There’s nothing rare or unusual about a 1968 Pontiac GTO finished in Verdoro Green. Today’s find, a convertible, ups the rarity factor a bit, but with over 5,000 drop-top GTOs produced that year, it’s hardly in rarified air. But, there is a completeness and originality (i.e. not messed with) quality about this car, so let’s see what’s really here. Located in Armonk, New York, this GOAT is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $16,700 with the reserve not yet met.
All new for ’68, the GTO featured a shorter (112″) wheelbase than its ’67 predecessor (115″) and an all-new rounded body though the chassis and suspension were pretty much the same. Pontiac’s mainstay 389 CI V8 engine, standard in the ’64-’67 ’66 GTO, was enlarged to 400 CI in ’67 and ’68 was its second year as standard power. The other big news was the use of the soft, endura Pontiac beak and optional hide-away headlights. The redesigned GTO was a hot ticket in ’68 with sales of over 80K copies.
This car is banged up! There’s no way around it but it does appear to be complete. So often, muscle cars from this era are found in pristine, restored condition, or horribly modified (hacked up) and then left for dead. This example is still as Pontiac intended, it’s just forlorn from likely years of neglect. The paint is faded, there are dents present, rust-through in places is observed, cracked Bondo patches are noted, and a torn convertible top finishes it off.
Powering this Poncho is a 400 CI V8 engine, likely a standard 350 HP version. There were two options, a 265 HP economy variant, and a 360 HP high-performance arrangement but the air cleaner leads me to believe it’s the standard get-up. We’re told, “This true GTO runs well and yard drives“. The driving part is assisted by a Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission. There is no mileage claim so it’s hard to be objective about the engine’s potential remaining life span.
How about that interior? Hard to say considering that this image of the dash, and two of the doors with the door panels removed are all that were included, it’s a suspicious exclusion. We’re told that this is a bucket seat-equipped car but considering the torn top, I have a bad feeling about the interior’s overall condition, and possibly the floor pans too. The steel portion of the dash is rusty (weather/dampness exposure), the steering wheel has been reduced to chunks, and the radio is gone but that’s about all that is revealed.
The seller concludes with, “This car is currently slated for a full frame off restoration process, and can be sold at any point in the program and at any time. Once the full frame off restoration process is complete, it will be offered for International Auction only“. I really don’t know what that means; flash enough bread and I imagine that this baby will be gone in a flash. A good restoration candidate? Probably, it will ultimately depend on where the reserve is set and what it will take to post a sale. That’s the ultimate devil that’s always in the details, right?
The 64-66 GTO had the 389, the 400 was standard equipment beginning with the 67 models. Did this car have an add-on AC system at one time? It looks like there is an AC drier mounted on the right side wheelwell, or is it something else?
Yup, you’re right – fixed.
JO
Don’t forget to follow the BF posting rules…
This definitely warrants a thorough up close inspection. The originality is the only thing that makes this worth a restoration. But based on it’s location it will need to be completely disassembled and the tin worm completely exterminated! It’s gonna need pans, quarters, interior, conv top frame and lower frame closely inspected…etc….etc Best of luck to new owner who has the minimum of $60K to drop on this. I have recently restored some old vehicles so I know what I’m talking about. Whoever has this bid to $16K needs to strongly consider this.
I doubt 60k will do it, you can buy them done cheaper than building them in today’s climate, unless you can do all the work yourself, including paint, which most can’t.
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Of course this car deserves to be restored, but I would think that would be a $100k+ bill..I can’t see how you’re not underwater with this one anyway you look at it.
I owned a ’68 GTO, 400 with 4-speed. I miss that car. If you do a frame off restore then I would take off body and check from the tin worm. I’ll bet you will find a lot has been eaten. Put this body back on the frame and push it back in the junk yard where it came from. For God’s sake let it rest in piece. It’s day was overwith long ago.
Like the beagle said, RUFF!
I like that show. “Roadkill”.
That is all.
Would be a really cool car restored, though.
Been a bodyman most of my adult life. Same as my Father . This one looks pretty tough. I’ve done those GTOs before. Doors ,quarters , wheelhouse, fenders and wheelhouse, doors and trunk lid. Plus the pans. Not to mention the endura front bumper. You can fix anything with enough money. I’d hate to foot this bill.
My brother bought a new ’68 GTO the week before leaving for the Air Force, same color combo in a coupe with the matching vinyl top and red stripe tires. He foolishly left me the keys. I picked up my prom date in it and we never made it to the dance. What a panty-dropper! Lots of times I would run it up to Hagerstown, MD on old Rte 40, catching air over the hills. Loved that car, but this one is too far gone to be worthwhile at 16k.
Probably worth saving, but as mentioned, dig deep into your wallet and then some. Not to criticize, but this car is really nothing all that special. If it was Ram Air II with a stick, then maybe you could sink $100,000 into it and be barely above water.
If U got the Bucks its a Good car worth saving cause its a Convertible# matching motor worth saving!Cheeers
Sold for 19k.Waaaaay too much imo. Someone bought a money pit.
Bought one in 1973 for $500. Red with white convertible top and interior. 400, Auto, hood mounted tac. That car used to get up and go ! Stopping it was a different thing, a little scary ! (drum brakes all around ) lost garage space and sold it for $200.
Sure miss that car !
Whoever ends up with little gem is gonna make someone rich,the person(s) who will be tasked with the resto job.hundreds of hours in metal work alone!