There are few greater thrills for enthusiasts than opening the doors of a dark and dusty barn or shed to find a desirable classic hidden within. However, that isn’t the case with this 1968 Pontiac GTO. It currently occupies a dry and warm spot in a showroom, allowing potential buyers to see exactly what they will receive for their money. It presents well, but there are a couple of minor shortcomings that might lift its appeal for those wishing to perform a few small tasks rather than a full-blown restoration. The GTO has generated the level of interest you would typically expect from any car of this caliber, and there is still time for interested parties to stake their claim on this beauty.
Pontiac introduced its Second Generation GTO in 1968. The latest offering featured a slightly shorter wheelbase but a longer overall length than its predecessor. The new model struck a chord with buyers, with a sales total of 87,684, eclipsing the previous year’s 81,722 cars. This GTO is from the first production year, and while its history is unclear, the seller confirms it received a repaint in its original Primavera Beige in the early 2000s. Its overall presentation suggests it has led a sheltered life because the paint shines impressively, and if there are defects, they are too minor to show in the supplied photos. There are no visible panel problems or signs of rust, and the seller doesn’t mention hidden issues in their listing. They describe the underside as “detailed,” suggesting this Pontiac is rock-solid. The trim and glass are in good order, and the Rally II wheels and hood tach are recent additions.
The GTO always meant business, with this car’s 400ci V8 producing 350hp and 445 ft/lbs of torque. A three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission performs shifting duties, and the power steering lightens the driver’s load in tight situations. The seller states this classic is numbers-matching and claims it was a daily driver until 2020. The rear suspension should offer greater comfort and improved grip, courtesy of the air shocks and upgraded coil springs. The suspension changes aren’t the only recent addition, with the exhaust, tires, and battery also new. Potential buyers should consider this GTO a turnkey proposition that runs and drives well.
Tidy, original, and serviceable are all appropriate terms to describe this GTO’s interior. The vinyl trim is free from significant wear, while the console and dash are excellent for their age. The new owner may wish to address a couple of shortcomings. The wheel has cracked, requiring restoration or replacement. The headliner may respond to gentle stretching to eliminate the visible wrinkles, and it looks like a new rear package tray will go onto a very short shopping list. These retail for under $100, and a fresh one would lift the overall presentation. The new owner will undoubtedly welcome the air conditioning, Hurst Dual-Gate shifter, and the pushbutton radio.
The Pontiac GTO remains a hero of the 1960s, and even the roughest examples generate significant interest when they hit the market. This one is a gem with only minor needs, and the auction action reflects its desirability since the seller listed the GTO here on eBay in Newton, New Hampshire. Twenty-one bids have pushed the price to $19,200, although that figure is below the reserve. Bidding typically intensifies as the end draws near, and there is plenty of time for interested parties to get their finances in order before making a play for this beauty. Are you tempted to be more than an interested spectator in this auction?
Can ANY of these people selling these cars put anything but crap Mastercraft or Cooper tires on them?
the car had Uniroyal Tiger Paw white letter tires at some point as some pictures show them. The mastercraft shod rims have a red center cap, while the rims with the Uniroyal tires have the correct “pmd” center caps
What is wrong with buying Cooper tires? American made products.
They are cheap junk. Good Year bought Cooper and it was to fulfill the need for a discount, Kmart type tire. They market the same tire through Pep Boys Futura, Mastercraft Avenger, and Mickey Thompson. Same cheap tire, different name.
What’s the beef with cooper?
See above…they make a car look cheap. They are just a cheap tire. Put some Radial T/A’s, Firestone Wide Ovals or Good Year Polyglas GT’s on it and watch the perceived value of any car increase by thousands.
My late ’90s made in USA $43 ea 235-60-15 ORWL Grand Prix Radial GT by CORDOVAN have(still on my ’74 firebird!) outlasted any other tire i have ever bought – nor does their white sidewall lettering turn brown like you know what “premium” brand today.
My old Goodyear Gatorbacks not only were noisy & tracked like bias plies, but were cracking all over after 5 years. lol
Lets also hear it for 1970s Firestone 500s &
1990s Bridgestone/Firestone’s ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires on older Ford Explorers.
Had a set of Firestone Firehawks on a ’72 Cutlass 30 years ago, one of them gave up in less than 600 miles. Got a welt on the sidewall as big as my forearm.
The Hurst his/her shifter 💑
How is the car on a lift, and no photos from the underside. Yes the car looks great and quite solid, but most people don’t have a lift and here we are…..
About 20 years ago when dripping around junkyards was a hobby of mine, in the span of about 5 or 6 months I kept coming across consoles for these GTO’s & Tempests. I must have found 6 or 7 of them in boneyards, Pennysaver ads and the like. I bought and sold every one of them and made a killing. Buy them for $50 or $100 and sell them for $350-400.
Good times.
I’m an odd duck but I love the lighter colors on these cars, great looking car but from New Hampshire I would have to crawl under that lift and look . And I love the wing vent window on any of the older cars.
Did anybody else know those vent windows as ‘cigarette windows’?
I’ve heard them called cigarette windows,depends on what part of the country your from and if you smoke or not,definitely a good name for them
We always called them smoker’s windows
Quarter windows or quarter glass in Australia
Wonder why the seller didn’t post the vin… hmmm….
There is a picture of the vin
See it now… added after I made the comment. Wasn’t there before. thx.
Every time I see one of the 68 – 69 Goats for sale I want to cry. I had a 69 Judge in the early 80’s until the local Judge took my DL for to many speeding tickets, he refused to let me drive until I sold the car. I ended up ( after 2 years, selling it for $2000 and a 81 Toyota Pick up. God what that thing is worth now !
Nice GTO, personally I think the 69 has a more refined look than the 68’s, but that being said, all this appears to need visually is a better air cleaner, a re-stretch of the headliner and a dome light lens, and as mentioned, a more appealing set of tires. I think Mastercraft is what people purchase who don’t want to spend the additional money for T/A’s… most inexpensive RWL tires these days have cheap names, and oversized lettering to scream “look at me” it seems and they just don’t look good. The Mastercraft tires to me, anyway, are the best looking off-brand RWL tires. I don’t own any, but they don’t look half bad. On this car, red-lines would be the ticket! Completely agree that showing a car on a lift without a single photo of the underside is baffling…
The size of the white lettering today is not that large, compared to the past. Regarding inexpensive sport radial “shop” tires, the ’80s had the most # of ORWL choices of tires available that were inexpensive, with huge size lettering that covered up to 75% of the sidewall going around! In coming decades, not only did the size of the lettering get smaller & smaller(& in some cases, the number of letters were reduced), but the width of the tire got smaller(for the same size!) & the number of tread channels going around went from 6 to 4 – & in some sizes today down to 3!
“Lettering” above can also include numerical characters.
What hasn’t gotten way more expensive & much smaller today?
They’re called quarter windows but I know a lot of people that used to call them cigarette windows or vent windows. I do miss him though.
Quarter windows to me were always the “back seat” windows. Quarter windows on the quarter panels!
Mostly heard them technically called vent windows, I won’t own a classic car that doesn’t have them ,and I won’t own a car that doesn’t have the key mounted in the dash ,not the steering column, but I’m an odd duck
I like my 64 and 65’s, key on the left side!
Didn’t know they had keys on left ,pretty cool. Had a 66 GTO had key in the dash . My 67 Camaro SS has the vent windows
I can just imagine your very 1st time in an old Ferrari, etc. – like Magnum’s, only to find that the big “vent” window in the door is phony & does not open in any way. lol
Didn’t know they had keys on left ,pretty cool. Had a 66 GTO had key in the dash . My 67 Camaro SS has the vent windows
My 67 Chevelle and 66 El Camino both had the ignitions on the dash.
Fun fact: You could pull the key straight out of the ignition without turning off the car.
Life lesson: Do not aggravate your kid brother to the point he snatches the keys out of the ignition and tosses them out the window.
50’s and 60’s GM cars frequently suffered from this “feature”. It happens simply due to wear on the keys and lock cylinder, some do, and some do not. It was fun to pull the key out and watch the reaction from the passenger!
Wing windows
Just found this car listed in Exeter, New Hampshire for $40k.
https://mccauleywholesalenh.com/vdp/20838196/Used-1968-Pontiac-GTO-for-sale-in-Exeter-NH-03833
I think it’s on consignment there.
Found this listed GTO at a consignment dealer in Exeter, NH listed for $40k