Every now and then, a real-deal GTO surfaces with the kind of backstory that reminds you why these cars still matter. Listed here on eBay, this 1966 Pontiac GTO is exactly that—a true 242-code car with a clean title, offered as a long-term family-held project that was meant to be restored but never completed. It’s being sold by a private seller who inherited several project cars from his uncle and simply doesn’t have the ability to take them on himself. Thanks for the tip Curvette!

According to the seller, this is a genuine 1966 GTO equipped with a 389 and a 4-speed, and he was told by his uncle that the engine is matching numbers and that the car was originally a Tri-Power setup. The Tri-Power carburetor setup is no longer present, but the story adds important context to the car’s original configuration. The mileage is listed as 99,999, which suggests that the true mileage is unknown. The car carries a clean title in hand, which is always a big consideration for any long-term project.

The backstory is part of what makes this one compelling. The seller’s uncle reportedly bought his first brand-new car in the 1960s—and it was a Pontiac GTO. Years later, he acquired this 1966 example with plans to rebuild it later in life. His intention was to convert it to an automatic for easier driving, but he only made it as far as removing the engine and transmission before an accident limited his mobility. The car then sat unfinished for several years. For the purposes of the sale and photos, the seller states that he reinstalled the engine back into the car, but the restoration never progressed beyond that.

The seller is open about his situation. He doesn’t claim to be a restorer and makes it clear that he’s simply trying to place these cars in the hands of people who can bring them back to life. He’s also realistic about value—he understands that true 1966 GTOs still carry real weight in the market, and he’s willing to consider reasonable offers, but not lowball ones.

What you’re getting here is a real GTO with an honest project history, not a dressed-up clone or tribute. It’s the kind of car that represents a blank slate for someone who wants to build it their way—whether that means returning it to factory-style performance or finishing the resto-mod direction the original owner had in mind.

Projects like this don’t come with guarantees, but they do come with something just as valuable—authenticity. And in the GTO world, that still counts for a lot. Would you return this ’66 to its original Tri-Power, 4-speed glory, or continue the automatic conversion it was originally intended for?