At first glance, it appears that time hasn’t been kind to this 1968 Pontiac GTO Convertible. From its tired paint to its shredded top, it doesn’t make a positive first impression. However, the seller claims that there is only minor penetrating rust, suggesting that the GTO is a rock-solid project candidate. It features its numbers-matching drivetrain, adding to its appeal. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Pontiac listed here on eBay in Granada Hills, California. The seller set their BIN at $18,500, with the option to make an offer. If the listing statistics are an accurate guide, the GTO should find a new home fairly quickly.
Introduced in 1968, Pontiac’s Second Generation GTO remained in production until the end of 1972. This first-year Convertible is a project candidate that left the line wearing Verdoro Green paint. It is unclear when it changed color, but a close look at the photos reveals some of the original paint in isolated areas. There is also visible Bondo, and the soft-top is shredded. That all sounds daunting, but the news isn’t as bad as it might seem. The seller states that the underside and floors carry a coating of surface corrosion, but the only known penetrating rust is in the trunk pan. A car of this caliber probably deserves a rotisserie restoration, but at least that process won’t entail hundreds of hours of cutting and welding. The exterior is missing a few trim pieces, including the headlight covers. The top frame is intact, the glass looks okay, and the GTO sits on its Rally II wheels that the new owner could easily restore.
The first owner teamed the 400ci “HO” V8 with a four-speed manual transmission, a Safe-T-Track rear end, power steering, and power brakes. This combination wasn’t the rarest chosen by buyers in 1968, but it was far from the most popular. The motor would have produced 360hp and 445 ft/lbs of torque in its prime, cementing this Convertible’s muscle car credentials. Purists will welcome the news that this Pontiac is a numbers-matching classic. However, the news isn’t all positive. The seller indicates that the V8 spun a bearing and threw a rod at some point, and it is unclear whether this caused damage to the engine block. If it didn’t, it might be salvageable to protect the car’s originality. Otherwise, the new owner should have no trouble locating a date-correct motor to return the Convertible to its former glory.
This GTO is nothing if not consistent, because its interior requires copious amounts of TLC. Trimmed in Parchment vinyl, it is missing the console, pushbutton radio, and 8-track player. The Rally gauge cluster is intact, but the lenses are very cloudy and require a refresh. Putting it simply, the interior requires a complete retrim. However, teaming the Verdoro Green paint with this interior will create a striking classic once the new owner packs away their tools.
The 1968 Pontiac GTO Convertible is an inherently desirable classic, and the relative rarity of this car adds to its appeal. Pontiac produced 9,980 examples of the GTO Convertible in 1968, but only 766 buyers teamed the 400ci “HO” V8 with a four-speed manual transmission. The listing statistics are impressive, with Listing View and Watch List tallies of 496 and 54, respectively. That suggests many people like what they see, and it will be fascinating to see whether any enthusiasts take the next step by making an offer. Would you?
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