Vehicle Description
Perhaps it is a mistake to think that the horsepower wars were over
by 1972, because this 1972 Pontiac GTO Clone makes a compelling
case for great looks and high-performance. The distinctive styling
offers a definite go-fast look and if you're a Pontiac fan, this
car is a great way to have some top-down fun without a massive
investment.
This car has led a good life, spending the last 46 years in garaged
comfort whenever it wasn't out on the road. As it was from the
beginning, the Lemans and GTO shared a lot of DNA, so bumping this
one up to full Goat spec wasn't a major challenge. The bright red
paint was finished in 2000 and still looks very strong, offering a
great shine and finish quality that really stands out. There are a
lot of guys who like the look of the later cars, and it looks
particularly aggressive with the body-colored bumper/grille
assembly and ram air hood. They left off the wing on the back and
didn't bother with decals and stripes, instead trying to keep this
bright red ragtop from looking over-wrought, and the clean lines
and unadorned flanks definitely have their own special appeal. The
chrome is good, particularly the distinctive Pontiac rear bumper,
but other than that, there isn't a lot of brightwork on a '72
GTO.
The black and red interior is a cool twist on the original styling,
with factory buckets wrapped in fresh seat covers, matching
two-tone door panels, and even bright red floor mats. However, the
black dash and carpets keep it from being red overload and the
combination is dashing yet sophisticated. There's faux wood on the
dash and the round gauges and engine-turned panels were long-time
Pontiac trademarks. The steering wheel is original, as are the
gauges, but they're in good order and totally serviceable as-is. A
newer AM/FM/CD stereo head unit lives in the dash and feeds
speakers in the door panels for better sound than the original
setup. This car had factory A/C and it could be hooked up again
with a new compressor and a few fittings and the power convertible
top is in great shape operates up and down very smoothly. Open the
trunk and you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that it's fully
carpeted and includes a matching fifth wheel and tire assembly.
The 400 cubic inch Pontiac V8 is no slouch in the horsepower
department, and definitely isn't a wheezing 1972 smog motor. With a
4-barrel carburetor, Pontiac Turquoise paint, and a twin-snorkel
air cleaner, it looks quite correct under the hood and runs
superbly. An Edelbrock intake and carburetor are the lone
modifications, and the heads have benefited from a valve job as
well. It starts easily and runs well with big torque available at
any speed, and it sounds awesome with reproduction dual exhaust
system that terminates in quad tips. A heavy-duty TH400 3-speed
automatic feeds the original rear end, and with power steering and
power front disc brakes, cruising is easy around town. You can see
evidence of the good life everywhere you look underneath. Shiny
Cragar wheels are the right choice on this '70s hot rod and carry
225/60/15 all season radials.
With just 3 long term owners, this car has a solid history and
offers a ton of fun. Not a restored show car, but an awesome
cruiser that's fun and attractive and a pleasure to own. Call
today!