While the car is a beauty, its provenance is a story unto itself. Folks, this is a genuine one-owner garage find, bought new in 1968 and left sleeping in the garage since 1978! This 1968 Pontiac GTO is located in Blue Eye, Missouri,on the Arkansas border just southwest of Branson, and will be auctioned on December 4 of this year. More details can be found here on Barn Finds Classifieds.

In 1968 the GTO received the first of several major revisions. Gone were the vertically stacked headlights, replaced by a horizontal layout, and the body became more streamlined along with the rest of Pontiac’s offerings. Hideaway headlights were offered, and the steel bumper was replaced with the body-colored Endura bumper, made of rubber and plastic formed around a steel core. Engine offerings consisted of Pontiac’s 400 cubic inch V8 with either a 2 or 4-barrel carburetor, or the legendary 400 HO, with horsepower ranging from 265 to 360.

This is a stunning example. Taking into account its originality, it is in far better condition than the vast majority of unrestored second-generation GTOs. Rust is virtually absent, and though the top has definitely seen better days, this is mitigated by the fact that it’s been garage kept for the last 43 years. Sadly, long disuse has allowed mold and mildew to grow on the rear seats and driver’s side door card, and many of the metal surfaces in the interior show some surface rust. Yet there’s no telling what a thorough detailing might reveal, and it wouldn’t be a great surprise if the fabric and vinyl could be brought back without the need for any replacement pieces.

Little is said of the state of mechanicals, aside from the fact that most appear to be original: only the AC compressor, gas tank, and distributor appear to be replacements. The seller notes that the front valence seems to have been repaired in the past. This, in conjunction with the car’s long slumber, would suggest that bidders should bring a trailer. Pontiac made just under 10,000 convertible GTOs in 1968, and when one takes into account the transmission and engine options, there can’t be too many like this one left on the road. It’s worth asking how little it might take for this car to join them. And someone will take the first step to answering this question early next month.