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Rare Muscle: 1970 Pontiac GTO 455 H.O.

This 1970 Pontiac GTO is being relisted for sale by the friend of the owner. The car was previously auctioned in mid October with a final sales price of $19,699. Unfortunately for the seller, the buyer ended up not following through on the purchase, so the car is listed here on eBay with two days remaining in the auction. Located in Gresham, Oregon, the GTO is an unrestored example of one of the best looking GTO’s that were produced between 1964 and 1974. Currently, the car is bid to $13,850 after 17 bids. The auction looks like it has met its reserve so the car should sell.

Pontiac first equipped the GTO with a 455 cubic inch V8 engine in 1970. While the exterior decals denoted that it was a 455 cubic inch engine, the HO designation was only seen on the build sheet. Pontiac rated the 455 cubic inch V8 engine at 360 horsepower and 500 lb ft of torque. The 455 cubic inch engine horsepower rating was surprisingly low compared to the torque it delivered. Even the Ram Air II 400 cubic inch V8 engine had a higher horsepower rating (366 hp). This engine is different from the 455HO found in the 1971 and 1972 GTO. The 1971 and 1972 GTO 455HO had round port heads offered in 71-72. Also, I believe the 1970 455 was a 4 bolt main and the 1971-72 were two bolt mains.

This GTO left the factory with a red interior that looks original. The seats and door panels are worn but are serviceable as is. The odometer reads 85,077 miles. The large displacement engine is backed by an automatic transmission operated via a console floor shifter. The car is being sold with no reserve and the engine is not operable.

Of the 41,000 GTOs produced in 1970, 4,146 were equipped with the 455 cubic inch V8 engine. The trunk pan has rust holes and the exterior paint is faded and looks like it has been touched up with a rattle can. I hope the next buyer follows through and gets this car on the road.

Comments

  1. Avatar Troy s

    Back again, by popular demand. It seems more like a LeMans than a GTO if that makes any sense, but that’s not a bad thing. Too bad about the floors and non running 455 in an otherwise nice old car.
    Those Rally II’s with white raised letter tires would look pretty sharp. For me it’s the red/black interior that catches my eye.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Fred

      The “42” as the second and third digits of the VIN verify it is a GTO.

      White doesn’t do it justice!

      Like 5
      • Avatar Troy s

        Sure, it’s for real, and it could be the white paint as you state….but I can usually spot a GTO. If I saw this coming at me or across the street I’d just think, “wow, that’s a really nice LeMans!” I dont know what it is, could be the white paint and white wall tires together. I looked at a LeMans Sport years ago for the big sum of1000 dollars, white, 400, 3 speed floor shifted manual, compared to the ’68 GTO I passed up(1800bucks),also white, the LeMans was kind of dull. Different years, I know.

        Like 1
      • Avatar Dave

        Would you have saved money on insurance by buying the Le Mans? That dodge worked for a few years until the insurance companies figured out that the same powertrain options could be had in other models. Then they asked you what engine the car had.

        Like 1
  2. Avatar Turbo

    Someone should clone it into a Lemans

    Like 7
  3. Avatar Fred

    1971 & 1972 455 HO’s were 4 bolt mains, along with the SD-455’s. Most other 455’s were drilled for 4 bolt mains, but only used two bolt main caps.

    Some late 72 motors were used in 1973’s.

    Like 8
  4. Avatar Rhett

    Neat car, like the whitewalls ( it’s a good chance it was delivered that way) Tje 455 was a good engine in these cars , in a road test of the day it was just as fast as the RAIII in the quarter. These 70’s GTO interiors are a real let down when compared to an Olds or Buick, and I find the nose styling to be an acquired taste (took me a while to warm up to the 70) This is a cool, honest car that someone is going to love..

    Like 0
  5. Avatar 370zpp Member

    I once owned a 72 Lemans GT and as Troy s states this one seems more like a LeMans than a GTO.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Fred

    Back in the early 80’s, there was a white GTO convertible in the Models parking lot, it too had the 455 engine.

    I always wondered what happened to that car. Supposedly a woman owned it back then. I left many notes on the windshield with my phone number.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Mr. Mann

    ALL rust-bucket eBay cars are “an easy repair”

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Stan Marks

    I’ll tell you what’s missing & why it looks like a plain canvas. There wasn’t a comment, regarding the paint being original or re-painted. Where are all of the decals & badges? This goat looks naked without them. The only sign, that it’s a GTO, besides the VIN, hood scoops & GTO emblem on the front grill, it looks like a plain LeMans. A maroon pin stripe wouldn’t hurt, either .

    Like 2
  9. Avatar 4 barrel

    I think these muscle clone classic’s have peeped on price As we are all worried about our economy. That original bid was unrealistic. A 12-14 maybe…

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Jack in RI

    Lol, this is a sleeper GTO.
    Speeding tickets are expensive.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar firemedic2714

    This is just begging for a trunk full of moonshine. What a great rum runner. Anyone up for some bootleggin’?

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Moe

    Jack in RI hit it.
    There should be holes on sides for Lemans logos.
    So its been re-painted and debadged. Who looks at a White Pontiac .
    My thinkin also SLEEPER.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Stan Marks

    As Fred stated, in his first post, “The “42” as the second and third digits of the VIN verify it is a GTO”.
    There won’t be any holes, for badges.Only GTO decals on the right rear deck lid & decals on either side of the lower front fenders, between the tires & doors. Since this is a GTO, there wouldn’t be LeMans logos on this car.
    In the interior, there are small GTO badges on both doors, between the arm rest & window. The ’70 Lemans Sport coupe, did have twin hood scoops. But they were much larger than the GTO scoops.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Glen Riddle

      BTW it was the 1971 and 1972 LeMans, not the ’70, that could be had with hood scoops. For 1971-72 you could order the T-41 Endura Styling option which included the forward large scoops found on the GTO. They were functional when Ram Air was ordered.

      Like 2

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