Vehicle Description
1968 Pontiac GTO Coupe Actualgenuine factory GTO, not a replica One
family-owned vehicle since new with theoriginal windowsticker from
Vincel Pontiac First year for second-generation GTO Final year for
front side vent windows Correct YS code 400 CID V-8 engine
breathing via dual exhausts Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed
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 Air-conditioning, 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 full-size car's 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 mom's 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 GM's 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 air-conditioning that
still blows cold. It was delivered to Vincel Pontiac in St. Louis,
Missouri. Since then, the eldest son had the car's exterior
repainted Viper Red while retaining the vinyl roof and interior.
The car's paint and trim are in overall excellent condition with
minor blemishes. The car's windows are clear and intact and note
that 1968 was the final year for the front side vent windows. The
car's lights, including the hidden headlights, look very good. The
car's bodywork is straight and solid, the engine bay is very tidy,
the battery appears new and the bumpers are in excellent order,
including the body-colored 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 dual-scoop hood is Pontiac's correct YS
400 CID V-8 engine that was rebuilt ten years ago by a local GTO
expert. Starting in '68 all Pontiac V-8s went to a 14-degree valve
angle. Pontiac went to open-chambered 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 2.11-inch intake
and 1.77-inch exhaust valves on high-performance heads. The
four-barrel 400 was a popular performance option for many of
Pontiac's cars. When fitted with other high-airflow components, it
produced a good balance of low-end torque and higher-RPM power.
This car also has electronic ignition for easier starting. Backing
this motor is a Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic
transmission with His and Hers shift paths. Near the driver is the
standard P-R-N-D-L shift path (Hers) while near the passenger is a
forerunner of today's "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 car's in Third. Driver convenience features include
air-conditioning, 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 three-spoke, 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 itsA-body line
for 1968, with more curvaceous, semi-fastback styling. The
wheelbase was shortened to 112 inches on all two-door 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 body-color 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 engine's power rating rose to 350horsepower. Another
carry-over from 1967 was the four-piston caliper disc brake option.
While most 1968 models had drum brakes all around, this
seldom-ordered 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 hood-mounted tachometer, located in front of the windshield and
lit for visibility at night. An in-dash tachometer was also
available. Redlinebias-ply tirescontinued as standard equipment on
the 1968 GTO, though they could be replaced bywhitewall tiresat no
extra cost. Hot Rodtested a four-speed 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 four-speed Ram Air
GTO with 4.33 rear differential at 14.45seconds at 98.2mph and a
standard GTO with Turbo-Hydramatic and a 3.23 rear axle ratio at
15.93seconds at 88.3mph. Testers were split about handling, withHot
Rodcalling it "the best-balanced 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, andPlymouth�particularly the
low-costPlymouth Road Runner�the GTO won theMotor TrendCar of the
Year Award. The GTO disregarded GM's policy limiting
theA-bodyintermediateline to a maximum engine displacement of
330CID. Pontiac general managerElliot "Pete" Estesapproved the new
model, although sales manager Frank Bridge...for more information
please contact the seller.
