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1968 Pontiac GTO Coupe

Actualgenuine factory GTO, not a replica
One familyowned vehicle since new with theoriginal windowsticker from Vincel Pontiac
First year for secondgeneration GTO
Final year for front side vent windows
Correct YS code 400 CID V8 engine breathing via dual exhausts
Turbo Hydramatic 400 threespeed transmission with His and Hers shift paths
Viper Red exterior with black (code 2) Cordova full vinyl roof and black vinyl interior (code 223)
Factory Airconditioning, tinted glass, power steering and power brakes
Documentation includes framed original window sticker and some service records in the glove box

While the muscle car formula is not new (take a fullsize cars engine and drop it into a smaller, lighter body), Pontiac ignited a new wave of such vehicles when it launched the GTO in 1964. MotoeXotica Classic Cars is pleased to present this 1968 GTO (VIN code 42) Sport Coupe. It has spent its entire existence owned and cared for by a single family right here in St. Louis Missouri. The GTO was purchased new from Vincel Pontiac in St. Louis Missouri and was sold to a local women who worked for Famous Barr department stores and drove it to work on select nice days. She had two young sons at the time who really enjoyed riding in the back seat of moms awesome GTO. Later in life, the eldest brother took possession of the GTO and had it restored and rebuilt by a local GTO expert and has enjoyed the car for the past couple decades. The two gentlemen in the photos standing next to the car are the two original owners sons with the framed window sticker that their mother kept preserved

Built during the second week of October 1967 at GMs Pontiac, Michigan assembly plant, this car left the line with the following options Cordova vinyl roof, automatic transmission, pushbutton radio, hidden headlights, deluxe wheel covers, center console, power steering, power brakes, tinted glass and airconditioning that still blows cold. It was delivered to Vincel Pontiac in St. Louis, Missouri.

Since then, the eldest son had the cars exterior repainted Viper Red while retaining the vinyl roof and interior. The cars paint and trim are in overall excellent condition with minor blemishes. The cars windows are clear and intact and note that 1968 was the final year for the front side vent windows. The cars lights, including the hidden headlights, look very good.

The cars bodywork is straight and solid, the engine bay is very tidy, the battery appears new and the bumpers are in excellent order, including the bodycolored Endura front ring bumper. This car rolls on Goodyear Eagle GA blackwall radials, size 215/65R15 at all four corners, surrounding steel wheels topped by full moon chrome wheel covers. The wheel covers appear excellent, while the rubber is in very good order.

Under the dualscoop hood is Pontiacs correct YS 400 CID V8 engine that was rebuilt ten years ago by a local GTO expert. Starting in 68 all Pontiac V8s went to a 14degree valve angle. Pontiac went to openchambered heads in some 1967 models and all 68s and up to improve power, engine breathing and reduce emissions. The valve size increased as well, to 2.11inch intake and 1.77inch exhaust valves on highperformance heads. The fourbarrel 400 was a popular performance option for many of Pontiacs cars. When fitted with other highairflow components, it produced a good balance of lowend torque and higherRPM power. This car also has electronic ignition for easier starting. Backing this motor is a Turbo Hydramatic 400 threespeed automatic transmission with His and Hers shift paths. Near the driver is the standard PRNDL shift path (Hers) while near the passenger is a forerunner of todays manumatic shifters, a path (His) that allows the driver to put the lever all the way back, or in First, floor the accelerator then shift the lever forward near redline until the cars in Third. Driver convenience features include airconditioning, Soft Ray Tinted Glass, Wonder Touch Power Steering and Wonder Touch Power Brakes.

Inside, the black vinyl interior (code 223) is in overall very good order. The front bucket and rear bench seats are in very good condition, as is the black carpeting and headliner. The threespoke, deluxe steering wheel is in very good order, as are the black instrument panel and matching inner door panels. The center console and shift lever echo the condition of the other interior elements while a factory AM radio completes the interior.

General Motors redesigned itsAbody line for 1968, with more curvaceous, semifastback styling. The wheelbase was shortened to 112 inches on all twodoor models. Overall length was reduced 5.9inches and height dropped half an inch but overall weight was up about 75pounds. Pontiac abandoned the familiar vertically stacked headlights in favor of a horizontal layout but madehidden headlights available at extra cost, 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 was the bodycolor Endurafront 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.Though a rare option, a GTO could be ordered with Endura delete, in which case the Endura bumper would be replaced by a chrome front bumper and grille from the Pontiac Le Mans.

Powertrain options remained substantially the same as in 1967, but the standard GTO engines power rating rose to 350horsepower. Another carryover from 1967 was the fourpiston caliper disc brake option. While most 1968 models had drum brakes all around, this seldomordered option provided greater stopping power. The 1968 model year was also the final year the GTOs offered separate crank operated front door vents.

Concealed windshield wipers, which presented a cleaner appearance when parked below the rear edge of the hood, were standard on the GTO and other 1968 GM products after having been originally introduced on the 1967Pontiac Grand Prix. A popular option, actually introduced during the 1967 model year, was a hoodmounted tachometer, located in front of the windshield and lit for visibility at night. An indash tachometer was also available.

Redlinebiasply tirescontinued as standard equipment on the 1968 GTO, though they could be replaced bywhitewall tiresat no extra cost.

Hot Rodtested a fourspeed GTO equipped with the standard engine and obtained a quarter mile reading of 14.7 seconds at 97mph in pure stock form.Motor Trendclocked a fourspeed Ram Air GTO with 4.33 rear differential at 14.45seconds at 98.2mph and a standard GTO with TurboHydramatic and a 3.23 rear axle ratio at 15.93seconds at 88.3mph. Testers were split about handling, withHot Rodcalling it the bestbalanced car [Pontiac] ever built, butCar Lifechided its excessive nose heaviness, understeer, and inadequate damping.

Like all 1968 passenger vehicles sold in the United States, GTOs now featured front outboard shoulder belts (cars built after January 1, 1968) and side marker lights. To comply with the new 1968 federal vehicle emissions standards, the GTO was now equipped with emissions controls.

Now facing competition both within GM and fromFord,Dodge, andPlymouthparticularly the lowcostPlymouth Road Runnerthe GTO won theMotor TrendCar of the Year Award. The GTO disregarded GMs policy limiting theAbodyintermediateline to a maximum engine displacement of 330CID. Pontiac general managerElliot Pete Estesapproved the new model, although sales manager Frank Bridge, who did not believe it would find a market, insisted on limiting initial production to 5,000 cars. Sales reached 87,684 units, (51,385 examples came with an automatic transmission) which would ultimately prove to be the secondbest sales year for the GTO.

In his autobiography, Glory Days, Pontiac chief marketing manager, Jim Wangers, who worked for the divisions contract advertising and public relations agency, states thatJohn DeLorean, Bill Collins, and Russ Gee were responsible for the GTOs creation. It involved transforming the secondgenerationPontiac Tempestinto a Super Tempest, or Grand Tempest Option, with a larger 389CIDPontiac V8 enginefrom the fullsizedPontiac CatalinaandBonnevillein place of the standard 326CID V8. By promoting the bigengine Grand Tempest as a special highperformance model, they could appeal to the speedminded youth market.

The name, which was DeLoreans idea, was inspired by theFerrari 250 GTO, the successful race car. It is anItalianabbreviationforGran Turismo Omologato (grand tourerhomologated), which means officially certified for racing in thegrand tourerclass. But in reality, the Pontiac GTO was never really a certified Grand Tourer race car. Internally, it was initially called the Grand Tempest Option, one of many automobiles in the Pontiac lineup with the word Grand in it.

Internal competition to this GTO in 1968 included Buicks Skylark Gran Sport, Chevrolets Chevelle SS396 and Oldsmobiles Cutlass 442. Externally, it competed with AMCs AMX, the Avanti II, Dodges Charger, Fords newfor68 Torino, Mercurys Cyclone and Plymouths Road Runner.

GM Abody fans, Pontiac lovers or someone who wants a quality late60s muscle car that is a great driver should take the time to stop by MotoeXotica Classic Cars today to check this car out.

VIN: 242378P136124

This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 6,083 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE

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