1968 Pontiac Grand Prix Hardtop 53125 Miles Vedoro Green 400 cubic inch V8 3-s

Description

Luxury cars of the ‘60s and ‘70s were probably the peak of what we call “the American Way.” Unapologetically immense, ridiculously powerful, and incredibly well-styled, land yachts like this stunning 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix were the ultimate expression of the American success story. And with Pontiacs, you got a nice dose of sportiness to go with it, because the Excitement Division knew that they weren’t building cars for old men—they were building cars for guys who had it made. With... just over 53,000 original miles and only two owners, this stunning Grand Prix is one of the finest survivors we’ve ever seen. It was purchased new on December 11, 1967 at Front Pontiac in Perrysburg, OH. That first owner was an employee at Front Pontiac—that explains the 1969 Rally II wheels, which he ordered from the Front Pontiac parts department when they were introduced and the car was just seven months old. He fastidiously maintained the GP until an untimely snowmobile accident in 1980 rendered him unable to drive. At that time it had approximately 49,600 miles. The second owner, a serious collector of both Pontiacs and high-quality original cars, purchased it in 1980 and it remained in his collection where it was maintained in heated, protected storage and used sparingly, collecting only another 3500 or so miles over the next 39 years. It has been recently and comprehensively serviced so it’s 100% ready to enjoy and drives like a brand-new Pontiac. If this isn’t the finest of its kind, I can’t imagine how others could be any better. Seriously, just look at this thing. It's gorgeous. The paint is code Q Vedoro Green, which was the most popular color in 1968 and it's quite handsome on the big coupe. That's factory Magic Mirror lacquer and aside from one or two little chips that have been brush touched, it's in exemplary condition. Dig how straight it is and that shine is for real. Don't let anyone tell you that old paint wasn't as shiny as the stuff we have today. The black vinyl top is like new with no bubbles or other issues, and all the chrome sparkles. Hell, the front windows even still have 'GP' etched on them, a 1968-only detail! The windshield was replaced in 1997 due to a rock chip, but the rest of the glass and seals are original and in excellent condition. The doors don’t rattle when you slam them, the hood latches without a heavy slam, and all the brightwork shines up as well as it did in 1968. Demerits are limited to a few scratches on one piece of trim at the base of the windshield and a replacement nose emblem which came from a different model and had the mounting tabs relocated to fit the Grand Prix. And yes, the headlights work! The black interior is Pontiac near-luxury with a hint of sportiness. Buckets and a console in a full-sized car is kind of cool, and you'll note this one is loaded up with options: ice cold A/C (still pumping R12 through its veins), tilt wheel, AM/FM radio with working reverb and power antenna, remote mirror, and somewhat rare cruise control. It all works except the clock. Dig how bright and crisp the burled walnut appliques are, the dash pad is unmarked, and things like the carpets and even the seat belts are like new (the seat belts still have their GM tags at their base). No sags or rips in the headliner, and even the silver mylar on the edges of the seats hasn't yellowed—most cars you see look gold and everyone assumes it was gold from the factory. It was not. I don't think anyone has ever sat in the back seat. Gauge markings are bright and dig the shape of the hi-beam indicator: the profile of Chief Pontiac himself! Even though it was the ‘60s, nobody ever smoked in this car and all the ashtrays and lighters are unused and like new. You’ll also note there’s no pitting on the dashboard chrome pieces, the big plastic T-handle for the shifter hasn’t cracked (they all do) and those are even original 1968 Pontiac rubber floor mats. This car is a survivor in the strictest sense. The trunk has its date-coded original mat and cardboard bulkheads, plus a factory jack assembly and the aforementioned 15-inch Rally II wheel (kudos to the first owner for buying five of them instead of four!) wearing what appears to be a vintage 1968 Firestone bias-ply whitewall tire that’s never been used. The engine is the original, numbers-matching 400 cubic inch V8, same one found in the GTO, and it makes 350 effortless horsepower. In the big coupe, it's plenty potent—this car is too fast to be a luxury cruiser but too comfortable to be a muscle car. The engine bay is beautifully detailed and largely original save for maintenance items. The block is wearing factory Pontiac Turquoise enamel, although it has been touched up on the heads and intake where the exhaust heat had burned off the original stuff over the past 53,125 miles. But the air cleaner, inner fenders, all the decals, and hardware were all placed there in 1968 and never touched again. The chrome valve covers were added by the same original owner who installed the wheels, and they look right for a piece of Pontiac muscle. It starts easily and idles so smoothly you are tempted to hit the starter again. Recent service work includes a rebuild ion the original 7028262 4-barrel carburetor, a re-cored radiator, rebuilt water pump and fan clutch, plugs, points, condenser, cap, rotor, and plug wires (the original date-coded wires are included with the car), rebuilt alternator, rebuilt master cylinder, new hoses and belts, and a fresh Delco battery with the original spring-clip battery cables still intact. It runs superbly, pulling the big coupe around with real authority, yet never seeming to work very hard and just making a whisper while it does it. A few details like proper tower hose clamps would make it ready for show, but we’ve seldom seen a 50-year-old machine that looks this good in person. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission shifts buttery-smooth but serves up a quick downshift with just a quick prod of the throttle. The suspension rides like only an original car can and power steering and brakes are obviously standard equipment. There are four new Sensa-Trac shocks at the corners and the entire braking system was rebuilt with new flex lines, wheel cylinders, and shoes. All the fluids were changed, including the transmission and rear end, and there’s zinc additive in the oil so you don’t need to worry about that. At some point the exhaust must have been replaced because it looks almost new, but maybe not, and it certainly sounds just right for a muscular luxury coupe. Out back, the original gas tank was cleaned and sealed so you won’t have any issues there. There's a light dusting of factory undercoating on the floors, but you can see this car has never seen snow or salt and there are obviously no buggered-up repairs hiding under the surface. There are towering 2.73 gears in the rear end, so it’s a fantastic high-speed cruiser that just loafs along at highway speeds in superlative comfort and quiet. The 225/75/15 Uniroyal Radials are relatively recent and are probably only the third set of tires this car has ever worn. The car includes extensive documentation like the original build sheet from atop the gas tank, original owner’s manuals, Protect-O-Plate, title history, service manual, and original dealership brochures. Original cars are simply better, and this awesome Poncho will convince you with just one drive. There’s a smoothness that is difficult to restore back into a car, and there’s no amount of work you could do to make a 1968 Pontiac this nice. It’s rare, it’s attractive, and it most certainly stands out in a crowd. And if you can own the best example of an unusual car for under $30,000, perhaps it’s not such a bad investment after all. Call today!