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Nordic Blue Warrior: 1968 Pontiac GTO

GM introduced its new A body style in 1968 and the GTO was selected as the Motor Trend Car of the Year. This example is a Nordic Blue GTO that still has its numbers matching engine. The GTO is listed here on Craigslist for $30,000. Yes, I know that you are thinking that is way too expensive for a project car. However, the seller believes that after restoration (which could cost $50,000 to $100,000), the car will be worth $80,000! The car is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and has been listed for 3 days. We appreciate T.J. sending us the link for this car.

The available engines for 1968 were similar to the prior year except that the base 400 cubic inch V8 engine had a higher rating of 350 horsepower. Halfway through the model year, Pontiac introduced the Ram Air II engine which had freer breathing round port heads and the 041 cam shaft. Only 246 Ram Air II were built. This car probably has the 400 cubic inch 4 barrel optional engine. There were 72,793 GTOs built with this engine. Road tests at the time showed quarter mile times in the mid to high 14 second range. Redline bias ply tires continued to be standard on the GTO but buyers could opt for white wall tires or radial tires. The radial tires were a big improvement over the bias ply tires of the day.

While other cars of the time had chrome front bumpers, Pontiac introduced the flexible endura front bumper. It was a high-density urethane-elastomer foam weighing 44 pounds per cubic foot and possessed a deflection of 1/2-inch under a 1000-psi load. Inland Manufacturing Division at Dayton, Ohio was the original subcontractor and helped develop a flexible paint additive that made the use of the endura bumper possible.

The seller states that this car has the original carburetor and transmission to go along with the numbers matching engine. The car originally had a teal vinyl top but that is long gone along with most of the paint. The engine is backed by a 3 speed GM automatic transmission and the seller has the PHS documents and original Protect-O-Plate and owner’s manuals. The car is said to run and drive and could be yours for the right price.

 

Comments

  1. Avatar Steve Weiman

    Very unique never seen color combination, must’ve looked fantastic When it was new! Too bad it spent a couple decades too long outdoors. Wondering what this car is actually worth?
    Would it still bring high teens?

    Like 7
  2. Avatar 19sixty5 Member

    That’s an optimistic price no matter how you interpret it. The seller makes no mention (unless I misread it several times) if it even runs and moves under its own power. This car has the base engine (YS code for an automatic trans) the 400 CID/350 HP with the 4 barrel carb. Options were the HO, and Ram Air. The other engine was a low-compression engine with a 2 barrel carburetor. There is a dual inlet fuel line found on a typical Holley. Ram Air Hood… the scoops have been opened up or they are off another car. There are no Ram Air components in view. What in the world is that yellow wire all over the drivers side of the engine? On the plus side, nice color combination and decent options, but not $30k worth. The seller is just a bit uninformed…

    Like 6
  3. Avatar Bick Banter

    It’s not a Ram Air or even a manual. Just a regular automatic GTO – one if tens of thousands like it that rolled off the line. Now granted, there are not many left, but in no world is this an 80,000 car.

    Even in this crazy market I would give it maybe 50,000 fully restored. And this is far from that. When things settle down a bit, I think that’s gonna drop into the 30s for a very nice restored car. Rough ones will probably be in the middle teens.

    Like 7
  4. Avatar Terry

    Gotta be on crack, it’s not worth 40k restored.

    Like 3
    • Avatar 19sixty5 Member

      If it was restored to showroom condition, yeah, it’s worth well north of $40k. Find me a showroom restoration like this for $40k and I’ll buy it, in fact, find me 2 and I’ll buy both of them.

      Like 1
  5. Avatar GTR

    That’s a lofty asking price. Looks like they will be holding onto it a little longer.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar John Oliveri

    I don’t think he really wants to sell it, his wife probably does, and he’s covered now, no buyers, cars worth on its best day, in this shape 20,000 and that’s being generous, cause your doing the motor, transmission body and interior over,

    Like 0

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