The “Who started the muscle car” argument has raged on for many years. While some will pin it on the ’49 Oldsmobile “Rocket 88” while others will sign up Hudson and its legendary “Twin H” Hornet as the commencement. Arguably, however, many assign the movement to John Z. DeLorean’s 1964 creation of the Pontiac GTO. In the GTO’s fourth year it was identified by its over-under headlights; swoopy, extended C pillars; simple recessed horizontal “slit” tail-lights and a new 400 CI V8 engine. And located in Denton, Maryland is just such an example and it is available here on eBay for a bid of $4,050, no reserve and two bids tendered so far.
The redesigned Generation Two GTO debuted in ‘66 and sold an astounding 97,000 copies. The similarly styled ’67 version settled back a bit with 81,000 examples moved out the door but still a very solid performance. While I have never owned a GTO, I have had the privilege of driving a 389 CI powered ’66 and a 428 CI powered ’68, both four-speed manually equipped, and they were excellent road cars. Compared to their Chevrolet cousin, the SS396 Chevelle, which I have owned, they possessed their own “Pontiac” feel about them, completely different from the Chevelle, more like a, “Yes, in fact I do own the road” vibe.
This subject GTO is a bit forlorn in appearance, more of a Got Turned Out and here I sit attitude. There is a lot of surface rust and invasive corrosion in the lower quarters, doors, fenders and trunk floor. The finish, what’s left of it, appears to be “Mariner Turquoise” which is an attractive Pontiac color, worn well on the GTO and was pretty popular in ’67. Unfortunately, there’s not much of it that remains. This “Goat” is going to need a lot of metalwork.
Under the hood is a very original and complete looking 400 CI V8 engine which probably generates 335 gross HP. The 400 CI was a replacement for Pontiac’s famous 389 CI engine that preceded it and it was new for ’67. There were also 265 HP and 360 HP versions of the 400 CI motor available too. This GTO is definitely not a 265 HP version as it has a four-speed manual transmission and that was not a compatible combination. The seller states, “I do not know anything about the engine” so running or not, who knows. He later adds, however, that the engine does turn over so maybe there is some hope for it. As to whether it is an HO 360 HP version, I’ll ask our informed Pontiac enthusiast readers to chime in on that possibility but the air cleaner tells me it’s a 335 HP version.
The interior looks rather complete and original too but it is very worn and dirty. The carpet is missing so the bare floors are visible and there is some serious missing real estate in places. The corrosion has even consumed the lower part of the center console. The dash and instruments are grungy and not really viewable. The overall condition of the interior is one of high moisture/humidity exposure – it would seem this Pontiac may have been parked in swamp-like, or worse, conditions for some length of time. The upholstery looks intact but I’m wondering how much flex the Morrikide may have left in it before it cracks and splits.
Well, we know via the VIN tag that this is a real deal GTO and it would seem to be original and non-cobbled – that’s the good news. The bad news is that it needs everything; a complete and major redo. The seller tells us, “I am selling this car for a friend and don’t know a lot about it.” That seems like a less than ideal sales approach though he adds that he’ll field questions and try to get answers back to the inquirer. I would prefer to deal directly with someone who does know all about the item being sold – nothing is lost in translation that way. I like GTO’s and have considered ’68 and ’69 versions but this example is probably beyond the point of a project that I would want to take on. How about you, any Pontiac/GTO aficionados out there that can tell us if this one is redeemable and worth it?
Four Speed Flintstone car available to those willing to weld and sandblasting out of a bucket.
Its salvageable but one might slide over the “heck no” quicker with the block numbers displayed!
Yes and to save the post “NO AIR” for those who melt and don’t own T-shirts or have a IPhone 📱 to check weather prior to driving their classic non daily driver spare car 😜😂🤔🤪😂🤣. Okay just putting a lil fuel on fire 🔥 on non AC cars.
If This Goat 🐐 was a Mopar ot Porsche would one even discuss saving! 😛
Growing up in the ’70s, cars never had AC, or if they did, it didn’t work. No one complained, just how it was.
Cars had AC starting in the ’50s if you grew up in South. By the ’70s dealers in the south had nothing but AC cars on their lots. Interesting enough was the fact that the first AC car I ever saw was a factory equipped ’49 Cadillac.
Actually Packard first in 1940 then Caddie and Mopar in 1941. With Mopar having the first production cars pre-war.
Yes, the south had AC as almost standard long before the north, but it’s true that in the 70’s AC was a very expensive, and frequently not ordered, option in the north.
@Jim ODonnell
Nice write up.. but the Muscle Car “ERA” was begun by the GTO …
Occasionally earlier cars had “big” horsepower, dating back many years, before the Hornet….. and the 49 Olds Cpe definitely had some muscle ( I couldn’t ever beat one with my 47 Chev Fastback with it’s 3/4Jimmy) … and there was a Horsepower Race in the 50’s Chrysler, Cadillac, Packard, etc……… .
. But the concept of putting together a performance package, with both drivetrain and handling in a ‘light’ model car, began with the GTO …..and THAT began the ERA of Muscle Cars, because most of the others FOLLOWED the GTO ( most actually, did follow, down the 1/4 mile) and an ERA was born.
Dodge had the 426 Max Wedge in 1963…
Oh? You don’t say…
But it was strange how Mopar packaged and sold the 426. It wasn’t available in the Chrysler realm but Dodge saw fit to offer the 426 in its 1/2 ton pickup truck. The Polara, like the Fury, were option packages on what became their own bodies in 1965. Most people didn’t need anything bigger than the 383 in their midsize cars for many years, thus the relative rarity of the 426 wedge. People wrung them out until they blew up, so the 440 became the big motor.
Pontiac was different because they only had one V8 in two displacements. The 389 was a big car motor, but it was very easy to drop into the Tempest body.
They offered the 326 in 63, but the driveline and rear suspension weren’t up to the task. I can’t recall the last time I saw a 326 equipped 63 Le Mans.
Looks to be all there and mostly original!! Definitely needs some work and the rust is a bit scary but the price is right!!
This is probably the standard 335HP engine, but the wrong air cleaner. Should have the thin louvered chrome air cleaner. The HO and Ram Air used the thicker open element chrome plated one. The 4 speed manual transmission was available with the 265 HP engine.
I had a 68 shortly out of high school. Had the low HP 400 with the slim chrome air cleaner with little louvers all around. Mine had the Hurst his/hers automatic with the little gate you slid open to shift manually. Dark blue over black with a non-functional hood scoop as seen here. It was a great little car I bought from a one owner family whose kids all took turns driving as they came of age. Sold it to a friend of my brother’s who paid me about twice what I paid a year prior. Should have held it, but who knew? It was just a cool 20+ year old car at the time.
I stumbled across this a year after this article was posted…I am, admittedly…the softhearted sap that actually bought this broken down beauty. I just thought readers would enjoy the happy ending. You see, I have a passion for bringing these forgotten relics back to life. They say, “don’t believe what you read”, that was true for this gem. When the transport dropped her off, she was missing the back window, had no brakes and the engine was locked up tight. After trying to free her up with some marvel, to no avail…I scoped the cylinders. I found a dropped valve…so off the heads, intake, and front of the engine came. The lower end was fine, but it needed love after 30+ years of neglect, the heads were the worst of it. It now runs and moves, brakes are next. I had to give this one a second chance at life…it is 100% unmolested, all the casting numbers match…The HO engine, 670 heads, the 4-speed and safe-t-track. Once I get her road worthy in the next month or so, you might see her back on Ebay. I had aspirations of putting new pans in and driving it as a ‘rat’…when was the last time you saw a 67 GTO like this at a car show…never, they are either parts cars or restored. I’ve decided to downsize my collection this year…so hopefully she will get the love she deserves from the next owner, after decades of sitting and hoping someone would rescue her. Thought you might enjoy the update.