The early 1960’s was a time when many American auto makers were seeking to define their identity and this was particularly true of the Pontiac division of General Motors. Chevrolet was the entry level marque and Cadillac was the top luxury brand, leaving the Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Buick divisions clawing for the market in the middle.
One of the executives at Pontiac was John DeLorean, who would years later gain notoriety more for his failure than his accomplishments with the DeLorean DMC-12. DeLorean was something of a maverick even in his early days and is widely credited for helping push the introduction of the legendary Pontiac GTO. With GM issuing an edict officially banning all divisions from factory racing activities in early 1963, Pontiac was left in a lurch as their advertising and marketing strategy was largely based on performance. Pontiac chose to keep emphasizing performance but changed from the racetrack to the street.
The centerpiece of this campaign became the GTO. Pontiac executives ignored GM rules limiting engine size to 330 cubic inches in intermediate models and shoehorned the larger 389 cubic inch engine from their full-sized line into the LeMans/Tempest platform. The result was a vehicle that would forever link the Pontiac name to street performance for years to come. While the GTO moniker was inspired by the successful Ferrari 250 GTO (Gran Tourismo Omologatto, which in Italian indicated the vehicle was certified for racing) officially the GTO was defined as the Grand Tempest Option which also played on the fact Pontiac had the Grand Prix in their offerings.
In 1964 and 1965 Pontiac offered the GTO as an optional package on the LeMans, and the popularity caused the company to designate the GTO as its own model from 1966 to 1971. In 1972 and 1973 the GTO once again was an option on the LeMans platform and the last year of production the GTO was an option on the compact Ventura. Some 30 years later the GTO nameplate would briefly surface as Pontiac offered a rebadged vehicle from GM’s Australian Holden division for a few years prior to the demise of the Pontiac brand.
The 1967 model year marked several firsts and lasts for the GTO. It marked the final year for the first-generation body style, and the first year for the 400 cubic inch engine that would provide power for other legendary Pontiacs for many years. It also marked the first GTO to not offer a factory multiple carburetor option as the popular three “deuce” manifold option was replaced by a single four-barrel. It was also the first year the GM Turbo 400 three-speed automatic was offered, replacing the previous two-speed automatic. Other first were several safety upgrades mandated by federal regulations.
This 1967 Pontiac GTO convertible presents as a great example of how a young person purchasing the car after working bucking haybales or sacking groceries might have modified the car! The numbers indicate this to be a true GTO, not a vehicle “cloned” to look like the legendary Goat. The car’s exterior is sprayed in the correct Montreux Blue with the proper blue bucket seat interior and white convertible top indicated on the cowl tag. The vintage look is continued with Cragar S/S wheels on each corner. Under the hood is a period correct 335 HP 400 cubic inch engine that has had the stock 4-barrel carb and intake manifold replaced with an earlier intake featuring Pontiac’s legendary “three deuce” set-up, exactly what a hot-rodder from that period would do. The dual exhaust provides a throaty sound that takes you back to the 1960’s and 70’s. Power is transferred to the rear differential through a 3-speed GM Turbo-Hydamatic transmission shifted by the correct Hurst “His ‘n Hers” floor mounted shifter. This is a well-optioned car, with amenities such as air conditioning, power steering and power brakes. In total, the car presents very well considering the restoration work was done over 10 years ago.
We believe the odometer reading of 9,557 miles is indicative of the miles put on the vehicle since restoration but we have no way to document this. In accordance with Missouri statutes, this vehicle will be sold mileage-exempt due to age. This 1967 Pontiac GTO has been in the portfolio of a major midwestern investor/collector for almost 10 years and has been stored in a humidity-controlled environment. Evergreen Digital Showroom offers this vehicle for a price of $64,900 USD. Pre-purchase inspections are welcomed and encouraged. We would gladly assist with transportation and delivery at the buyer’s expense. To discuss this vehicle further or to make an offer, contact sales manager Steve Russell at 417-532-8000. To see more vehicles offered by Evergreen Digital Showroom, visit our website at www.evergreendigitalshowroom.com.
NOTICE
Because of the number of vehicles we represent we cannot drive every vehicle for long distances. These vehicles have been part of static displays for long periods of time, in some cases for decades, and are subject to the flaws and imperfections consistent with that. While we do our best to disclose all issues we known about a vehicle in our advertising, these are old cars and something that has always worked in the past might not function properly today. Please check the requirements of your state regarding the licensing and registration of classic vehicles and make sure the vehicle you are looking at meets those if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, all vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom possess a clean (non-branded) title which will be provided the new buyer when purchase funds clear our financial institution. Virtually all our vehicles are sold as mileage exempt due to their age. We do not warranty any vehicle, nor any part of the vehicle including air conditioning systems, brake systems, electrical systems and gauges, fuel systems, accessories or powertrain components.
These are old vehicles and it is very common for them to require certain maintenance and upkeep for them to be operational. In many cases issues with leaks may develop when being driven after a long period of not being used. This is common, as classic cars at some point will leak fluids. For this reason, we do not encourage buyers to attempt driving their purchase home as we cannot guarantee functional reliability of these vehicles. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to be sure they are comfortable with these issues before purchasing a classic car.
Descriptions of vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom are intended to be informational in nature and do not in any way constitute any sort of warranty, expressed or implied. Again, these vehicles are presented “as-is, where-is” without guarantee or warranty. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 will likely not be included in the databases of companies such as CarFax and AutoCheck that provide vehicle history information to consumers. If you have specific questions regarding a vehicle we urge you to contact us at 417-532-8000.
