1968 Pontiac GTO

Description

Forget for a moment all the nonsense about pedigrees and numbers, and just imagine your ideal muscle car. Might it look something like this 1968 Pontiac GTO tribute? Borrowing all the best parts from the GTO parts bin and covering it in vivid electric blue paint makes for one heck of a Saturday Night Special that takes no prisoners and needs no apologies.

Yeah, so this one started as a Tempest, who cares? Even when GM was building them, they were the same under the skin, and if you like to drive, then you'll appreciate this car even more. A recent frame-up restoration undoubtedly cost way more than the asking price and delivers the same great look for pennies on the dollar. The electric blue paint stands out, particularly in the sunlight where all the metallic simply glows. And that's some very straight bodywork underneath, impressive enough to warrant a closer look. The quarters are straight, the gaps are good, and plenty of time in the sanding and buffing stages make it shine. A wing from a 1970 GTO Judge adds an aggressive look while keeping it all Pontiac and the Endura bumper is a favorite Pontiac look. Nice chrome, polished stainless, and authentic GTO badges help to complete the illusion.

The black interior is anchored by a set of modern low-back buckets that are far more comfortable and adjustable than the original chairs, yet still look right in the 1968 passenger compartment. New door panels, carpets, and headliner are stock reproductions, so it does stick to the original formula in a lot of ways. The gauges appear to be original, including a speed-minder speedometer, and someone has thoughtfully added a pair of auxiliary gauges under the dash for monitoring the engine's vitals. A fatter steering wheel is a big boon to the guy who wants to drive and the B&M Megashifter setup actually looks right in a Pontiac, where they were always happy to explore new shifting mechanisms. A Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo is a clean fit in the original radio's location and there are GTO logo floor mats underfoot. Spatter paint on the inside of the trunk is the correct way to do it, and it sports a reproduction mat to go along with it.

A 400 cubic inch V8 with an .030 overbore anchors the engine bay, which is detailed just like the factory might have done it. Fitted with TRW forged aluminum pistons, ARP fasteners, MSD ignition, a Weiand intake, and an Edelbrock 750 CFM carb, it snarls wickedly and pulls like a freight train. Correct Pontiac Turquoise paint looks great against the satin black engine bay, particularly with the chrome dress-up items spread around it. A Hughes TH400 3-speed automatic transmission with a shift kit and 2000 RPM stall torque converter delivers the twist to the original rear end, which has towering 2.41 gears inside, but with all that torque you don't need a lot of gear to get it rolling. 40-Series Flowmasters give it that unmistakable muscle car sound and you just can't go wrong with polished Torque Thrust wheels, with these wearing 245/50/16 front and 265/50/16 rear BFG rubber.

So if you're just looking for some muscle car fun without worrying about the future and pedigrees, this Poncho has a lot to offer, most notably all the things that made muscle cars great in the first place: looks, speed, and a reasonable price. Call today!