Real GTO Sport Coupe (only 7029 built). PHS documented. Original car with older repaint. Straight bodywork, clean floors, runs like a freight train. If you like to drive, don’t have a ton of cash, and want a real GTO that kicks butt, this is your car.
According to the cowl tag and the PHS paperwork, this is indeed an unusual Cameo Ivory on Parchment Sports Coupe, and surely there were only a handful of those built in 1967. It wears an older repaint, probably dating back to the ‘80s, so don’t expect it to win trophies. However, despite some minor checking on the rear deck, it’s in really decent shape and doesn’t really need to be repainted—that kind of defeats the whole “affordable GTO” angle. Instead, it looks decent from even five feet away and the sheetmetal is quite straight because it’s never been totally disassembled. It does have some nice chrome, including the bumpers and mesh grille, the proper GTO emblems are where they belong, and it even carries original T3 headlight bulbs, which are probably worth a few hundred bucks by themselves. It needs no excuses from the guy who owns it.
The docs say it should have a Parchment interior, and that’s what’s in this GTO today. Hard to say what’s original and what’s reproduction because it all looks pretty consistent. The front seats are probably too nice to be original, but if they are reproduction seat covers they’re very good quality. The black carpets are probably also replacements, but they might have been done a while ago, and with the original door panels and dash pad, everything has mellowed into a consistent, well-preserved look. You’ll quickly spot a set of optional gauges in the woodgrained dash, including a factory tach, and they all work like they should. It also includes the legendary “His-n-Hers” shifter for the TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, and it’s a lot of fun to jam it over there to the right and rack it through the gears yourself. The original AM radio is offline, but do you really care about what awfulness is currently available on AM radio? Meh. The only real demerit in the passenger compartment is the headliner, which has some damage behind the sun visors. The trunk is clean and neatly outfitted with a reproduction mat and full-sized spare with jack assembly.
The engine is a later Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8, which is what is supposed to be there anyway. It’s coded Y9, which suggests it’s from a 1976 model (the original matching-numbers YS-coded 400 block is included with the car). Turn the key and it fires easily and after a few moments of grumpiness on the choke, this sucker is ready to hurt someone. It’s turbine smooth but kicks the lightweight GTO forward like there’s a JATO rocket strapped to the rear bumper. Stomp around with your foot on the floor and you may never stop smiling again. Seriously, this thing is an absolute party to drive and the minute you punch it, you’ll forget all that nonsense about matching numbers. It looks right, thanks to corporate turquoise engine enamel, chrome valve covers, and a GTO louvered air cleaner assembly. There’s an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and aluminum intake manifold, which are part of the reason this sucker runs so well, and a giant radiator keeps it nice and cool no matter what you do. It also has a new master cylinder, fresh battery, a recent tune-up, belts and hoses, and all that stuff so it’s ready to enjoy.
Underneath, it’s clean but obviously not shiny and perfect. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission was rebuilt at some point and since it’s the single most durable automatic gearbox ever invented, go ahead and have some fun. Out back, a sturdy GM 10-bolt rear shrugs off the 400’s torque and has relatively tame 3.36 gears inside so it’s comfortable on the highway. There’s a recent Flowmaster dual exhaust system that sounds heroic, both at idle and hammering down the road. It’s sitting on correct Rally II wheels that are probably original to the car, as well as a set of Goodyear radials that fill the fenders perfectly.
Documentation includes the original Protect-O-Plate, owner’s manual, shop manual, some receipts, reference books, and the aforementioned PHS documentation. And, of course, the original block and crank are included, too.
Don’t focus on the stupid stuff. You want a GTO that’s a blast to drive, this is it. You want a GTO you can afford that doesn’t need a lot more money poured into it, this is it. You want a GTO that will stand out because it’s legitimately rare, this is it. And if you just want a car that won’t hassle you, well, this is it. I don’t want your phone call where you whine about the headliner or matching numbers or colors—I’ll hang up on you. No, I want to hear from a guy who wants to go out, burn some rubber, and grin like a mental patient while he’s doing it.
Because I have his GTO right here.
Harwood Motors welcomes and encourages personal or professional inspections of any vehicle prior to purchase.
