Green Goat: 1968 Pontiac GTO HO 4-Speed Hardtop – $54,900

(To see and expand all of the pictures provided in the listing, click on the current photograph below)

February 24, 2023, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we can now 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.

When General Motors (“GM”) redesigned its mid-sized “A” Body offerings for the 1968 model year, Pontiac’s GTO was already entering its fifth production year. By that point, the Pontiac GTO not only started the muscle car segment but was now facing competition from every other domestic manufacturer.  Despite added competition, the 1968 Pontiac’s new coke-bottle, semi-fastback design won over the Editors of Motor Trend magazine when the GTO earned the Car of the Year Award.  Sales reached 87,684 units, which was the second-best sales year for the GTO.

One of those units, nicely preserved from 1968, is now for sale.  This Verdoro Green over black Morrokide 1968 Pontiac GTO hardtop, last listed in February 2023 on Craigslist in East Falmouth, Massachusetts (Boston), is reported to be a well-documented and nicely detailed example. Featuring 360 horsepower H.O. 400 cubic inch V8 mated to an M20 4-speed manual twisting a 3.90 Saf-T-Track rear end, the long-time third owner is now selling it as they no longer have the ability to drive the car.

Last offered for $54,900, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is slightly below the six-month rolling average of this guide’s summary for second-generation 1968 Pontiac GTOs of all body styles produced that model year.  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 GTO featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls slightly above this guide’s  #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $53,600 before factoring in a 17% adjustment for the desirable 360 horsepower/4-speed power train.

GM’s redesign of its mid-size “A” body line-up for 1968 featured a change from the previous generations’ squared-off lines to a much curvier look.  While some at the time thought the styling mimicked a Coke bottle profile, the semi-fastback styling was actually GM’s stylists’ attempt at a revival of streamlining based on GM products from 1942 until 1950.  The redesigned 1968 GM A-Body lineup was actually smaller than the generation it replaced.

Stylists shortened the A-Body’s wheelbase to 112.0 inches on all two-door models while reducing overall length by nearly six inches and height by about half an inch.  However, overall weight was up about 75 pounds on average. Pontiac abandoned the familiar vertically stacked headlights in favor of a horizontal layout but made hidden headlights available at extra cost. The concealed headlights were a popular option. The signature hood scoop was replaced by dual scoops on either side of a prominent hood bulge extending rearward from the protruding nose.

A unique feature exclusive to Pontiac was the new body-color Endura front bumper. It was designed to absorb impact without permanent deformation at low speeds. Pontiac touted this feature heavily in advertising, showing hammering at the bumper to no discernible effect. A GTO could be ordered with “Endura delete,” in which the Endura bumper would be replaced by a chrome front bumper and grille from the Pontiac LeMans. All 1968 passenger cars sold in the U.S. required new safety features.  Consequently, 1968 GTOs featured front outboard shoulder belts on cars built after January 1, 1968, and side marker lights. New federal vehicle emissions standards meant GTOs now featured early forms of smog-reducing equipment.

Powertrain options remained virtually identical as the prior model year, however the standard GTO engine’s power rating rose to 350 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. At mid-year, a new Ram Air package, known as Ram Air II, became available. It included freer-breathing cylinder heads, round port exhaust, and the 041 cam. The ‘official’ power rating was not changed. Another carry-over from 1967 was the four-piston caliper disc brake option. However, most 1968 models had drum brakes all around. The 1968 model year was also the last all A-bodies offered separate crank-operated front door vents.

Additional 1968 A Body styling features included concealed windshield wipers. Buyers now had a choice of two tachometers: GTOs could be had with either an in-dash tach or the more popular hood-mounted unit first offered in 1967.  Redline bias-ply tires continued as standard equipment on the 1968 GTO, though whitewall tires could replace them at no extra cost. A new option was radial tires for improved ride and handling. However, very few were delivered with the radial tires because of manufacturing problems encountered by the supplier B.F. Goodrich. Pontiac discontinued the radial tire option after 1968 and did not offer them again as a factory option until the early 1970s.  Car reviewers achieved quarter-mile times between 14.5 and 15.93 seconds with 1968 Pontiac GTOs depending on the power train tested.  While everyone agreed on the excellent straight-line performance, the GTO’s handling received mixed reviews.

The seller smartly provides two videos on their YouTube Channel:

The combination of excellent pictures, video, and Pontiac Historical Services (“PHS”) documentation gives potential buyers the confidence to know they are buying a real-deal 1969 Pontiac GTO hardtop. The twenty-year-old paint appears to be holding up very nicely, while a new black vinyl top helps reinforce that.  The seller notes that both power front disc brakes and power steering have been added, so you’ll need to confirm whether the original parts will be included should potential buyers want to pursue Concours judging with the car.

Here’s the seller’s description:

Show or go: What would you do with this restored 1968 Pontiac GTO for sale?  Please comment below and let us know!