By 1972, the muscle car era was undergoing a wake, and the funeral was not far behind. Increasing insurance premiums, tightening emissions controls, and (soon) rising gas prices, would make the mid-size performance cars of the 1960s a thing of the past. This 1972 Pontiac GTO has the rare WW-5 option which provided a 455 cubic inch V8 rated at 300 hp SAE net (as powerful as you could get). This car is said to be well-documented and has been off the road for 44 years, meaning a complete restoration will be in order. Located in Milford, Massachusetts, this “Poncho” is available here on craigslist for $24,000. Thanks for the cool tip, Tommy T-Tops!
The Pontiac GTO is credited with starting the muscle car movement in 1964. It became so popular that the company gave it series status from 1966 to 1971. Declining sales brought the car back to being an option on the LeMans intermediate. Interest declined further and – in 1974 – after being relegated to a performance version of the Ventura compact, the marque was retired in its 11th year. But in 1972, you could still get a hot GTO, the one with the WW-5 455 V8 that only found 310 buyers with a 4-speed manual transmission. The seller’s car appears to be one of the few that are left.
By ordering the WW-5, you got Ram-Air induction and a heavy-duty suspension package. Checking it and the GTO option on the list, you added about 20% to the cost of a routine LeMans. Though the seller doesn’t go into a lot of the history of this GTO, it was no doubt discovered and relocated, given that all the photos provided are of the car on the back of a trailer. We assume the key mechanical pieces are all there, but the photos don’t help. We don’t see the engine, transmission, driveshaft, or front bucket seats.
We’re told that PHS documentation comes with the car, so we hope that will clear things up. But the sheet metal is quite crusty in places, so perhaps more than a few patches will be needed. The elusive V8 engine is said to be both original and a WW-5. It was a well-optioned machine when new, including factory air conditioning and power windows. The paint color was Brittany Beige and we’re told what’s left of it is the original finish. This could be a beautiful and rare automobile when restored, but you’d better have a healthy bankbook to fund the project.
“…and has been off the road for 44 years”…deep in the woods, under twelve feet of collapsed barn debris…all for $24k. Wake up, Sleeping Fugly.
24 sounds about right…2400, that is…maybe…
I looked at ad pics. This one hasn’t been in the woods. Undercarriage is pretty solid looking IMHO. I don’t know about the price honestly. It’s a low production number,4 speed, big block GTO. I’m thinking she’ll have no shortage of interested buyers.
I agree, this car isn’t that bad, could be restored to a really nice car, the problem here isn’t the car it’s the price. 24k is seriously optimistic. I know it’s rare, but 12-15k seems like all the money to me.
No such thing as a “big block” Pontiac.
The Pontiac 455 is not considered a big block, that was Chevrolet terms when Chevrolet had 2 different block configurations, Pontiac always had only 1 configuration with changes made on 1 platform, no such thing as a big block
And there were “small” block engines that were larger than big block engines.
Pontiac did not have big blocks all there blocks back then were the same only difference was bore and stroke
This thing is a junk body the original engine and transmission are gone you can see that with how high it’s sitting in the front the seats are gone how rare is scrap metal now lol
Sadly, not as rare as run on sentences.
All the old school pontiacs are big blocks except the 301
Neither big block or small block terminology is applicable to the Pontiac V8 engines, in addition to the 301, the 265 was also a short deck engine.
No lowballers. I know what I have. I watch Mecum and I developed a strong case of Barrett-Jacksonitis when I saw a pristine example sell for $100K so mine MUST be worth my asking price. 😄
Once again a perfect example of someone selling a car as to how it use to be or selling it for what it could be. This is at best a $400.00 car with no interior or engine or transmission. But lots of rust.
These sellers like this do not want to do any work or spend the time and money to restore them, But they want all the money for doing nothing except dragging the car out of a field and taking photos.
SWS..still looking for those examples! Take care.
I agree with you mate.back in the 60 and 70 tees I junked better than this but I didn’t know what the out come was going to be.places like barret jackson have ruined the market just like real estate people.everybody wants a bigger piece of the pie so they make you bid higher and I would not be surpriced if they don’t plant people in there to make you bid higher.
The 12 bolt rear alone is worth way more than $400. The ad states the original engine is included, ad shows photo’s of the short block, round port heads and intake. No mention of the trans. Floor pans look pretty nice, actually, from what is visible. $24k is strong money, and it needs a lot.
Yes sir barn finds TURD OF THE WEEK 😂
DW, Please post photos of the front end with bumper and grill, Post photos of the rare ram air hood with Ram Air parts attached to the motor and the air capture system. Do you even have these rare expensive parts? What is the number on the rear locker rear end? Do you have the original shifter? Does this car have the original factory high RPM tach still in it? Do the power windows work connected to a battery? How about some interior trunk photos and photos of the original clutch and brake assembly. Does this car have the factory high flow 4 core radiator still in it with upper and lower tanks? does it have the factory gas tank? How much of the original AC system comes with the car? Compressor, Firewall heater box and cooling core?
My point is, You do not have any or these rare expensive parts to put this car back together by anyone, I have been here. Just take photos of the two vin tags and sell those for $300.00 if they are even still on this body. You want the world for this car then start stepping up and prove it is what you say Mr BJ and Mecum man.
“factory high flow 4 core radiator still in it with upper and lower tanks?” All GM A body radiators have been crossflow since 1968, side tanks, not “upper and lower tanks”. High RPM tachometer? The PHS documentation does not note the optional instrumentation.The guy lists a phone number in the ad, you could call and ask all those questions… by the way, DW is not the seller of the car, he was being a bit sarcastic about the pricing based in BJ and Mecum.
I have to agree with the prior commitments, this car is pretty far gone. Dip this and a whole lot of the car will be missing. Not one photo of the drivetrain that is supposed to come with the car. Don’t know if this is a 24K car in this condition, but this guy is entitled to go fishing!
He claims to have the numbers matching 455 HO. That engine by itself is $10k. Its a 4 speed to boot. Yes it may be rough, but a highly desirable Poncho. Unfortunately however, these do not bring the same money as their HO TA counterparts. It deserves to be brought back to life.
All the old school pontiacs are big blocks except the 301. Where is the moter and trance I have 4 pontiacs all from 60s. I no a lot about them
I “kno” one thing that you don’t know a lot about…
Again, Pontiac did NOT make a big block, all Pontiac V8 motors were the same platform, this is NOT a Chevrolet
First, to KC John. Pontiac never made a big block back in the day. It was all one size block with different heads and internals. Second, this car would be worth what he’s asking IF it were all together but considering how much it will cost to put together IMO it’s worth about half and that’s coming from someone who really is into this body style Pontiac. Hoping it gets put back together.
What 66-71 Hemi power is in Mopar land, 68-74 round port ram air is in the Pontiac camp. All were produced in very low numbers and not a great survival rate. This GTO almost hits, holy grail territory for Pontiacs. WW5 it’s not just an engine option on this car, but probably the most significant/serious performance package ever offered on any GM Abody of the era. Add the power windows and AC, this is one incredible GTO. If all the bits and pieces that are missing in the photos are actually with the car (and we’re talking dozens of incredibly rare expensive 455HO stuff) the asking price is in the park.
I would far more rather have a 1969 Ram Air 4 GTO Judge convertible. This is a basket case even if the buyer did all the work himself. The car will never be the same again and costs will be well north of $100K and even then still not numbers matching. But these middleman Trolls in here will keep pushing this crap. Watch your backs guys.
Guess what? There is no drive train at all, No engine or transmission or drive shaft pedals No interior no brake booster. It is a rusted metal shell. What park do you think this price is in? Dream Land? Just the price to drag this home or ship it would be more than it is worth.
Time goes full circle an amazingly fast. It was 1973 and I was driving a 1970 LS6 Chevelle 454 four speed. I lived in Providence Rhode Island at the time and worked in Whitinsville foundry Whitinsville,
Massachusetts. Another boy there had a 1970 GTO 455 who always wanted to race me. For a while I thought this might be that car. Obviously it’s not. His was white and an automatic. 1972 not withstanding, still a good looking car.
The General has offered some great packages over the years. This is a good example. Strong pkg from the Pontiac division.
sws
wrong
$100k for a perfect example?i bet it didn’t start out as a complete rust bucket like this one.you’ll probably spend at least 40 or 50 grand on metal work.You’re already upside down before you even get started….GLWTS…Only worth about 8-$10k in present condition.
Well , a tan 72 GTO isnt exactly going to stand out in a crowd, but if the car checks out, it would be well worth a restoration. One quarter looks bad, but the rest of the car looks fairly solid. The asking price however, is astronomical. The seller says the car is a 455HO 4 speed car, but doesn’t say he has the engine , trans, or even the driveshaft. without those, its worth a LOT less
All I can say is (and I’m sure many enthusiasts will agree) how in the world does such a special car (at least for the 72’ model year) get in this horrible condition….it’s a real shame these cars fall into the wrong hands…..this condition is deplorable & sad to see this way…..anyone who spends 24 large for this hunk of metal needs a mental exam……again, sad to see in this condition…..anyway, I’d rather have a later SD Firebird than the GTO…..
Well, who knows. The car in today’s world is rare. The price is ridiculous IMO but at one time cars like this were just old used vehicles. They rolled into yards, we picked whatever from them and then stacked them in a pile and pressed them flat and then shredded them. I guess what amazes me is the scrounges that get these for what they are worth and then have it for sale before it’s even off the raggy trailer. I have quite a few cars in various conditions and guys like this are always looking for that 300.00 score and get rather nasty when you send them down the pike. I doubt they will get 24k. Hopefully the right guy has the save to flash them enough to feed the hee haws..
Well put Chis, I believe I hit on the nerve of a few of these Trolls. Their colorful comments reflect the distasteful comments from them.
Production numbers listed are for HO 4 speed, not WW5. I think WW5 numbers are 290? Saw a discussion on FB.
You’re gonna have a tough time finding replacement front fenders. One year only design. Otherwise, a pile of crap and yes, a real HO engine is $10,000. I remember one of these in that 72 orange color for sale at Carlisle in the early 90s. I think he was asking $10,000, perfect specimen.
This was the kinda car that could be had, sitting forlornly at the back of a tote-the-note lot in the 1980s for hundreds of dollars. With plenty of life left or maybe an engine or transmission rebuild. Perhaps this was one of those hundred dollar cars that was driven literally into the ground in 1979 and mother nature then took over. I just don’t see a five-figure car here.
People seem to forget 60 years after this GTO was built that it was a production car ordered from a dealer, they were NOT collector cars in 1972. This car is missing the parts that made it special, maybe the owner has all the parts not shown, maybe not, either way, this is a big project or just a parts car, lots of unanswered questions, No way is it worth what he is asking in this condition.
The WW5 package adds a lot to a LeMans GTO. Was it a racing homologation package like the Boss Mustangs?
The car in concept is neat. Not for what it is now unfortunately, but for what it was when it was new.
There are so many stupid comments by uninformed, uneducated readers here that I do not even know where to begin. If you don’t have any clue what this car is, you need to do your research…it’s well worth the asking price.
You are entitled to your opinion like everyone else. But with all the extra publicity that this is getting from Barn Finds, and it’s still not sold, obviously most people looking for one of these thinks it’s overpriced too or it would be gone.
Then You buy this mess and show everyone your correct
then Buy it Mike. As mentioned earlier, The rare parts that made this car new are gone and impossible to find unless you have time and a lot of money.
Where is the Ram Air hood Mike? The front bumper? Does the engine number match the car? You can not expect anyone to be serious about a car like this for this money with a very poorly uninformative ad like this. It is what it is….. A $400.00 car.
People, Lets get back to simple facts on this train wreck.
The person or seller does not even take photos of the front of the car. The rare endura bumper is gone there is no GTO ram air hood that was special to this car. The front grill is gone. This car is trash and junk at best. Talk about kicking a dead horse to make the thread Trolls happy. AND even if restored with original parts numbered (and will never be ever) It was a ugly car inside and out. I retract my offer of $400.00
Anything can be restored, it’s really about what the investment will cost, many of the rare parts are missing and not reproduced for a 1972 GTO, old originals will have to be sourced, The hood is a very rare part and only used in 71 and 72, Not reproduced in metal, but in aftermarket fiberglass, As I said, it will come down to costs, it will never be numbers matching since the motor is gone, that hurts value a LOT, all depends on how much someone likes this car and what they are willing to spend to restore it, there is an ass for every seat as the saying goes
This is a rare car and valuable when restored, it really comes down to the cost and whether it’s worth the investment, the trouble is that the driveline is missing and will never be numbers matching. That will hurt the value a LOT, as much as 50%, maybe someone will buy it and restore it anyway because they love the car, that happens all the time, many cars have been restored in the past that are worse than this car. Nostalgia is very powerful, and it may find a buyer.
The car does retain it’s original WM code engine, most of it anyways, no mention of the transmission.