GMP 1970 Plymouth

There are a lot of model cars out there that’ll wow you for under sixty bucks. There are even a few that can deliver your muscle fix for half that. But when the subject is serious investment — as in the region north of a C­note — you’d be hard pressed to find a maker of American muscle models like GMP. Its latest image is a 1970 Plymouth GTX, released in an ultra­exclusive "Tom’s garage" deco, and in a general (though limited) version with a side stripe and different hood.

There is simply no way to describe, in two dimensions, what this model, in either deco, does in three. For one thing, it’s heavy — seriously heavy. Barbell heavy. And it&rssquo;s full of enough high­end gadgetry to keep the buyer transfixed for hours at a time. The doors, hood, and trunk open, all on real­aspect and spring and scissor hinges. There’s a working suspension, a rotating driveshaft, steerable wheels, and a working fuel filler/license plate frame out back. And that’s before you get to the windows that roll up by the crank on each door — or the removable rear quarter glass, for you open­air types. On the TG car, add a poseable "Air Grabber" scoop, and you’ve got the makings of a package that’ll pay back your purchase vig on delivery.

The quality on these two pre­production (but finalized) samples was exceptional. The paint — K­5 Burnt Orange Poly — is deep, glossy, and came here on both cars with zero blemishes. Shut lines are dead even, the models seem to be carved from a single chunk of zinc. Roll them over, slam the doors, and have your way with them — nothing rattles, not even the sun visors, which are secured on new’style hinges that hold them right where you put them. The tires are a soft rubber, and wrap around a set of outstanding wheels. No doubt bashers and tweakers will be seeking these out as accessories to decorate Mopar model projects sometime in the future.

The interior is sweet not just for the big things it does— like the tilting seat backs and the carpeted floor — but the little details that speak to the GMP ethic. The deco on the seats is amazing; not only is the two­toned light and dark brown applied with precision, it­s separated by yet another color of orange that pipes around the cushions. In addition to the aforementioned visors, the glove box opens, too. The windows crank up and down with no snags or lurches — a definite improvement over the effort to include this feature in the past. While I didn’t get the quarter windows with these samples, given the over­the­top good engineering evident everywhere else, I’d wager they’ll snick in and out with no fuss at all.

Under the hood, the 440V8s are packing a trio of two barrel carbs and an unbelievable level of wiring and plumbing. If you had an ounce of reservation regarding investing in a model at this level of detail, look under here and be soothed. Every possible tube, wire, cable, and hose is present and accounted for (at least, as far as I can see — I’m learning to be sensitive about this kind of statement), and each has been wrapped around an impeccable model of the 440 that would have kicked butt all by itself. The paint, assembly, and dedication to getting it right — right down to the chromed oil filler cap — rates a ten out of ten. Come to think of it, I’d pay cash American for this motor on a stand, all by itself.

The trunk doesn’t open as far as I’d like, but what can be seen in here is typical fare for a high­ender like this, including a road­scuffed spare, a fabric­matted floor, and a jack bolted to the bulkhead. Look up to see applied instructions on the lid, and down again to dwell on the quality of that orange metallic paint, which seems just as lustrous and deeply applied in here as on the roof. Go beneath, and you’ll get a sample of full­on detail. Brake and fuel lines are here, as castings on the belly proper and as free­standing, flexible cables where needed. Overall, a great job.

Hey, what can I say? This is the state of the art in muscle models, hands down, and bar none. Think of it as the ultimate expression of the genre GMP started back with the’70­’72 GTO, and reaffirmed with their ’66­’67 Ford Fairlane.

Yep — some models may wow you for less bread. But this one hits like a bar bouncer with a hand full of quarters. Right here, right now, for my money, this is the muscle model of the year. Incredible work, GMP. Thanks for the effort.