“Rare,” “special-order,” “one owner,” “low miles,” and “original” are terms often used to describe expensive vintage muscle cars. But you seldom see them used together to identify the same automobile. That’s the case with this Starlight Black 1972 Pontiac GTO, which is the only one built like it that model year. It may also explain why you’ll have to pay $330,000 (or something close) to become its second caretaker. Located in Clarion, Pennsylvania, this beautiful unicorn is available here on Hemmings and is a tip brought to us by “Dale.”
Muscle car sales declined quickly in the early 1970s, and none so fast as the genre’s “founder”, the Pontiac GTO. From a peak of 96,000 copies in 1966, John DeLorean’s bunch could only muster 5,807 units in 1972 – and only 134 of those were post coupes like the one you see here. With its equipment and paint choice, not a single other GTO was produced as such in the last year of the second generation. Sales went nowhere with the 1973 redesign, so Pontiac pulled the plug on the GTO in 1974 after it had become a potent compact (Ventura).
This 1972 “GOAT” has a fascinating story that we’ll take highlights from here on Hotrod. The original owners (apparently still living) became GTO fans by way of a 1964 model (which they still have, too!). As family life had arrived, this ’72 was specially ordered to represent the best of all worlds – a bench seat and factory air for the kiddos and a 455 HO V8 so Mom and Dad could still play some. The post coupe 455 made the car 1 of 7, and the custom paint made it 1 of 1. It became a show car and/or garage queen in the 1980s, explaining why the odometer only reads 44,000 miles.
Other than replacing consumables and mending a few scratches and dings, this Poncho is as it was when it was delivered, more than 53 years ago. It’s said to perform as well as it looks and has managed to score at least one award when it’s been shown. Unless you’re not a fan of door post GTOs or bench seats, there’s not much not to like about this Pontiac. But does its story, condition, and rarity warrant it being one of the priciest GTOs on the planet?
It’s cool, but the seller is fishing. It will make the rounds at various enthusiasts websites and forums, get shared amongst members, enrage the usual people that see this as an example of the decline of the hobby. All of that will make it internet famous when it comes time to get serious about selling the car and will probably help the seller get more than they would have if they started with a more realistic price.
Steve R
Wildly optimistic price tag. Definitely a very cool car though. Being a post car with the starlight black paint over black with black sidewall tires, it has a certain no-nonsense look about it. I like it. It’d be just about perfect with a four speed (which would also justify a somewhat higher price tag), but I sure would not have any compunction about parking this Goat in my garage.
I thought 72’s still had chrome valve covers. No mention of the round port heads? If it has them it would be the most important option.
The round exhaust ports are visible in the pictures of the engine.
Steve R
At the asking price, they should include factory documentation that Chief Pontiac (or Obwaandi’eyaag) drove it.
Worth a third of asking on a good day. Seriously, you can pick up a 455 GTO drop top for that kind of money.
Russ, Ironically you seem to always fail (actually always fail…) to mention the fastest production Pontiac GTO’s which were the 2005 and 2006 models.
Yes, they were manufactured by Holden (a GM subsidiary) in Australia but still a GTO. Too bad, because you’re not being much of a automobile writer ignoring these fine cars.
As for the featured car; Steve R is correct. The owner is using a method that the internet brought forth; look-at-me-itis.
These would be great points if the article was about Australian GTOs. Please find one and submit it as a tip and we’ll try to give it a go.
👍 Dixon 👍
Excellent reply Russ!
Thanks for not being a complete jerk. Just mostly a jerk. Way better.
Tbone – Odds are, he has three of those Australian GTOs, which he takes to cars & coffee and cruises every weekend. He displays each car with a matching scale model and numerous placards declaring how great the Aussie GTOs are. Every piece of clothing he wears has GTO emblems, including his shoes.
The equivalent in the Mustang community are the Mustang II guys.
Wow, tough crowd! It’s actually quite true that the 04-06 GTO’s aren’t that appreciated but were actually well built and extremely fast cars. I went to the November 03 LA auto show and they had a new GTO that you could actually sit in and look over. Having been burned by first year models in the past, I waited and purchased an 05. Much improved with the LS2 and terrific 6 speed Tremec.
At the time it was by far higher quality than stateside GM products.
I don’t think that any offense was meant, short of mentioning a great car.
Maybe y’all should cut some slack…
Boring, P.G.
So to clarify: that comment was for Mr. Grasso. Who is clearly superior to the rest of us mere mortals. He can dance like John Travolta. Tells jokes like Johny Carson and can sing like Frank Sinatra. Truly an amazing hunter being! Perfection in a human form! All hail Grasso!!!
$330K is about 4 times what Hagerty lists as #1 condition. Even if this is a special order color, I can’t imagine it justifies such a premium, especially because it’s just black, and not some interesting custom hue.
At the end of the day, it is still a bench seat, column automatic A body. It will have to fall below $$ more desirable Round port F bodies, period. Its rarity (it’s not a Desirable rare )will not cover up that fact. Eventually, the market will speak…..
imagine what one could buy for $330,000 in a market that is under pressure and likely to decline because of DC. best to keep the money in treasuries because there will be some real bargains out there, just llike in 1990. sorry but $330,000 is simply stupid.
Absolutely ridiculous price, especially for a bench seat, column-shift car. For $330K I’m buying three, beautiful, numbers-matching Six-Pack 4-speed Mopars, 4-speed Stage 1’s, 4-speed W-30’s, or 4-speed Judges…or, perhaps, one of each.
My father-in-law, who now lives with us, helped design and build the 455 engine in Flint Michigan. He can just sit and listen to a GM car of that era and tell you what is right or wrong with the car and especially the engine. I always wanted a 455 because of him.
The Buick 455 engine was built in Flint, but wasn’t the Pontiac 455 built in the town of Pontiac?
bench seat….not!
Tried to like you Steve but there not registering.You probably got 50 by now.
That new requirement to sign up and pay $9.00 per month in order to give “likes” is probably why there are so few of them anymore.
Exactly why.