It is common for many older classics to undergo a restoration involving rust repairs. However, this 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible appears to break that mold. The seller states that there are no patches to be found anywhere, just a rock-solid car that presents beautifully. It has no apparent needs, and the V8 hiding under the hood will provide performance befitting a genuine muscle car. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the GTO listed here on Craigslist in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. The seller set their price for this turnkey beauty at $75,000.

Pontiac created the muscle car sector with the First Generation GTO. There had previously been more powerful cars rolling off American production lines, but none possessed the sporting focus embraced by the GTO. Our feature vehicle is 1-of-9,517 Convertibles produced during 1967, with the seller stating that it recently underwent a restoration. This included massaging the panels before applying a fresh coat of Fathom Blue paint and installing a contrasting power top in White. The results justified the effort and expense because this classic looks superb. There are no real cosmetic shortcomings beyond what appears to be a dirty mark on the top. The paint shines richly, but the underside shot tells us much about this classic. I would describe the appearance as “honest.” There is evidence of minor surface corrosion, but no signs of penetrating rust. That is unsurprising, with the listing indicating that this Pontiac spent most of its life in sunny California. No attempt was made to apply an undercoat to disguise the corrosion, although I would probably treat it as a priority to prevent further deterioration. The trim and glass look stunning against the relatively dark paint shade. There is one small mystery with this classic surrounding the wheels. Some photos show it wearing American Racing Torq Thrust alloys, and in others, it rolls on the correct Rally II wheels. It is unclear whether the buyer receives both, but I’d opt for the Rally version if I were the new owner.

The restoration of this GTO included a complete interior retrim, leaving the inside of this classic in virtually as-new condition. The Black vinyl upholstered surfaces and the carpet are free from wear, with the dash, pad, and faux timber in excellent shape. Driving this classic with the top lowered will cause the buyer’s chest to swell with pride, while luxury touches include air conditioning, power windows, a tilt wheel, bucket seats, a console, and an AM radio. That means that this GTO does its best to combine performance with a comfortable motoring experience.

Ah, the beating heart of this GTO. One of the most significant changes performed to the GTO by Pontiac for the 1967 model year was to increase the capacity of the engine from 389ci to 400ci. Buyers could choose from several versions, with this car’s 400 generating 335hp and 441 ft/lbs of torque, according to the company’s Sales Brochure. Shifting duties fall to a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic, with the driver benefiting from power assistance for the steering and front disc brakes. The seller doesn’t indicate whether the GTO is numbers-matching, but the fact that I can spot an Edelbrock intake suggests that it may feature a few upgrades that aren’t mentioned in the listing. We are kept in the dark about the car’s mechanical health, although the impression conveyed by the seller and the images is positive.

Pontiac set the bar high with the GTO, forcing other manufacturers to dig deep if they wished to capture a slice of the muscle car market. These cars were very much of their time, produced during an era when companies were willing to compete ruthlessly in the horsepower race. This 1967 GTO Convertible is a beauty, perfectly capturing that moment in automotive history. It has no apparent needs, and with the ongoing popularity of the badge, its value should climb as the modern focus shifts almost inevitably to hybrid and zero-emission vehicles. Hmm, a choice between batteries and a brutal V8? I know which I would choose. Do you?