Pontiac introduced the new body style of the LeMans and GTO in 1968 and this is a wonderful example of a surviving 1968 Pontiac GTO. It is believed to have only 28,000 original miles. The GTO is listed for sale here on Craigslist and the car is located near O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois. The ad states that the car is a factory 4 speed car that has had one repaint and has been well cared for over its 52 year life. The seller is asking $39,000 for the GTO. We appreciate Ikey Heyman for sending us this ad to review.
The black vinyl interior looks immaculate and the three pedals under the dash will get any enthusiast excited. The seller states that the GTO is a real 242 car and that is was stored in a climate controlled garage. If this is truly a 28,000 mile car, it would be one of the lowest mileage GTOs that we have featured here on Barn Finds. The bucket seats are the correct low back seats and the car does not have a console. However, the build sheet indicates the car came with a console. The car rolls on Pontiac Rally II wheels which the build sheet indicates were originally installed when new.
The Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8 engine sits between the two fenders and the car is equipped with power steering. The dual snorkel air cleaner that would have been originally installed on the car has been replaced with a Edelbrock open element chrome air cleaner. I have this installed on my personal GTO and have the dual snorkel air cleaner tucked away in my parts stash. Not much is said about the engine in the ad but with that low of miles, it should be the original engine. If this is the 400 cubic inch Ram Air engine, Car Life tested a four-speed version on this car in 1968 with a 3.90 gear and reported that it ran 0 to 60 in 6.6 seconds and completed the the quarter mile in 14.5 at 99.7 mph.
So who like the clean lines of the second generation GTO? The build sheet shows that this car has retractable headlamp covers but the pictures indicate that the lights are in a fixed position and the car does not have this option. Please correct me if I am wrong but that would be a red flag and the second option that is not per the factory build sheet. It would be best to check this car out in person and look at the undercarriage too before making an offer.
When I was 16 years old, a family friend had one of these. It had the hide a way headlamps, was silver with black vinyl top and black interior. It was an automatic with the dual gate shifter. What made it so memories was he allowed me ( a 16 year old new year driver ) to borrow it for several weeks while he was out of town because he didn’t want to leave sitting unattended in his driveway. I was thrilled!
128000
The car looks more like a quick flip than a low mileage survivor. There is overspray on some parts of the door latch and other areas, the area of the passenger lower rear molding is really wavy. It has mid-70’s 6x heads, Edelbrock intake, dual feed Holley, swap meet chrome valve covers, cheap steering wheel, aluminum radiator, new Hurst shifter and inexpensive generic tach and under dash gauges. Those are not typically parts you find on a low mileage car that’s being sold at a premium. That’s the sort of car a seller of will spend a little extra money on to find more correct parts since those parts will pay for themselves when it comes time to sell. For nearly $40,000 there are much better cars out there.
Steve R
Steve, the door latches and trunk latches were installed at the factory before paint, painted latches are correct on GM vehicles.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure the headlight surrounds should be blacked out, so they’re probably new. Also, the Pep Boys Edelbrock Chrome air cleaner, red spark plug wires, chrome rear differential cover, and interior mods tell me this is a restoration and not an original low mileage car. Another giveaway is tell tale high ride height (Chinese replacement springs). This one wins the wheel gap of the day award, LOL!
Still, it looks pretty nice. I think if I had 40 large to spend on one of these I would look for a more original car. But If it checks out in person it might be good for someone who just wants to drive and not do anything else.
Superdessucke, you’re right about the headlight bezels. They were black except at the edges. I had a 68, same verdoro green exterior, black interior, 4 speed no console. I traded it in on something that I’m embarrassed to admit for $200 trade in value in 1975.
I’ve missed it ever since. This is a really nice goat, but $40k seems a bit high.
Ouch. What did you trade it in on? Come on. Don’t leave it hanging like that. I mean just using “1975” already puts the embarrassment aside, LOL!
Good eyes on this on Steve R. My first car was a 68 GTO but lucky me it was a Ram Air 2 ragtop.
bastardised ..but neat 22 K ill take it
Really nice. But a lot of questions that would need to be answered. Especially given the claims. Certainly too many variations from the build sheet to stake any claims to originality and some of the variations seem to be strange for a car with only 28,000 original miles.
I think the ram air would have the 433 rear , and the ho got the 390 rear.
All 1967 and 1968 GTO Ram Air cars got the 4:33 rear gear but the HO cars had any gear ratio available. The 1969 and 1970 Ram air 4 cars had the 3:90 gear as standard with the 4:33 as a option.There was never a car built with a gear ratio as high as the 4:33 as standard equipment.
drivers seat looks worn out to me. The odometer must’ve rolled over.
but…but..but..but..but…but…my god….. its g r e e n
If I’m not mistaken, 68 had a single snorkel air cleaner. Dual snorkel started in 69.
yes you are correct. 68 had a single snorkel.
Yes, the ’68 400 had a painted single snorkel air cleaner with a chrome lid. The double snorkel air cleaner started with ’69 production GTOs. My one-family ’68 convertible had the former.
The dual snorkel was not a feature to the air cleaner until 1969.
I had a 68 GTO, 411 rear short stroke shifter. No hide away lights, tach on the hood same green body with black vinyl top. Interior was black with center console. No power steering. It 3 1/2 inch pipes from exhaust manifold to tip of tailpipe and this came like that from the factory.
It didn’t have 3-1/2” exhaust from the factory. Did you possibly mean 2-1/2”? Even that would be doubtful
Gonna be a hard pass on this Frankenstein.