The documentation that accompanies this GTO is staggering. It includes its Protect-O-Plate, PHS paperwork, original window sticker, sales contract, warranty pamphlet, dealer license plate bracket, business card from the original salesman, original California black plates, and even 16 years of correspondence between owners documenting its history. A copy of the eBay engine purchase receipt, the machine shop invoice, and Classic Car VIN trace paperwork are also included. Few GTOs, if any, can match this level of provenance.
Factory options were extensive, unusual for a Ram Air IV, which was typically ordered for pure performance. This car left the factory with HD 4.33 gears, bucket seats with a console, power steering, power disc brakes, a hood tachometer, Rally II wheels, and hideaway headlights. It rides on period-correct Coker Firestone Wide Oval tires and has been restored in its original Mayfair Maize paint over a black vinyl interior by Auto Restorations by Harry in Florida.
Cosmetically, the car looks excellent, with clean body lines, an exceptional trunk, and a very well-preserved interior. The seller notes the undercarriage is unrestored but in incredible condition, thanks to its lifetime in California’s dry climate.
For Pontiac collectors, this car checks every box: rarity, matching numbers, top-tier options, California history, and complete documentation. Would you keep it as a museum-quality collector piece, or would you take it out and run through the gears the way Pontiac intended?
How on earth did this leave the factory with a 10 bolt rearend?
That was the only rear end offered. If I recall correctly, but may be wrong, cars with higher output engines had a stronger carrier than normal and the BOP rear ends did not use C-clips. The BOP 10 bolt was stronger than the Chevy 8.2 rear end.
Starting in 1970 455 equipped A-bodies and Grand Prixs came with 12 bolts.
Steve R
You are correct with the heavy duty carrier, the difference being:
HD unit has 4 sun Spider gears instead of the usual two. These are not weak 10 bolts, they are pretty stout.
Exactly.
A friends bought a carrosal red Ram Air IV GTO around 1985, it was an automatic, bucket seats, console, in dash tach, hidden headlights, manual steering, manual drum brakes, radio delete with 4.33 gears. It had 33k miles and had been parked in a carport near clear lake because it needed a new timing chain, it was cheap, but he almost passed because he was looking for a Judge. It was really fast, it pulled really hard and never stopped pulling. He kept it about 4-5 years, then sold it to someone in the San Jose area to buy a house.
These cars deserve every bit of their reputation and status as an elite muscle car.
Steve R
The eBay link is right in the first paragraph.
This may not be a rare color on these cars. I have no idea. But I haven’t seen it often and I like it. I figure a lot of these cars, if they survived, were repainted red, or black, etc., and a lot of them were probably 70’s earth tones from the factory.
Beautiful, but not my color. I would prefer burgundy or Crystal Turquoise. Very nicely detailed car and great story if true. But nearly $150,000 and an incorrect radiator cap? There are correct ones all over the Internet. I had a GM engineer tell me 20 years ago BOP rear ends were superior to ones in Chevys.
Another “my brother” story. After the knee injury and return to gainful employment my brother ordered one of these. Dk green, RA-IV, 4-speed, tinted glass, radio, rear speaker and notchback bench. All business. My little memory recalls that this was a truly fast ride, the few times mom let me ride with him. The first motor was warranteed at 3000 miles. By ’72 the car was toast and he was driving a ratty ’65 GTO. Sad tale but probably the reason I treat my stuff better. This is a beauty. Hopefully someone gets to enjoy it after they pay the tab.
This is among the Holy Grail cars of the muscle car era. I would be happy just to go on a ride along.
is the front sitting a bit high?
This GTO is in Porsche 911 Turbo S price territory.
As to `is the front sitting high`–I agree, or the rear is sitting low.