Vehicle Description
GTO fans, rejoice. Here's an unusual 1968 Pontiac GTO convertible
that keeps a very stock look but runs like it weighs 1000 pounds
less than it does. How's that possible? How about a freshly built
400-inch Poncho that's been built for combat, a 5-speed manual
gearbox, and the suspension and brakes to use it. Oh, and did I
mention that it comes with more than $126,000 worth of receipts
attached to it? Yeah, you're going to love this car.
The entire point of this car was to build a stock-looking 12-second
GTO convertible that could run with modern Camaros. Have they
succeeded? Well, you'll have to run it and let us know, because it
has only covered 1314 miles since it was finished, so it really
hasn't turned a wheel in anger. Basic black looks spectacular and
we love the fact that they skipped the Judge stripes and even the
rear spoiler, making this somewhat of a sleeper, if such a thing is
possible. They started with an ultra-straight car, and as a result,
it's just gorgeous with great panel alignment and looks outstanding
from every angle. And for subtlety, this car nails it with HID
headlights, a few well-placed GTO emblems and two modest nostrils
on the hood. In a world of over-done resto-mods this one looks
fantastic and will catch a lot of folks asleep at the wheel.
You're going to dig this car's interior, which almost looks stock
save for a few modest upgrades. The seats look stock, but that's
black leather instead of vinyl so it's a lot more comfortable. The
carpets and door panels are in excellent shape, and the dash is
fitted with aftermarket gauges that could almost pass for stock if
you're not familiar with period GTOs. The Budnik 3-spoke wheel is
simply gorgeous, and you'll note that the center console houses a
shifter with five gears on the knob instead of the usual four. This
is also a factory air car, highly unusual in a GTO convertible, and
all new components were reinstalled when the new engine went back
in. The original AM radio and 8-track unit are still in place, with
a Bluetooth radio stashed in the trunk to help with the illusion
that this is a stocker. A matching black power top lowers itself in
a matter of just a few seconds and lives under a snug-fitting boot,
while the trunk is properly outfitted with a reproduction mat and
full-sized spare.
Now, about that engine. It's a Pontiac 400 rebuilt by McIntosh
Performance and puts out around 500 horsepower. It features an
Edelbrock intake manifold fed by a FAST fuel injection system so it
can look like a stock carburetor but run like a modern car with
EFI. There's nothing too radical up top, which only helps with the
illusion that this is a stock Goat, although you've never driven a
stocker that runs like this. There's a fresh dual exhaust system to
provide an awesome soundtrack, and with that 5-speed overdrive
transmission, it's both a beast out of the hole and an easy
cruiser. It's suspended on tubular A-arms up front and control arms
in back, with coil-overs all around. Baer supplied a set of giant
cross-drilled disc brakes, 14-inchers in front and 13s in back, and
there's an electric parking brake for safety. Obviously things like
the lines, hoses, and gas tank are new, the floors are excellent,
and those big 17-inch Torque Thrust wheels are shod with fat
245/45/17 Michelin radials.
A beautifully done GTO that offers a lot of subtle upgrades to
create one of the slickest pieces of muscle we've seen in a long
time. Call today!
