As we head into an automotive future where it seems that zero-emission vehicles will dominate the new car market, enthusiasts with gasoline coursing through their veins will be drawn to high-performance offerings from past generations. When it comes to the subject of muscle cars, there is a widely held belief that the “daddy” of the category is the Pontiac GTO. Good examples continue commanding amazing prices in the market, and even rough ones generate interest. This 1971 GTO is a tidy survivor featuring its original V8 under the hood. It needs a new home and an owner ready to appreciate its historical significance. The GTO is listed here on eBay in Milford, Connecticut. The seller has set a BIN of $46,000 but will entertain offers. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for using a finely-tuned classic radar to spot this stunning GTO.
The seller provides limited information on this Pontiac’s history, stating it is a southern car. It is unclear whether anyone has performed restoration work, although the condition of its Sandlewood paint, Cordova vinyl top, and stripes suggest it may not be 100% original. The paint shines beautifully, and there are no visible flaws in the excellent selection of supplied photos. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and the car remains rust-free. The exterior is clean, and the underside shots reveal the floors and frame to be rock-solid. The seller admits the rear spoiler is a later addition, although the Rally II wheels are original and spotless. The trim is in excellent condition, and there’s no evidence of problems with the glass.
General Motors may have forced a drop in the compression ratio of 1971 GTO engines, but these cars could still pin their occupants in the seat when the pedal hit the metal. This Pontiac features its numbers-matching 400ci V8 that pumps out 300hp and 400 ft/lbs of torque. The original owner selected the three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. The power output for 1971 represented a 50hp decrease from the previous year, and while it showed when the stopwatch clicked, the impact wasn’t dramatic. In 1970, an auto-equipped GTO took 14.8 seconds to cover the ¼ mile. This car should take 15.2 seconds, but its potential top speed increased slightly thanks to more aerodynamically efficient front panels. Frustratingly, the seller supplies no information on how the GTO runs or drives. The engine bay presentation is encouraging, and the inclusion of the original Window Sticker and Build Sheet help confirm the car’s specifications and authenticity.
The interior photos in this listing are not great, but piecing them together provides a positive impression. The Saddle vinyl on the driver’s seat is slightly stretched, but none of the upholstered surfaces display significant wear or physical damage. The dash is excellent, as are the console and carpet. The headliner doesn’t sag and has no rips. The overall impression is that the entire interior presents well for an original survivor. The buyer won’t lack the luxury touches because the Window Sticker confirms this GTO rolled off the production line equipped with tinted glass, air conditioning, an AM/FM radio with an optional rear speaker, a clock, and a remote driver’s mirror.
By 1971, time and changing circumstances were beginning to catch up with Pontiac’s legendary GTO. While it remained a genuine muscle car, General Motors’ decision to reduce engine compression ratios in preparation for lead-free fuel dropped power outputs across the board. It was also the year when it became apparent that the muscle car era was drawing to a close, with total GTO sales dropping by a mammoth 75% from the previous year. However, times change, and the GTO has cemented its place in American automotive folklore. A model that fell from favor five decades ago is among the most highly prized today. As with many genuine muscle cars, values continue climbing at an extraordinary rate. The BIN on this car is far from pocket change, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone handed over their cash. Would you?
Nice looking car, but where’s the ram air? The hood’s on the car so something not right . Nose looks good those don’t age well a lot of times. The fresh paint and refurbishing could hide some issues but looking at pictures hard to tell, pictures always look better than in person. Looks pretty well mostly, never did like that spoiler.
It’s not a Ram Air car, but apparently someone loved stickers. Besides the “Ram Air” on the hood, it also has Ram Air on the valve covers, and “400 HO” stickers on the spoiler. The engine’s not a 400 HO either. From what I remember of the 71 GTO’s, only the 455 was available with Ram Air, and only the 455 got the HO designation. The 400 was just a 400. Besides all the stickers, the seller says the spoiler’s been added, and I’m guessing the stripes have been too.
It’s a nice car, and I find the 71-72’s to be the most attractive year GTO’s, but the boring tan paint color doesn’t do anything for this car. It looks especially out of place on a GTO.
This reminds me of a dealer’s demonstrator. They often loaded a car with luxury items, and then ordered it in a none offensive color, instead of one that could be more polarizing to customers, like red, orange, yellow or black.
They got into the stickers for sure. Even adding the red air cleaner sticker Pontiac NEVER had. There are so many of them out there people believe they are original!
If this was a repaint, why add the vinyl roof? It just doesn’t look right.
The stripes were optional on non-Judges as option D98. I do not believe the spoiler was available on non-Judges. At least it does not have one of those obnoxious hood tachs.
It seems like many GTOs in particular have fallen victim to the Year One catalog syndrome, so I would want to see the build sheet or PHS report.
The hood tachs aren’t so obnoxious, the trunk mounted closet door is!
$46,000 (lol) opens up an almost endless list of interesting cars.
It’s a dealer selling it…that figures !
The interior might be original or an older refurbishment. The car has clearly been repainted.
FYI the Judge rear spoiler was optional on the 1971 GTO, and the hood tach was still a factory option on the GTO(including Judges). It would become a dealer option again for 1972.
BTW the optional D98 stripes were NOT the Judge stripes. They were very similar but were 2-color(White/Red or Black/Red) while the Judge stripes were 3-color.
Overall a nice car with some incorrect items. As previously noted this car does not have Ram Air, so it shouldn’t have the hood decals. The “400 HO” decals are also wrong for this car, and were never used on any GTO. The 455 HO was optional in 1971 and would have had similar decals under the GTO decal on the front fenders, but not on the spoiler(except on the Judge). Another annoyance is the seeminly ubiquitous air cleaner decal, which is also incorrect. The only GTOs to ever get an air-cleaner decal were the 1971-72 455 HO cars.
reminds me of one in Dazed and Confused when I seen the decals, although this color is sorta blah
I highly prefer the front end on the 1971 GTO over the 1970.
I don’t know gentlemen, according to Hemmings, all 1971 GTO’s could be had with ram air. Just repeating what I read.
All 71 GTO’s could have Ram Air is a true statement as long as it had a 455 HO engine. No 400 or L75 455 could be ordered with Ram Air.
Steve W, an understandable conclusion assuming you are referring to the 1971-’72 Pontiac GTO Buyer’s Guide article by Terry Shea from the February 2012 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines(https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/1971-72-pontiac-gto). Overall an excellent article, but reading the article it is easy to get the wrong idea that Ram Air was a widely available option on 1971-’72 GTOs when it was in fact only available with the 455 HO.
Technically, referring to the 1971 Pontiac Accessorizer book(http://www.gt-37.org/gallery/picture.php?/4395/category/238), this option was called the “Hood Air Inlet” and was Sales Code 601, UPC Code WU3. It was available only with the 455 HO V8(Sales Code 34U; UPC Code LS5) and listed for $84.26. It was also included as part of The Judge Package(Sales Code 332; UPC Code WT1). So in 1971 you could order your 455 HO GTO hardtop or convertible with or without Ram Air. If you bought a 1971 GTO Judge, the 455 HO with Ram Air was included in the package.
For 1972 the 455 HO was again available on the GTO, which was no longer a separate model, but was once again an option package on the LeMans(as it had been for 1964-’65). However, for 1972 the Hood Air Inlet(aka “Ram Air”) was no longer a separate option, but rather was included when the 455 HO engine was ordered.