrest done. Tearing down this stuff makes one really realize that these weren't perfect from the factory. Next is the front seat backs which are a lot more difficult than the pieces I have done so far.

I am not sure what to do about the headrests - I will likely by new dyed headrests and turn these in for cores - I will have to look into those further when I need them.

 

[69 GTX]

Nice!

 

[Baller]

Good job. Nice seats BTW.

 

[moparnation74]

Awesome story and beautiful GTX!

Great job on the seats, btw....

Looking forward to see more progress

 

[tldltd]

Well front seat tops are done....now these get put away for a while while I do some other work on the car. Won't be doing too much on it for a couple weeks as my Ram requires some love.

 

[tldltd]

These are the crusty old headrests..I have two sets of these and they are all in the same condition. Does anyone have a source for good repro headrests? I have extra vinyl and could cover them but that wouldn't look right.

 

[SlinktRR]

Those seats look amazing with that color, well done.