Pontiac started the GTO mass production in September 1963, but by 1968, the goat was already a superstar.
Discussing the GTO’s legacy in the muscle car culture is a waste of time, so the debut of a new generation in 1968 was received with much excitement by the automotive world, especially as it sported a redesigned body and an increased focus on performance.
GM reduced the length, shortened the wheelbase, and upgraded the power of the standard GTO engine, creating a package that proved extremely successful. Sales rose fast, with Pontiac selling 87,684 GTOs, up from 81,722 units in 1967.
If you’re in the market for a 1968 GTO project, someone on eBay claims they have the right candidate, especially as it continues to sport several original parts.
Let me start with what the eyes can see and tell you the obvious., This GTO requires major body work, especially as some panels seem to be missing. The first thing I could think of when checking out this GTO was the Terminator, as it’s missing half of its face (the left fender is pictured separately, but seller holte69 does not mention if this is the original part or a replacement fender). The driver’s door is also unavailable, though it’s unclear if it fell victim to the invasion of rust or if someone “borrowed” it for another GTO project.
The interior doesn’t look good either. The owner says the floors are still solid, but the entire cabin is missing (the seats have already been removed, and given they don’t show up in the provided photos, it’s safe to assume they’re gone).
The engine brings good news. The 400 V8 is no longer completely original, but the seller says the heads and the intake still match. It’s not in working condition, but the V8 spins free. A good mechanic should be able to tell the amount of work required to get the engine up and running, but if you were planning to restore the goat to the original specs, that would be much harder.
The 1968 GTO is an intriguing restoration project if you’re particularly interested in a daily driver or a restomod. Still, it requires an enormous amount of work to bring it back to the road. The pricing seems to be an issue for most interested buyers, as many people checked out the listing but walked away without paying the $5,500 the owner hopes to get for the car.
The seller has also enabled the Make Offer button, so if you believe this GTO deserves a second chance, contact them to discuss additional details. If you want to see it in person and possibly take it home afterward, you must drive your trailer to Wadena, Minnesota.
