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Parked For 45 Years! 1967 Pontiac GTO

Sometimes, a classic car will appear on our desks at Barn Finds with a sad backstory. That seems to be the case with this 1967 Pontiac GTO. Its owner was a career military man who parked the car in this storage facility 45-years-ago. Various circumstances meant that he never reached the point of returning his beloved GTO to the road, and his recent passing means that his family wants the car to go to a new home where someone can complete what their loved one was unable to. If you feel up to the challenge, you will find this Pontiac located in Mira Loma, California, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has rocketed past the reserve and currently sits at $22,600. It seems that the new home and a second chance at life is only days away for this desirable classic.

Once the GTO had been dragged out of storage, the news looks pretty positive. It is finished in its original and attractive Mariner Turquoise with a Black vinyl top. After more than four decades in hiding, the paint looks surprisingly good. It would be interesting to treat the car to a thorough clean because a wet sand and polish might see the vehicle presenting well as an original survivor. The vinyl top looks slightly tired, but I’ve seen these successfully revived using the type of polish usually reserved for fiberglass boats. It would be worth the effort to try because it would cost very little and might save the expense of replacing the vinyl. The chrome steel wheels aren’t original, but they don’t look out of place on a car of this type and age. For potential buyers, a life spent in California brings its rewards. The seller indicates that the GTO is rust-free, with floors and a frame that are in excellent condition. I suspect that the exterior trim might respond positively to some plain old elbow grease and a high-quality polish, while the tinted glass looks like it could be okay.

The positive vibes continue when we turn our attention to this Pontiac’s interior. Before I spent a dime inside the car, I would treat it to a deep clean. The upholstered surfaces appear to be free from heavy wear or physical damage, meaning that the buyer shouldn’t face the prospect of a retrim. The dash and pad also look pretty decent, as does the console with the His-N-Her shifter. The only item that might need replacing is the carpet, although, once again, I’d treat it to a clean before I made that decision. I can’t see any significant wear, so the buyer might be able to revive it successfully. As well as the console, the original owner ordered this GTO with air conditioning and an AM radio.

It seems the original owner was attracted to the prospect of some serious performance credentials, so they ordered this GTO with the 400ci V8 that pumped out 360hp in its prime. This brute of a motor is bolted to a 3-speed TH-400 automatic transmission, while power steering is also part of the package. The GTO came into its own when pointed at a ¼-mile, and this one would’ve been capable of blitzing it in 14.6 seconds. Before placing the car into storage, the deceased owner drained all of the fluids. However, that doesn’t mean that the buyer will face an easy journey returning this classic to our roads. After more than four decades of inactivity, it is almost inevitable that many of the rubber components will have perished, while the brakes will require attention. That is the tip of the iceberg because the seller indicates that the V8 is seized. Whether this is from sitting or was the reason for the car being parked initially isn’t clear. It means that the buyer will almost inevitably remove it, and they will have to hope that it can be returned to a point where a rebuild is viable. I’d probably pull the plugs and have a look inside the motor with a scope first, and maybe some time with the cylinder filled with Mystery Oil could get things moving again.

This 1967 Pontiac GTO has attracted plenty of interest since it was listed for sale. It’s easy to see why because it is pretty rare to find one emerging from such a long hibernation without significant rust problems. Returning it to our roads could be a significant undertaking, but doing so would seem to be a fitting tribute to a departed owner who prized this car. Could you be tempted to bid on this classic so that you can rise to that challenge?

Comments

  1. Avatar Arthell64

    Looks like a great car to get back on the street without spending your retirement account. These are the kind of projects I like.

    Like 22
  2. Avatar Robert White

    Coal Oil down the cylinders via the plug holes should eventually free up the stuck rings.

    Bob

    Like 5
    • Avatar Terrry

      assuming that’s why it is locked up.

      Like 4
    • Avatar jam46

      That has never worked for me. Even when you get the pistons out, it still can be very difficult to unstick rings.

      Like 1
  3. Avatar Terrry

    Good bones here, definitely. Money will be spent on a motor rebuild/swap and probably a transmission refurb, but it will be money well-spent.

    Like 11
  4. Avatar MH

    WELL… LETS SAY… 150 DOLLARS A MONTH STORAGE FEE.. WHICH IN CALIFORNIA WOULD BE CHEAP… 45 YEARS.. COMES TO JUST OVER 80,000 DOLLARS IN STORAGE FEES… SO… go figure

    Like 8
  5. Avatar Johnmloghry

    This is my favorite year for a Goat. I love the 400 400 combination. I had that in a 69 Firebird many years ago, I do believe it to be my favorite all time ownership car.
    I agree why try to free this engine up when you might do more harm than good. Rebuild engine and transmission from the get go, and don’t forget the brakes. I know the bidding on this is going to go far above my meager budget, but nothing wrong with dreaming. I wish the best for both car and buyer.
    God bless America

    Like 10
  6. Avatar John Oliveri

    Your gonna rebuild the motor in the end, so why do more damage trying to turn it over, send the motor and transmission out, clean up the engine bay, interior and paint, replace the vinyl top, and your not in too deep, brake lines, if drums , do front disc brakes

    Like 8
  7. Avatar Dave Peterson

    Looking at this car, it is hard to remember how ubiquitous chrome reverse rims and vinyl tops were from 1965-80. The upgrade was Cragar and Keystone. Automotive News used to publish specs every once in a while rating what they called “rear wheel horsepower”. Pontiac always finished on top with 110-130 h.p. I’m not sure how this number was calculated, but my butt dyno was always impressed by any 389-400-421, with a 1965 GTO doing 12.9 @ 112 being my personal fastest pass timed by professionals. I was lucky enough to get these out of my system, but am infected with a new microbe that may be the worst of all – Jaguar X100. I’m hoping the Covid shot will also prevent further waste of $$$$.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Dave Peterson

      PS – I sincerely hope this family gets every last dollar the car will bring and that it goes to a gearhead and not a flipper. I do not condemn anyone trying to make a buck in this business. The “reality” shows on TV never show the downside – the VIN mixups, the cars that spin a bearing on the drive home, the dropped wheel that passes you on the freeway, etc. etc.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Johnmloghry

        OMG do I remember that wheel coming off the left rear going down a steep hill. Bang! As car the dropped to the asphalt, wheel passing me across 4 lanes narrowly passing a hitchhiker and crashing into a concrete embankment. The brakes still worked and I quickly got the car stopped. My tire mounted on a American racing wheel was undamaged, but the lug nuts were all gone, the brake drum was broken, brake retention springs were missing, but after a walk to a phone (no cells in those days) my wife came with the pickup and I got all the parts to repair it which I did right there on the hill. Boy, did I live a charmed life back then.
        God bless America

        Like 12
  8. Avatar Steve Brown

    My 67 GTO was this exact color, but with no vinyl top and a black interior. Same engine combination with the Hurst his and hers shifter. Brings back some great memories and made me smile.

    Like 7
  9. Avatar Jerrick

    how much you looking for?

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Daniel Bell

    Car was sold for 30K seems cheap. I never even got chance to think about it. Are these Barn finds being shown after the fact? bummer.

    Like 1
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      One of the benefits of BF membership is Early Access to the postings. They are usually up for a day or two before the public sees them.

      There may be rare occasions when a car is near the end of its auction and the authors feel that it is interesting enough to post.

      In this case, the car was purchased before the auction was set to end. SOmeone made the seller an offer they couldn’t refuse.

      Like 2
  11. Avatar Johnny M Parker

    The 360 HP HO engine came with a taller open style air cleaner. This appears to be the standard GTO engine rated at 335HP.

    Like 3
  12. Avatar John

    I also had the 335 standard 400. Mine had the same louvered air cleaner as this one. What a nice original car.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Jon.in.Chico

    Friend of mine had a red with black vinyl top, 4-speed … we’d race regularly … I had my dad’s ’64 Galaxy XL 390/ AT … he never beat me in the quarter … but his car looked better …

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Walter

    Nice car but looks well used for the 9 years before storage. Glad to hear it sold for 30K as I have a 67 2dr post 4spd that runs and drives and also been in storage for around 30years and rust free out from New Mexico that I am 3rd owner and going to sell. Also rest of my collection.

    Like 0

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