Solid Story: 1971 Pontiac GTO – SOLD!

August 11, 2022, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

We love a good story, especially ones about well-documented classic cars.  A video on a well-known YouTube channel of this 1971 Pontiac GTO originally listed in July 2022 on Craigslist in North Nampa, Idaho, is what motivated him to buy the car. That, combined with the video going through the car’s build sheet, helps provide a nicely documented story.  1971 marked the first time since its 1964 launch that GTO sales declined over the prior year.  While many blame it on GM’s lower engine compression ratios, rising muscle car insurance premiums did not help the cause.

Currently offered for $32,500, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is well below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for second-generation Pontiac GTOs produced between 1968 and 1972.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the truck featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #3 Good” estimate of $23,500 and its #2 “Very Good” appraisal of $34,300.

Pontiac produced the second generation GTO from 1968 through 1972.  The 1971 GTO featured a modest facelift, this time with wire-mesh grilles, horizontal bumper bars on either side of the grille opening, more closely spaced headlamps, and a new hood with the dual scoops relocated to the leading edge, not far above the grille. Overall length grew slightly to 203.3 inches. Sport mirrors increased standard width by two inches, from 74.5 to 76.5 inches.

A new corporate edict, aimed at preparing GM for no-lead gasoline, forced an across-the-board reduction in compression ratios. The “Ram Air” and Ram Air IV engines did not return for 1971. The standard GTO engine was still the 400 cubic inch V8, but now with an 8.2:1 compression ratio. Power ratings for the revised engine were 255 SAE Net horsepower at 4,800 rpm and 400 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm.

An engine option was the 260 SAE Net Horsepower 455 cubic inch V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, 8.4:1 compression ratio, and 325 horsepower at 4,400 rpm, which was only available with the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic transmission.

The top-of-the-line GTO engine for 1971 was the new 455 HO with 8.4 compression, rated at 310 SAE Net Horsepower, 400 rpm in the GTO.  The 1971 Pontiac brochure declared that this engine produced more NET horsepower than any other engine in its history.

For 1971, the standard rear-end was an open 10 bolt. Positraction 10 bolt rear ends were available as an option on 400 V8 engine-equipped GTOs, while all 455-powered Goats had the choice of either a 12 bolt open or optional 12 bolt Positraction rear-end.

Motor Trend tested a 1971 GTO with the 455, four-speed transmission, and 3.90 axle, and obtained a 0–60 mph acceleration time of 6.1 seconds and a quarter mile acceleration time of 13.4 seconds at 102 mph.

The Judge returned for a final year, With the standard equipment being the Mountain Performance package was the 455 HO. Only 357 were sold, including 17 convertibles. On February 11, 1971, Pontiac announced that no new orders for The Judge would be accepted after March 1, 1971. Only 10,532 GTOs were sold in 1971, 661 of which were non-Judge-equipped convertibles.

The Dennis Collins YouTube Channel features a video of the very car for sale here that served as the motivation for the current seller to buy it from Dennis:

The Dennis Collins video above will likely help sell this 1971 Pontiac GTO as the seller’s Craigslist limited pictures do not do it justice. If the seller believes they can get by with just the pictures provided here on BaT and just post it anytime they want there, they are in for a rude awakening.  Knowing the rear spoiler was not factory original and the fact the car no longer features the vinyl top factory installed on the car makes this a driver-quality example to just drive and enjoy.

If you are serious about buying this Pontiac GTO, you can start the conversation by either calling or texting the seller at (208) 344-6246.  When you connect, please remember to mention you saw their Goat featured here on GuysWithRides.com. Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

Show or go: What would you do with this 1971 Pontiac GTO?  Please comment below and let us know!