59k Original Miles: 2005 Pontiac GTO

This 2005 Pontiac GTO is a tidy classic featuring a few performance upgrades. It has 59,000 miles on the clock, needing nothing but a new owner who will appreciate a car that represented the swansong for an iconic badge. Although it wasn’t a showroom success, the 2005 GTO has become appreciated by enthusiasts for its excellent blend of power and comfort. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the GTO listed here on Craigslist in Yakima, Washington. The seller set their price at $20,000 for this turnkey classic.

Pontiac launched its Fifth Generation GTO for the 2004 model year, following a very different path with its latest offering. Rather than developing a local product, it looked about as far afield as possible to source the new model. Developed for the Australian market, General Motors tasked Holden with upgrading its latest Monaro to comply with North American vehicle regulations. Once the Monaro passed muster, Holden built the cars, badged them as the Pontiac GTO, and shipped them across the globe. It was a bold experiment that was largely unsuccessful. Buyer demand wasn’t strong, and the last GTOs rolled off showroom floors in 2006. The first owner ordered this classic in 2005, choosing to cover its curvaceous panels with Impulse Blue Metallic paint. It was one of six shades available that year, and suits the car rather nicely. The car presents well, with no significant panel or paint issues. Holden focused on corrosion prevention strategies, so rust isn’t a problem. The seller added larger wheels with enormous rear tires. They also fitted tallights from a 2006 GTO, and with a new SAP bumper cover and grilles, the GTO looks distinctive and aggressive. The trim is in good condition, and the glass is clear.

Lifting the Pontiac’s hood reveals the fuel-injected 6.0-liter LS2 V8, producing a factory-quoted 400hp and 400 ft/lbs of torque. The first owner teamed the LS2 with a four-speed automatic transmission, while power steering and four-wheel power disc brakes with anti-lock were standard GTO fare. The 2005 GTO tipped the scales at over 3,700 lbs, but its power and torque delivered excellent performance befitting the badge it wore. The seller color-matched the fuel rail covers to the exterior paint shade, but that is the most obvious change below the skin. They recently spent $3,500 on a rebuilt 4L60E transmission with upgrades that provide more aggressive shifting. The suspension now features Pedder coil-overs, and the brakes feature cross-drilled, slotted discs. The V8 inhales through a cold air intake, with spent gases exiting via Kooks long-tube headers and a Corsa X-Pipe exhaust. The updates should improve the GTO’s already impressive performance without compromising reliability. The seller confirms that the Pontiac is a turnkey proposition that is fun to drive.

If you prefer your classic motoring experience to combine performance and comfort, this GTO has those bases covered. It features leather trim, air conditioning, power operation for the windows, locks, mirrors, and front seats, cruise control, and a premium stereo with SatNav. The driver’s seat outer bolster exhibits wear, but the remaining upholstered surfaces are in good condition. I would go as far as to question whether the back seat has ever seen occupants. The seller color-matched some plastic trim to the exterior paint shade, and fitted additional Glowshift gauges atop the dash for improved mechanical peace of mind. Overall, it won’t win any trophies, but its condition is acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle with over two decades of active service under its belt.

I’ve often looked at the final version of the Pontiac GTO and wondered if it would have been more successful if the company had applied a different badge to its flanks. After all, the GTO is a legendary line of vehicles, and the latest offering carried high expectations. The car itself was an excellent vehicle, but it was always going to be weighed down by expectations. This 2005 GTO is an extremely nice vehicle and should offer years of reliable motoring pleasure. What makes it interesting to me is that it was developed by a General Motors brand that no longer exists and sold by another that has since gone extinct. That makes it worth preserving as a fitting memorial to two great marques.