There's little doubt that anyone cruising down the road would do an immediate doubletake if they saw this 1968 Pontiac GTO coming up in their rear-view mirror. GTOs are a respected muscle car nameplate to begin with, and this specimen, clad in a dramatic color and carrying its original big block power under the hood, turns the figurative control knob on its heralded status all the way to "11".
This GTO's exterior is all about visual impact, with its muscular form carrying deep black paint that's finished off with a black vinyl top. Having been applied only a few years ago, the paint fortunately avoids that common fault-exhibiting vulnerability the shade tends to have - it looks impressively blemish-free and is only a thorough waxing from really looking its best. Pontiac did some fairly extensive remodeling on their second generation of GTOs the very year this one came out - reducing its wheelbase, dropping its height and reshaping the rear contour of the roofline to a semi-fastback form, and the aesthetic fruits of that labor are obvious. Broad across the front, with its signature Endura monochromatic black bumper - a feature that was ahead of its time both in terms of aesthetics and impact absorption - sitting underneath its distinctive split front grille, it's a car that appears both aggressive and refined at the same time. GTOs of this era didn't go in for a lot of badging and emblems, leaning instead towards a more custom-looking, almost aftermarket vibe, but those that are on display here all represent themselves well.
The black vinyl interior retains its original configuration and is a great example of late '60s automotive styling. It's more than road-ready inside, but it could be brought to a whole new level with some well-focused attention. The buckets up front and bench seat in back still look fresh and show no tearing across their surfaces, remaining well-padded and comfortable. As a '68, this GTO may have a shortened wheelbase relative to its predecessors, but there's still a lot of room inside here, so you'll get nothing but contented smiles from your backseat passengers. The dash area sits nice and level, with all of its original factory gauges still intact and a solid dash pad above. Refurbishing wooden accents and gauge lenses certainly isn't the most difficult of restoration tasks, and it will make a dramatic difference with this venerable muscle car's interior. The trunk area in back is well aligned and solid-looking. With no carpet lining to obscure the view, you can more easily see its clean, damage free floor and wheel wells.
With its original matching numbers 400-cubic inch V8 sitting under its double-scooped hood, this GTO has the power to match its aggressive looks. The big block was professionally rebuilt by Wayne Calvert Racing Engines just a few years ago and was armed with a pair of Edelbrock aluminum heads and 4-barrel carb to up its performance. Power readings taken after the rebuild confirmed the precision of the work performed, yielding undeniably pleasing results - a full 380 horsepower and an otherworldly 441 ft./lb. of torque. It's paired with the GTO's original smooth-shifting 3-speed automatic transmission to make for an authentically stock drivetrain that's fully up to the rigors of frequent driving. A high-impact Pontiac classic, it sits on a set of 15" custom wheels that are outfitted with Cooper Cobra radials.
This 1968 Pontiac GTO offers a great combination of magnetic curb appeal and well-maintained big block power, and it'll no doubt get lots of looks out on the boulevard. Call today!