The Pontiac Motor Division’s GTO badge graced some of the genre’s most legendary and recognizable muscle cars, so when a rare one comes along, it’s worth a closer look. The 1973 GTOSport Coupe you see here fits that bill, especially with a frame-off restoration already completed. Tip of the cap to Curvette for this Milford, Connecticut find, which you can view in all its shiny glory here on the ACC Auctions website for the next five days or so, until the auction ends.
The history of the Pontiac GTO would take way more space than is available in this write-up, so here are the highlights: John DeLorean, ‘64 model year, tri-power 389, The Judge, yadda yadda yadda, Holden. This particular Colonnade body style–1 of 282 in this combination, according to the seller–found itself sandwiched, for one year, between the extraordinarily popular Judge-led 2nd generation and the ho-hum, Ventura-based 4th generation that also lasted only one year before The Goat was put out to pasture for three decades. This one looks sharp in triple black with the unmistakable Pontiac Rally II wheels and proud GTO badging.
The seller states the 400 cu. in. engine and Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission are original and numbers-matching. That combo would have put out about 230 horsepower from the factory, but the listing shows a whole litany of upgrades and overhauls and rebuilds that no doubt have increased that number. This restoration took place over 26 years, after all, so when they say “nut-and-bolt” it’s probably safe to take them at their word. Everything underneath is just as clean and straight as the rest of the car, too. The buyer will get a stack of documentation (also pictured), both original and from the restoration, quelling any doubts about how this beauty looks and drives the way it does more than five decades after it rolled out of the Pontiac, Michigan plant.
Oh, you bet they restored the interior. There’s no way that bench seat and dash pad were shinier in 1973 than they are today. The dash, gauges, and steering wheel look just as perfect as well. The seller says this GTO still has the factory AM/FM radio and air conditioning; power steering; power disc brakes; and declares “all electrical and mechanical systems fully sorted.” It looks like this 1973 Pontiac GTO needs absolutely nothing, other than a new owner. The current bid, as of this writing, is $17,000, which seems eminently reasonable given the time and effort spent getting this car at least close to show status. But is it reasonable enough to get you behind the wheel?
Very nice GTO. Nice color too!!
💯 agree w Dennis.
Bench, column, massaged 400ci, black. 😎