From its launch in 1964, the Pontiac GTO was the muscle car leader of the pack. But the bloom was off the rose by the end of the decade, thanks to market saturation and rising insurance premiums. The seller’s 1971 “GOAT” is a triple-black older restoration and is a numbers-matching machine with just one owner in 30 years. Located in Adrian, Michigan, this “Poncho” is available here on eBay, where the current ante holds at $10,878.

From a peak of 97,000 deliveries in 1966, GTO sales were down to 10,500 by 1971. As bad as that was, it was a drop of nearly 75% from 1970. A 400 cubic-inch V8 was still standard, but the compression ratio had been reduced to run on the new low-lead fuels. That’s what’s under the hood of the seller’s car, and it’s been there since it left the factory 54 years ago. Also factory is the TH-400 automatic transmission, and this appears to have been a well-equipped Pontiac when new.

The seller references an older restoration, but doesn’t elaborate on what that may have entailed, except for the passenger compartment. With black paint, a black vinyl top, and a black interior, this might be the most attractive combination you could buy. We’re told the upholstery, carpeting, headliner, and even the dashboard are new at just shy of 72,000 miles. The only discrepancy may be that the factory air conditioning needs a charge.

GTO production would continue to limp along in 1972 and even with the Colonnade redesign in 1973. Pontiac shifted gears in 1974 and based the GTO on the Ventura compact, a derivative of the Chevy Nova. By that time, GM management no doubt concluded the muscle car had run its course, and the GTO rode off into the sunset. From what we can tell, this ’71 looks like a keeper!