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Rock Solid Project: 1964 Pontiac GTO

With the Pontiac GTO continuing to grow in both popularity and value, original and solid project cars are always going to command pretty impressive prices when they surface. Barn Finder Ikey H spotted this great prospect for us, so thank you so much for that Ikey. This is a car that ticks a lot of boxes and has the potential to be a true stand-out once restored. It is located in Hacienda Heights, California, and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner is asking $32,000 for this mighty classic.

While the paint might be showing the ravages of a life exposed to the California sun, it is said to be the original Silvermist Gray. Giving the car a pretty thorough check, it doesn’t appear as though rust is going to be an issue for the next owner, because there is certainly nothing major visible on the vehicle’s exterior. There are also a couple of shots of the trunk, and it looks to be clean and solid. The panels sport a few minor dings and marks, but they generally don’t look to be too bad. There is an alignment issue between the door and front fender on the driver’s side, but this also doesn’t appear to be major. All of the external trim and chrome looks quite good, while the Soft Ray glass also seems to be in good condition.

The originality of the GTO continues when you open the hood, which remains home to the numbers-matching 389ci V8. This produces 325hp, which is sent to the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission. You also get a Posi rear end and power steering. This is a pretty potent combination, and performance of 6 seconds from 0-60mph and a ¼ mile ET of 14.6 seconds would certainly be good enough to attract your attention. The great news is that this GTO is ready to be driven and enjoyed the moment the next owner hands over their money. The owner says that the car runs and drives perfectly, with no issues to report.

Considering how baked the exterior of the GTO is, the interior has survived remarkably well. That isn’t to say that it’s perfect, but I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t be used as it is for an extended length of time. The rear seat looks really good and doesn’t look like it will need to be touched. The same appears to be true of the door trims and console, although the front seats look like they have faded on the outer edges. The dash pad has a crack or two, but the dash itself is all original. The carpet is also faded, but replacing this is not an expensive proposition. The original owner didn’t load the car up with accessories, so about all that you get is a remote control exterior mirror on the driver’s side, and a push-button radio with the optional rear speaker.

Desirability costs money, and that is definitely the case with the Pontiac GTO. This one is not a cheap starting point for a project car, but it is a good starting point. It could easily be used on a long-term basis as it currently stands, with the restoration taking place as money and circumstances allow. It appears to be a rock-solid vehicle, and I have to say that I will envy the next owner because it really is a great car.

Comments

  1. Avatar Steve R

    I could swear this car was featured here a couple of years ago, if so, I wonder if this is the new owner, or if it didn’t sell. The price seems high based on its condition, but it is nearly unique.

    Steve R

    Like 8
    • Avatar Steve P

      Would love to have this car, but, not in the budget at that price

      Like 4
    • Avatar Ron

      yes I thought the same thing, everyone commented on that rear fender

      If you spend just a little effort looking you will find a better car 64 or 65 for less. I search for them all the time.

      Like 10
    • Avatar BRIAN KINNARD

      I thought the same thing. Saw this before somewhere.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Haig Haleblian

    I like this a lot! Drive it as is. Appears to be a real honest piece.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    I agree with you guys. I’m amazed how unmolested this ol goat is. Sure would be cool to drive as is, and if you want unmolested and original, this is a nice example, and you will pay for it. Good luck to the new owner. Would love to run this beauty thru the gears just once.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 4
  4. HoA Howard A. Member

    If the song taught me anything, it needs 3 deuces. Apparently, this is what 60’s icons will cost you in 2020. ( and don’t say it’s not an icon, it is THE icon of the 60’s) I suppose we, people my age that were around when these cars came out, or eventually became beaters, are the lucky ones. We had these cars on a pump jockey’s salary. Today it will cost someone 10 times that, for the same thing. I guess that’s what it’s become, they can justify this price because nobody else has one. Not my idea of the classic car hobby, or at least it never used to be that way. Good luck with the future, folks.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Steve R

      There are plenty of performance cars that can be had on a “gas pump jockey’s” wage, just not cars like this. Mid-2000’s and later Mustang GT’s and some Cobra’s, non LS 4th generation Z28’s, mid-90’s corvettes and even some early-LS powered corvettes. It’s a matter of picking the right car for your budget, it’s been that way since at least the 1980’s when I reached driving age. There were plenty of desirable 60’s performance cars that were out of reach financially, I didn’t cry about it, I just searched for cars that were within my budget. Nothing about that has changed.

      Steve R

      Like 3
      • Avatar Dave

        Don’t know how old you are, but before the first Arab oil embargo one hour’s pay at minimum wage bought 10 gallons of gas.
        Back then, gas was 19.9 and diesel was 14.9.

        Like 6
      • HoA Howard A. Member

        To put things in perspective, I made $1,77/hr. as pump jockey in 1972. A ’64 or ’65 GTO, or any ’60’s muscle car for that matter, could be had for $500 bucks, tops, and they looked just like this. Every parking lot had one ( or 3) in the corner with a for sale sign. Nobody wanted them. Now to see one for 5 figures is a bit unsettling. It’s not a Grand Prix or a fancy car, it was a cheap car with a big motor then and still is. If this is what nostalgia costs, for some, by all means have at it. I’d spend my $30g’s on a ’64 Grand Prix before this rattletrap and I wouldn’t even spend that on one.

        Like 7
  5. Avatar skibum2

    32K ???? I think NOT….good luck,

    Like 9
    • Avatar Dave

      It’ll take double the purchase price to properly restore this car.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Tom Member

        Thank you Dave! Finally (and yes there have been other of you) but many who don’t have a clue that to get this car to #1-2 condition will make is a 6 figure investment BUT not sale-able for that money.

        Check out cars-on-line.com. You can buy a 64 389 Tripower 4 speed car done in #1 or 2 for $40K to $70K…DONE…..there is a black one for asking $72K in MI that you could eat off of. I will NEVER own another black car BUT, just sayin…..

        Some ding bat with far more money than brains will buy it.

        Like 3
  6. Avatar leman

    what makes this old car-parts car worth $32,000.00 really has me wondering.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar Steve P

    Had a neighbor in HS that bought one in 1968, had the tach on the hood. Same color, loved that car. My other high school friend had a 1966 Satellite, 426 semi with two quads, italicization hauled ass!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar jerry z

    Been watching too many Barrett-Jackson auctions.

    Like 2
  9. Avatar art

    This car has been for sale on CL for many, many months and it still resides on CL.
    Either the price or the car seems to be an issue.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Marshall

    I had a friend that had a light blue 1964 GTO that he bought new. I believe it had a 389, but I don’t remember much more than that.
    What’s important is this: I let him know that it was a collector vehicle back then and he agreed. During the 1990s, it had been sitting next to his house, not running, with 87,000 miles, for some time. But strangely enough, I don’t remember it turning green despite it being from Western Washington. There was no way he was going to junk it. I think he finally sold it to a collector with the intention of restoring it.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Dougie

    There’s a lot of old guys on this site.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Steve P

      I resemble that remark!

      Like 5
    • HoA Howard A. Member

      Farts, it’s old farts, and get off my lawn,,dagnabit.

      Like 1
  12. Avatar Del

    NADA says average price around 24 grand for these.

    Going to need a lot of work to make it Cherry again.

    Yes, I know its an orginal GTO but price is to high .

    Like 1
  13. Avatar TimM

    The car the argumentatively started it all!! Great car great it’s a 4 speed car but with needing complete restoration the price is to steep!!!

    Like 0
  14. Avatar mainlymuscle

    Needs like $15k in the glove box to subsidize the resto.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Dougie

    Ya know in 5 years we’ll all be saying, damn, I should have bought that car. Keep in mind they’re not making any more of these. You can get money anytime, albeit sometimes a real challenge.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Bob S

    Nice car, ticks a few of the proper boxes, but like everyone else is saying, absolutely no meat left on the bone for this one.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Sean

    My parents had a ’64 Tempest convertible with the 326 V8 in silver with blue interior. Even at 7 years old, I knew how special that car was by the way everyone looked at it.

    Like 0

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