Let's Talk Cars, Motorcycles and Other Life-Changing Events

Month: May 2019 Page 2 of 3

Flash Back Friday: 1969 Plymouth GTX

1969 Plymouth GTX Karl Brauer

Yes, that’s me next to my first real car, a 1969 Plymouth GTX, circa 1985

I’ve owned a lot of cars over the past 34 years and I’ve decided I’m going to start featuring them on Flash Back Fridays. Let’s start with my first real car, a 1969 Plymouth GTX

1969-Plymouth-GTX-Karl

Hadn’t quite mastered the “pose next to car” stance in 1985.

I actually had three cars before I got my driver’s license. Blame my two orders brothers, both certified grease monkeys who averaged owning about 4 cars each during my teen years (when they were in their early 20s). Technically my first car was a primer gray 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 with no drivetrain. The dream was to drop in a 440 and make it a killer street car. Then I found an all-original B5 blue 1968 Dodge Charger R/T and forgot all out the Coronet 500. But the Charger had a seized engine, massive quarter panel rust and no title (bought it for $200 from a salvage yard). I had visions of making it a killer street car before I spotted a 1969 Plymouth GTX on a used car lot while (no joke) coming back from passing my driver’s permit test. Unlike the previous two cars, this one was complete and ran. So while it technically wasn’t my first car, the 1969 Plymouth GTX was my first running car.

1969-Plymouth-GTX-Burnout

When I first purchased the GTX it had a white vinyl top and slotted mag wheels, both of which I hated

Ford GT Race Car at CES

Ford GT Race Car CES

The Ford GT race car looked stunning at Ford’s CES booth

At the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, also known as CES, the Ford GT in full race trim was on display at the Ford booth. It was the number 68 Ford GT race car, driven by Sebastian Bourdais, Joey Hand and Dirk Muller for the 2017 race season, and despite all the colorful technology that headlines every CES the Ford GT stood out and caught the attention of everyone walking by Ford’s booth.

Making the Ultimate Ford GT Parts Run

2005 Ford GT Transit Parts

My Ford GT, and over 100 Ford GT parts, just before being loaded for shipping

When I got my Ford GT in August of 2005 I quickly realized something was very different about this car versus all the 1960s muscle cars I’d owned over the previous 30 years. The GT was a brand-new car, and that meant replacement parts were readily available for it. After struggling to get parts for my Plymouth GTXs and Dodge Challengers I reveled in the idea I could get anything I wanted for the Ford GT by simply calling on my local Ford dealer.

2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition in Gulf Livery

2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition Front

The 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition features optional exposed carbon fiber roundels

As promised, here are some images of the new 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition in Gulf Livery. This color combination, paying homage to the famous Gulf Livery worn by the 1968 and 1969 Ford GT40s that won Le Mans, will be available for the 2020 model year GT, too. Only a limited number of new Ford GT buyers will be allowed to purchase this Gulf Livery Heritage Edition, and I’m not one of them.

Ford GT Heritage Editions: Paying Homage to Ford’s Le Mans-Winning Past

2017 Ford GT Heritage Edition

The 2017 Ford GT Heritage Edition was available in gloss or matte black.

If you’re a new Ford GT fan you already know the company has been making a “heritage” edition of the Ford GT every year since it was introduced. The first year new Ford GT Heritage model paid homage to Bruce McLaren’s GT40 win at Le Man in 1966. I reported on the debut of this black-and-silver new Ford GT 2 years ago during Monterey Car Week.

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